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Containing Portraits of all the Presidents of the United States, with accompanying- 
Biographies of each; a Condensed History of Iowa, with Portraits and 
Biographies of the Governors of the State-, and Engravings 
of Prominent Citizens of Pottawattamie County, with 
Personal Histories of many of the Parly 
Settlers and Leading Pamilies. 



Biograpliy is tlie only true history." — Emerson. 



THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY, 
1891. 




i^<? 



<< 



'V 



<R' 





PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED 
STATES. 

George Washingtou 9 

John Adams l-l 

Tbomas Jefferson 20 

James Madison 30 

James Monroe ii3 

John Quincy Adams 38 

Andrew Jacksou 47 

Martin Van Bureu 52 

William Henry Harrison 50 

John Tyler 00 

James IC. Polk 04 

Zacbarv Taylor 08 

Millard Fillmore 73 

Franklin Pierce 70 

James Buchanan 80 

Abraham Lincoln 84 

Andrew Johnson 93 

Ulysses S. Grant 90 

Rutherford B. Hayes 103 



.lames A. Garfield lOU 

Chester A. Arthur 113 

Grover Cleveland 117 

Benjamin Harrison l'.>0 

HISTORV OF IOWA. 

Aboriginal 133 

Caucasian 134 

Pioneer Li fe 133 

Louisiana Territory 137 

Iowa Territory 139 

State Organization and Subse- 

(|uent History 141 

Patriotism 140 

Iowa Since the War 151 

State luslitutious 151 

Educational 134 

Statistical 157 

Physical Features 15is 

Geology 158 

Climate 103 



Census of Iowa 164 

Territorial officers 10 1 

State Officers 105 

GOVERNORS OF IOWA. 

,-Roberl Lucas 171 

John Chambers 173 

-James Clarke 175 

Ansel Briffgs 179 

Stephen Hempstead 183 

James W. Grimes 187 

Ralph P. Lowe ISJl 

Samuel J. Kirkwood 195 

William M. Stone 1<J9 

Samuel Jlerrill 203 

Cyrus C. Carpenter 207 

Joshua G. Newbold 311 

John H Gear 215 

Bureu R. Sherman 219 

William Larrabee 323 

Horace Boies .. . . 23 j 



HISTORY OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



Abbott, E.J 539 

Abel, Joseph 032 

Ackels, Paul 089 

Acker, W. C 094 

Agnew, S. G 599 

Aldridge, H. L 207 

Alexander, C 370 

Allee, F. M 388 

Allen, A. L .540 

AUensworth, J. P 240 

Alston, Joshua 069 

Altmannsperger, C. A 033 

Anderson, Andrew 590 

Avery, A. B 535 

Axtell, J. M 304 

Axtell, L. S 317 

Aylesworth, E. E 088 



Bair, L F 408 

Baldwin, Caleb 331 

Baldwin, J. N 279 

Baldwin, J. T 443 

Ball, W. D 079 

Barnett, E. S 412 

Barstow, J. M .58 i 

Barstow, Samuel 245 

Barton, J. J 033 

Barton, Reuben 417 

Battin, Vincent 434 

Beck, C. H 258 

Beezley, Paul 562 

Beezley, William 600 

Bell & Berlinarhof 485 

Bellinger, F. P. & M. J 486 

Bevan, S. E 275 



Beyer, Wui 567 

Bisbee, A.C 286 

Bixby, B. F .5;iO 

Blain, Uavid ,504 

Blakely, John 235 

Blauchard, W. A 4,51 

Bloom, J. C 455 

Bloomer, Amelia 243 

Bloomer, D. G 341 

Boiler, Cyrus 335 

Boiler, James 2.59 

Bolton, C. 11 ,578 

Bolton, George 299 

Bolton, J. M .4.3!) 

Book, John 466 

Boren, LA 417 

Boren, J. B 508 



iv 



CONTENTS. 



Boruff, D. W 302 

Boiuir, J. C 5!j8 

Bosen, C 403 

Bostetl, August 442 

Boulden, J. P a06 

BouklRD, J. U 332 

Bowman, Tliomas 335 

Briulen, Pelej', ^JS 

Bnulley, J. G 47!) 

Bray, tlieodoi-e fi50 

BreneiiiiiD.N. E 010 

Biicss, D. M r)oy 

BiovvD, A. L 004 

Brown, (). H 3!l3 

Brown, \Vm 348 

Brown, Wm. U 437 

Bryant, T. G 554 

Bullis, Allen 5!l!) 

Bunker, W. W 020 

Bunnell, J. A 582 

Burckliulter, U. A 574 

Burcklialler, J. VV 352 

Burke, Fiiiley 447 

Burke, F. A 440 

Burke, J. P '03 

Burnett, G V 500 

Bybee, Alfred 004 

Cady,T. J 371 

C'am|)bell, Lyman 381 

Campbell, Hasmus 382 

C'arley, E. B oUl 

Carson, George 475 

Carson, A. S 710 

Carter, I. G 0U2 

Casady, J P 431 

Casady, T. E 43!) 

Cater, E. II 334 

Chambers, II. J 4oS 

Champ, G. U 477 

Chauey, C. H 5!).j 

Chaney, Wra. L 481 

Charles, Wm 345 

Cheney, iM. J 5*)6 

Chicago Lumber Co 381 

Citizens' Bank of Oakland 200 

City Poller Mills 338 

Clark, U. B 311 

Clark, F. C 487 

Clark, John •''03 

Clark, J. II. E 3!)1 

Clayton, B. F 458 

Coe, D. A f''0 

Cole, W.T.... <i51 

Coleman, Frank, 504 

Coleman. W. J f>ll 

(_:ollard, Frank 313 

Collins, N. S 570 

Comer, S. K 028 

Confarr, \V. N 544 

C<mkliu, J. F 0;;8 

Consigny, E. A 0-3 

Converse, Wm 500 

Cook. 11. C 052 

Cool, John 344 

Coons, J M 315 

Coopei-. A. P 433 

Clooper, W. A 541 

Copeland, T. N 316 

Council Bluffs Lumber Co 031 



Craft, W. P 505 

Crippen C. M 379 

Croghan, J. M 236 

Cuppy, Wm. B 035 

Currie, John, Jr 083 

Currie, Robert 081 

Dailey, D. B 407 

Davis, Fred (i51 

Davis, J. C 380 

Davis, J.H 691 

Dean, W.rren 250 

Dean, W. L 254 

Dellart, F. A 527 

Dentler, B. B 514 

Devol, P. C 327 

Devol, David 327 

DeWilt, W... 309 

Dial, W. II 055 

Dingnian, J B 453 

Duhany, John 328 

Doner, II. A 610 

Doner, Jacob 377 

Doner, I. E 402 

Dool, Thomas 580 

Dorton, J. M 371 

Dowly, Joseph 012 

Duukle, David 34? 

Dunn, 8. T 581 

Durham, W. E 070 

Dye Bros, ifc Co : .008 

Dye, G. S 543 

Earnest, Solomon 240 

E<!ie, Wm. S 270 

Ellis, F. M. A; Co 052 

Ellis, M.P 037 

Elswick, J. C 374 

Evans, John 053 

Evans, Joseph 682 

Evans, T. J 471 

Everett, Horace 519 

Everett, Leonard 015 

Everson, J. W ...072 

Exchange Bank 702 

Fay, Wooster 253 

Ferguson, M. W 672 

Flint. John rM 

Flood. Thomas 070 

Ford, Fred 276 

Forsyth. Mrs. S 422 

Foster, C P 401 

Foster, J. B 057 

Foster, S. il 405 

Foxley, A. K 492 

Frank. J. A 301 

Frazier, Alfred 6()2 

Freeman 15. F 200 

Frisbie, M. B 404 

Friz/.ell, A. L 260 

Frizzell, J. O 502 

Fuller, A E 534 

Gardner, I. N 536 

Garner, F. G 322 

Garner, Wm 238 

Gaull, J. D 450 

Gaull, T. O 2S0 



Geriz, H. P 095 

Gitleus, Henry 354 

Glyun, A 409 

Godfrey, C 645 

Gordon, O. W 429 

Gorrell, J. V 593 

Goudie, M. C 513 

Gould, J. H 644 

Graff, W. H 5.55 

Graham, O. W 414 

Grass, F 489 

Giaybill.S 481 

Graybill, G. H 002 

Green, Charles 511 

Green, John (i80 

Greeu, iS^ormau 382 

Gregg, J. II 280 

Gress, Bernbard 5!)8 

Groneweg, Wni 449 

Grout, Alonzo 547 

Guiltar, Francis 505 

Guittar, Theo.lore 504 

Gustiu, Wm 288 

Haines, David 399 

Hall, A. J 521 

Hamilton, G. W 568 

Hammer, Lewis 649 

Hanchetl, A. P 379 

Hansen, Isaac 310 

Harbert, B F 315 

Harcourt, B 307 

Hardenbeii;!), Olis 532 

Hardin, W^D 4.55 

Harding, B. G 6.59 

Harding, John 680 

Harl, C. M 3l5 

Harle, M. E 56S 

Harris, A <1S9 

Hartwell,T. J 0.56 

Hatswell, L. A 057 

Hazleton, A. 8 308 

Headlee, Joseph . .365 

Heagney, C. F 291 

Heileman, Wm 385 

Hellman, Andrew 400 

Hendricks, A. L 707 

Hendricks, I. F 402 

Henry, J. H 702 

Helzel, F. G 016 

He.witl, G. W 415 

Hicks, G. W 704 

Hitchcock, F.G 479 

Holl'mayer, J. C 338 

Holmes, G. A 375 

Hoo;;e\vonirig, A 430 

Hooker, J. D 300 

Hoops, Is;iac 002 

Horuer, Albert 5!)2 

Hose Co. No. 3 479 

Hotchkiss, O. O 628 

Hough, H. C 013 

Hou,i;h, J. H 321 

Ilou^h, Morris 653 

Houi;h, Warren 390 

Houghton, F. W 687 

Hughes, Slarlin 459 

Iluir, A.M 690 

lluli;hius(>n, A A 005 



Contents. 



iDgrsim, Robert C73 

Irwin, H. T 393 

Jack, 11. B GOG 

Jamesou Bros 387 

Jameson, W. J 507 

Jerterson.T. II '235 

Johns, T.J GGl 

Johannsen, J. B 698 

Johnson, AW 33!) 

Johnson, F. T. 708 

Jones, J. G 33.") 

Jones, L. G 330 

Jones, O. W 349 

.Tones, U. F 359 

Jones, T.J 440 

Jndil, 0. B 334 

Kaven, August Gil 

Keast, Thonias 704 

Keller, A. H 332 

Kenedy, Alex 349 

Kerney, Lawrence 395 

Kerney, Peiry 491 

Kiel Stables G51 

Killion, r. C G40 

Killion, J. A 49G 

Killpaok, James 304 

Kimball, Caleb 3G8 

Kimball, J. F 410 

Kinraid, A. E 560 

Kinnehan, L 474 

Kirl)y, Josejih 515 

Kirk wood, llobert 473 

Kleppina;er, W. 49G 

Knepher, W. II G30 

Knol ts, Joseph 493 

Knotis, L. G .' 494 

Kuhn, W. H G85 

Lacey, T. B 434 

Lacy, Patrick 412 

Lainson, A. T .530 

Laage, J. C 474 

Larson, 0. A 389 

Lathan, Edmond 675 

Lebeck, A 699 

Leland.II. C 593 

Leland, L. S 594 

Leonard, Thomas 288 

Leretle N 511 

Leslie, F. N 558 

Levin, P. K 044 

Lewis, F. M 318 

Lewis, Jackson 510 

Lewis, Nelson 253 

Lewis, Wm 513 

Lewis, Wm 681 

Livingston. James 579 

Lodge, O. F 535 

London Bros 370 

Long, Wm. C 239 

Loudenheck, J. A 483 

Lowe, H. G 350 

MacConnell, S. P 381 

MacKay, T. J 533 

MacUla'nd, Elizabeth, 283 

Macrae, Donald 271 

Manhattan, The 493 



Martin, Andrew 330 

Martin, I. L 403 

Martin, Martha - .5.J1 

Martin, W. J 641 

Maxfield, Wm. H 380 

Maxwell, W. E 595 

Mayne, W. S 385 

McOonald, J. II ,501 

McDonald, Wm 590 

McFall, S. T 041 

McGee, 11. G 480 

McGee, J. E. F 407 

McGinnis, Joseph 540 

McKenzie, K 577 

McKeowu, Wm 350 

McMaster, D. B 33G 

McMenomy, B. P 247 

McMilleu, W. A . .483 

McAlullen, C, E 234 

McPherron, F. T 428 

Mf.Reynolds, L 357 

Merriam, P 237 

Meneray, P. W 454 

MetcalC, George 453 

Mickelwait & Young 340 

Mikesill, J. W 030 

Miller, J. W 400 

Miller, Robert 499 

Minahan, M 373 

Milchell, A. 1 340 

Montgomery, II 308 

Montgomery, P. J 373 

Morrts, F .- 274 

Slorrison, S 480 

Jlnlholland, J. P 396 

Muller, Julius 428 

Murchison, J. K 553 

Murphy, J. A .503 

Murray, James 034 

•Mynsler, CO 319 

Mynster, W. A 687 

Nellis, L. D 393 

Nicholas, A. B ,378 

Nixon, Wm 289 

Nordyke, Albert 324 

Nusum, J. W 444 

O'Brien, N 493 

O nicer, Thomas . .495 

Olds, James 413 

Olney, J. J 243 

Orr, William 075 

Oshorn, G. H 684 

Osier, Alex 320 

Owens, F. M 684 

Packard, W. S ,5.57 

Painter, Lewis 490 

Palmer, M 695 

Parish, E 293 

Parker, D. K 441 

Parker, Henry 464 

Parker, Joseph 488 

Passmore, 8. B 251 

Pearce, A. W 283 

Peck. G. W 060 

Perkins, A. B 074 

Peters, Wm 290 

Peterson, E. W 457 



] Peterson, H. H 558 

Peterson, M. P 3i:i 

Phillips, John M !...34G 

Pieper, Henry 540 

Pierce, O. W 254 

Pilling, T. A .AbQ 

Pinuey, C. H 272 

Plank, M. V ,575 

Pleak, D. S 329 

Plumb, George 246 

PI unier, H. P 05 1 

Phnnmer, A 608 

Plunket, W. F 678 

Poland, G. W 600 

Potter, L. F 200 

Powell, Isaac 700 

Pratt, C. F 1)70 

Prentice, A. K 463 

Price, C. S 577 

Pusey, W. II. M 487 

Pulnam, A. D 277 

Quick, Wm 640 

Quick, VV. S 077 

Rainbow, James ,596 

Randall, A. A 5.50 

Rankin, S. L 298 

Read, S. R ,372 

Reed, J. I .597 

Reed, J. R floo 

Reel.C. D aOl 

Reicbart, E 062 

Reimer. Max 515 

Reynolds, C 291 

Reynolds, Simon 341 

Reynolds, S. W 526 

Rishton, Heniy 302 

Riss, P. X 275 

Rilter, Adam 451 

Robbins, T. M 313 

Robertson, J. 365 

Robinson, ('. S 572 

Robiu'ion, James 323 

Rock, Wm. V 517 

Rodenbough, J. ,J 278 

Rodwell, .John 281 

Rohrer, M. P 255 

Rollins, J. Q 248 

Roop, M. S 342 

Roosa, Isaiah 079 

Ross, L. W 351 

Rush, J. W 452 

Rust, S. S.- 260 

Saint, James 643 

Sanderson, Charles 480 

Sapp. W. F 423 

Sarr, II. M 401 

Schlicht, John .480 

Schmoock, A. C 302 

SchuUz, J. H 263 

Scott, G. W 269 

Seward, L. D 350 

Seybert, P. T 711 

Sheldon, L 470 

Sherraden, C. II 706 

Shinn, Frank 603 

Sidener, Wm 659 

Sides, John 614 

Siedentopf, Wm 567 



CONTENTS. 



Sims, Jacob 2G3 

Sivers, J.H :'.96 

Smart, G. F. C HGO 

Smith, K. C 20:) 

Smitli,J. F 605 

Smith, Peter 421 

Smith, W. I 249 

Snyder, C. W 323 

Snyder, Wesley C33 

Spetman, F. W 421 

Spetman, II. H 528 

Steele, Wm 521 

Stephens, S. L 004 

Stephenson, A. J 445 

Stevenson, Henry 0:^1 

Stevenson, Wm 525 

St. Francis Xavier Church 247 

Slidham, Wm (i47 

Stillings, Origan 553 

Stolver, Margaret 385 

Stone, Albert 354 

Stone, C. E 400 

Strong, S. C 571 

Straub, Cliristian 701 

Stuhr, J. H. C 4:!8 

Stuhr, J. P 435 

Sullivan & Virtue 008 

Sylvester, J. A 420 

Taylor, J. A 503 

Taylor, W. H 524 

Templeton, J. L 049 

Terry, H. A 472 

Tliayer, .lohn 48;! 

Thomas, F. S 309 

Thomas, ZepU 040 

Thomp.son, Joseph 31)8 

Throp, W. L 673 

Tilton, Preston 705 

Timberman, Isaiah 607 

Tinley, Emmet 31)2 

Tipton, J. G 331 

Tittsworlh, W. G 584 

Tompkin, Wm 607 

Tostevin, Thomas 400 

Tieynor, I. M 303 

Underwood, S. G 619 

Utterback, W. C 384 



Vallier, Alex 2G4 

Van, S. F 510 

Van, W. H 488 

Van Brunt, II. H 383 

Vandrutr, C. H 014 

Voorhis, Cornelius 711 

Wadsworlh, S. B 287 

Waldo, Mary A 709 

Walker, R. F 555 

Ware, Mrs. E 397 

Ware, W. II 307 

Waterman, E. T 403 

Way, W.J 027 

Weak, A. L 484 

Weaver, J. P. F 343 

Weeks, F. U 387 

Wells, Lucius 551 

Wells, Wm. S 410 

West, H. S 416 

Westcolt, J. H 411 

Western Lumber i.V Sujiply Co. .049 

Wheeler, Wm. J 358 

White, U. M 548 

Whitney, Wm 208 

Wickham, James 048 

Wickham, O. P 642 

Wicks, N. B 47!) 

Wilding, David 6:1!) 

Williams, J. E 300 

Williams, N. VV 538 

Williams, W.S 367 

Wilson, n. M 018 

Wilson, James 505 

Winaus, J. H 001 

Winchester, B 542 

Wind, P. H 359 

Winterstein, Wm 497 

Wolf, J. A 552 

Wood, Ale.x 539 

Wood, E. A 545 

Woodbury, E. 1 406 

Wright, Fred 317 

Wright, George 314 

Wright, G. F 2!)5 

Wyland, J. M 509 

Wyman, A. W 021 



Young, J. F., Jr. 
Young, J. N. . . . 
Young, T. J.... 
Young, W.O... 



,..651 
..097 
, . . 340 
. . , 529 



Zahner, Jacob 271 

ILLUSTRATIONS. 

Baldwin, Caleb 981 

Baldwin, J. N 279 

Barstow, J. M 583 

Bloomer, Amelia 241 

Bleomer, D. C 241 

Bowman, Thomas 335 

Burke, Finley 447 

Casady, J, P 431 

Casady, T. E 439 

fClark, D, B 311i 

k^lark, Eleanor 31P 

Clark, J.H, E 391 

Devol, P. C 3-7 

Evans, T.J 471 

Everett, Horace 519 

Everett, Leonard 015 

-Grand Hotel 477 

Haines, David 399 

Hewitt, George W 415 

Holmes, G. A 375 

Lodge, O. F 535 

Jlacrae, Donald 271 

McGee.J. E. F 407 

McMenomy, B. P 247 

Murphy,J. A ; 503 

Slynster, C. O. and Mrs. M 319 

Officer, Thomas 495 

Pusey, W. H. M 487 

Kohrer, M. F 2.55 

Ross, L, W 351 

Sapp, W. F 423 

Smith, EC 263 

Treynor, I. M 303 

Van Brunt, H. H 383 

Wadsworlh, S. B 287 

Ware, W. H 367 

Weaver, J. P. F 343 

Wells, Lucius .551 

Wind, P. II 359 

Wright, G. F 295 




I 



GEORGE WASHINGTON. 






fiiiijmr-'^ -i-rf^ -!._ <^ .i._f' 











EORGE WASHING- 
> TON, the " Father of 
his Country" and its 
first President, 1789- 
i"i 97' ^V'ls born Febru- 
^" ary 22, 1732, in Wash- 
ington Parish, West- 
moreland County, Virginia. 
His father, Augustine Wash- 
ington, first married Jane But- 
ler, who bore him four chil- 
dren, and March 6, 1730, he 
married Mary Ball. Of six 
children by his second mar- 
riage, George was the eldest, 
the others being Betty, Samuel, John, Au- 
gustine, Charles and Mildred, of whom the 
youngest died in infancy. Little is known 
of the early 3'ears of Washington, beyond 
the fact that the house in which he was 
born was burned during his early child- 
hood, and that his father thereupon moved 
to another farm, inherited from his paternal 
ancestors, situated in Stafford Count}', on 
the north bank of the Rappahannock, where 
he acted as agent of the Principio Iron 
Works in the immediate vicinity, and died 
there in 1743. 

From earliest childhood George devel- 
oped a noble character. He had a vigorous 
constitution, a fine form, and great bodily 
strength. His education was somewhat de- 



fective, being confined to the elementary 
branches taught him by his mother and at 
a neighboring school. He developed, how- 
ever, a fondness for mathematics, and en- 
joyed in that branch the instructions of a 
private teacher. On leaving school he re- 
sided for some time at Mount Vernon with 
his half brother, Lawrence, who acted as 
his guardian, and who had married a daugh- 
ter of his neighbor at Belvoir on the Poto- 
mac, the wealthy William Fairfax, for some 
time president of the executive council of 
the colony. Both Fairfax and his son-in-law, 
Lawrence Washington, had served with dis- 
tinction in 1740 as officers of an American 
battalion at the siege of Carthagena, and 
were friends and correspondents of Admiral 
Vernon, for whom the latter's residence on 
the Potomac has been named. George's 
inclinations were for a similar career, and a 
midshipman's warrant was procured for 
him, probably through the influence of the 
Admiral ; but through the opposition of his 
mother the project was abandoned. The 
family connection with the Fairfaxes, how- 
ever, opened another career for the 3'oung 
man, who, at the age of sixteen, was ap- 
pointed surveyor to the immense estates of 
the eccentric Lord Fairfax, who was then 
on a visit at Belvoir, and who shortly after- 
ward established his baronial residence at 
Green way Court, in the Shenandoah Valley. 



PRESIDENTS OF THE UN/TED STATES. 



Three years were passed by young Wash- 
ington in a rough frontier life, gaining ex- 
perience which afterward proved very es- 
sential to him. 

In 1 75 1, when the Virginia militia were 
put under training wiih a view to active 
service against France, Washington, though 
only nineteen years of age, was appointed 
Adjutant with the rank of Major. In Sep- 
tember of that year the failing health of 
Lawrence Washington rendered it neces- 
sary for him to seek a warmer climate, and 
Ge irge accompanied him in a voyage to 
Bariadoes. They returned earl^^ in 1752, 
and Lawrence shortly' afterward died, leav- 
ing hi 5 large property to an infant daughter. 
In his will George was named one of the 
executors and as eventual heir to Mount 
Vernon, and by the death of the infant niece 
soon succeeded to that estate. 

On the arrival of Robert Dinwiddle as 
Lieutenant-Governor of Virginia in 1752 
the militia was reorganized, and the prov- 
ince divided into four districts. Washing- 
ton was commissioned by Dinwiddle Adju- 
tant-General of the Northern District in 
1753, and in November of that year a most 
important as well as hazardous mission was 
assigned him. This was to proceed to the 
Canadian posts recently established on 
French Creek, near Lake Erie, to demand 
in the name of the King of England the 
withdrawal of the French from a territor}- 
claimed by Virginia. This enterprise had 
been declined by more than one officer, 
since it involved a journey through an ex- 
tensive and almost unexplored wilderness 
in the occupancy of savage Indian tribes, 
either hostile to the English, or of doubtful 
attachment. Major Washington, however, 
accepted the commission with alacrit}- ; and, 
accompanied by Captain Gist, he reached 
Fort Le Boeuf on French Creek, delivered 
his dispatches and received reply, which, of 
course, was a polite refusal to surrender the 
posts. This reply was of such a character 



as to induce the Assembly of Virginia to 
authorize the executive to raise a regiment 
of 300 men for the purpose of maintaining 
the asserted rights of the British crown 
over the territory claimed. As Washing- 
ton declined to be a candidate for that post, 
the command of this regiment was given to 
Colonel Joshua Fry, and Major Washing- 
ton, at his own request, was commissioned 
Lieutenant-Colonel. On the march to Ohio, 
news was received that a party previously 
sent to build a fort at the confluence of the 
Monongahela with the Ohio had been 
driven back bv a considerable French force, 
which had completed the work there be- 
gun, and named it Fort Duquesne, in honor 
of the Marquis Duquesne, then Governor 
of Canada. This was the beginning of the 
great " French and Indian war," which con- 
tinued seven jears. On the death of Colonel 
Fry, Washington succeeded to the com- 
mand of the regiment, and so well did he 
fulfill his trust that the Virginia Assemblv 
commissioned him as Commander-in-Chief 
of all the forces raised in the colony. 

A cessation of all Indian hostility on the 
frontier having followed the expulsion of 
the French from the Ohio, the object of 
Washington was accomplished and he re- 
signed his commission as Commander-in- 
Chief of the Virginia forces. He then pro- 
ceeded to Williamsburg to take his seat in 
the General Assembly, of which he had 
been elected a member. 

January 17, 1759, Washington married 
Mrs. Martha (Dandridge) Custis, a young 
and beautiful widow of great wealth, and de- 
voted himself for the ensuing fifteen years 
to the quiet pursuits of agriculture, inter- 
rupted only by his annual attendance in 
winter upon the Colonial Legislature at 
Williamsburg, luitil summoned by his 
countrv to enter upon that other arena in 
which his fame was to become world wide. 

It is unnecessary here to trace the details 
of the struggle upon the question of local 



CiEOHGB WASHINGTON. 



\\ 



self-government, which, after ten years, cul- 
minated by act of Parliament of the port of 
Boston. It was at the instance of Virginia 
that a congress of all the colonies was called 
to meet at Philadelphia Septembers, 1774, 
to secure their common liberties — if possible 
by peaceful means. To this Congress 
Colonel Washington was sent as a dele- 
gate. On dissolving in October, it recom- 
mended the colonies to send deputies to 
another Congress the following spring. In 
the meantime several of the colonies felt 
impelled to raise local forces to repel in- 
sults and aggressions on the part of British 
troops, so that on the assembling of the next 
Congress, May 10, 1775, the war prepara- 
tions of the mother country were unmis- 
takable. The battles of Concord and Lex- 
ington had been fought. Among the earliest 
acts, therefore, of the Congress was the 
selection of a commander-in-chief of the 
colonial forces. This office was unani- 
mously conferred upon Washington, still a 
member of the Congress. He accepted it 
on June 19, but on the express condition he 
should receive no salar}'. 

He immediately repaired to the vicinity 
of Boston, against which point the British 
ministry had concentrated their forces. As 
early as April General Gage had 3,000 
troops in and around this proscribed city. 
During the fall and winter the British policy 
clearly indicated a purpose to divide pub- 
lic sentiment and to build up a British party 
in the colonies. Those who sided with the 
ministr}' were stigmatized by the patriots 
as " Tories," while the patriots took to them- 
selves the name of " Whigs." 

As early as 1776 the leading men had 
come to the conclusion that there was no 
hope except in separation and indepen- 
dence. In May of that year Washington 
wrote from the head of the army in New 
York : " A reconciliation with Great Brit- 
ain is impossible When I took 

command of the army, I abhorred the idea 



of independence ; but I am now fully satis- 
fied that nothing else will save us." 

It is not the object of this sketch to trace 
the military acts of the patriot hero, to 
whose hands the fortunes and liberties of 
the United States were confided during the 
seven years' bloody struggle that ensued 
until the treaty of 1783, in which England 
acknowledged the independence of each of 
the thirteen States, and negotiated with 
them, jointly, as separate sovereignties. The 
merits of Washington as a military chief- 
tain have been considerably discussed, espe- 
cially by writers in his own country. Dur- 
ing the war he was most bitterly assailed 
for incompetency, and great efforts were 
made to displace him ; but he never for a 
moment lost the confidence of either the 
Congress or the people. December 4, 1783, 
the great commander took leave of his offi- 
cers in most affectionate and patriotic terms, 
and went to Annapolis, Maryland, where 
th6 Congress of the States was in session, 
and to that body, when peace and order 
prevailed ever)' where, resigned his com- 
mission and retired to Mount Vernon. 

It was in 1788 that Washington was called 
to the chief magistracy of the nation. He 
received every electoral vote cast in all the 
colleges of the States voting for the office 
of President. The 4th of March, 1789, was 
the time appointed for the Government of 
the United States to begin its operations, 
but several weeks elapsed before quorums 
of both the newly constituted houses of the 
Congress were assembled. The city of New 
York was the place where the Congrees 
then met. April 16 Washington left his 
home to enter upon the discharge of his 
new duties. He set out with a purpose ot 
traveling privately, and without attracting 
any oublic attention ; but this was impossi- 
ble. Everywhere on his way he was met 
with thronging crowds, eager to see the 
man whom they regarded as the chief de- 
fender of their liberties, and everywhere 



PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 



he was hailed with those public manifesta- 
tions of joy, regard and love which spring 
spontaneously from the hearts of an affec- 
tionate and grateful people. His reception 
in New York was marked by a grandeur 
and an enthusiasm never before witnessed 
in that metropolis. The inauguration took 
place April 30,in the presence of an immense 
multitude which had assembled to witness 
the new and imposing ceremony. The oath 
of office was administered by Robert R. 
Livingston, Chancellor of the State. When 
this sacred pledge was given, he retired 
with the other officials into the Senate 
chamber, where he delivered his inaugural 
address to both houses of the newly con- 
stituted Congress in joint assembly. 

In the manifold details of his civil ad- 
ministration, Washington proved himself 
equal to the requirements of his position. 
The greater portion of the first session of 
the first Congress was occupied in passing 
the necessary statutes for putting the new 
organization into complete operation. In 
the discussions brouglit up in the course of 
this legislation the nature and character of 
the new system came under general review. 
On no one of them did any decided antago- 
nism of opinion arise. All held it to be a 
limited government, clothed only with spe- 
cific powers conferred by delegation from 
the States. There was no change in the 
name of the legislative department; it still 
remained " the Congress of the United 
States of America." There was no chano-e 
in the original ffag of the country, and none 
in the seal, which still remains with the 
Grecian escutcheon borne by the eagle, 
with other emblems, under the great and 
expressive motto, " E Phirihus Uniim." 

The first division of parties arose upon 
the manner of construing the powers dele- 
gated, and they were first styled "strict 
constructionists" and " latitudinarian con- 
structionists." The former were for con- 
fining the action of the Government strictl)- 



within its specific and limited sphere, while 
the others were for enlarging its powers by 
inference and implication. Hamilton and 
Jefferson, both members of the first cabinef. 
were regarded as the chief leaders, respect 
ively, of these rising antagonistic parties. 
which have existed, under different names 
from that day to this. Washington 'vaS re- 
garded as holding a neutral position between 
them, though, by mature deliberation, he 
vetoed the first apportionment bill, in 1790, 
passed by the party headed by Hamilton, 
which was based upon a principle construct- 
ively leading to centralization or consoli- 
dation. This was the first exercise of the 
veto power under the present Constitution. 
It created considerable excitement at the 
time. Another bill was soon passed in pur- 
suance of Mr. Jefferson's views, which has 
been adhered to in principle in every ap 
portionment act passed since. 

At the second session of the new Con. 
gress, Washington announced the gratify^ 
ing fact of " the accession of North Caro- 
lina" to the Constitution of 1787, and June 
I of the same year he announced by special 
message the like " accession of the State of ' 
Rhode Island," with his congratulations on 
the happy event which " united under the 
general Government" all the States which 
were originall}- confederated. 

In 1792, at the second Presidential elec- 
tion, Washington was desirous to retire ; 
but he yielded to the general wish of the 
country, and was again chosen President 
by the unanimous vote of every electoral 
college. At the third election, 1796, he was 
again most urgently entreated to consent to 
remain in the executive chair. Tiiis he 
positively refused. In September, before 
the election, he gave to his countrymen his 
memorable Farewell Address, which in lan- 
guage, sentiment and patriotism was a fit 
and crowning glory of his illustrious life. 
After March 4, 1797, he again retired to 
Mount Vernon for peace, quiet and repose. 



GEORGE WASHlNGrON. 



'? 



His administration for the two terms had 
been successful beyond the expectation and 
hopes of even the most sanguine of his 
friends. The finances of the country were 
no longer in an embarrassed condition, the 
public credit was fully restored, life was 
given to every department of industry, the 
workings of the new system in allowing 
Congress to raise revenue from duties on 
imports proved to be not only harmonious 
in its federal action, but astonishing in its 
results upon the commerce and trade of all 
the States. The exports from the Union 
increased from $19,000,000 to over $56,000,- 
000 per annum, while the imports increased 
in about the same proportion. Three new 
members had been added to the Union. The 
lorogress of the States in their new career 
under their new organization thus far was 
exceedingly encouraging, not only to the 
friends of libertv within their own limits, 
but to their sympathizing allies in all climes 
iind countries. l 

01 the call again made on this illustrious 



chief to quit his repose at Mount Vernon 
and take command of all the United States 
forces, with the rank of Lieutenant-General, 
when war was threatened with France in 
1798, nothing need here be stated, except to 
note the fact ac an unmistakable testimo- 
nial of the higli regard in which he was still 
held by his countrymen, of all shades of po- 
litical opinion. He patriotically accepted 
this trust, but a treaty of peace put a stop 
to all action under it. He again retired to 
Mount Vernon, where, after a short and 
severe illness, he died December 14, 1799, 
in the sixty-eighth year of his age. The 
whole country was filled with gloom by this 
sad intelligence. Men of all parties in poli- 
tics and creeds in religion, in every State 
in the Union, united with Congress in " pay- 
ing honor to the man, first in war, first in 
peace, and first in the hearts of his country- 
men " 

His remains were deposited in a family 
vault on the banks of the Potomac at Mount 
Vernon, where they still lie entombed. 




14 



PjiESIDENTS OP THE UNITED STATES. 








'^^^ OHN ADAMS, the second 
President of the United 
States, 1797 to 1801, was 
born in the present town 
of Oiiincy, then a portion 
of Braintree, Massachu- 
setts, October 30, 1735. His 
father was a farmer of mod- 
erate means, a worthy and 
- industrious man. He was 
a deacon in the church, and 
was very desirous of giving 
his son a collegiate educa- 
tion, hoping that he would 
become a minister of the 
gospel. But, as up to this 
time, the age of fourteen, he had been only 
a play-boy in the fields and forests, he had 
no taste for books, he chose farming. On 
being set to work, however, by his father 
out in the field, the very first day con- 
verted the boy into a lover of books. 

Accordingly, at the age of sixteen he 
entered Harvard College, and graduated in 
1755, at the age of twenty, highly esteemed 
for integrity, energy and ability. Thus, 
having no capital but his education, he 
started out into the stormy world at a time 
of great political excitement, as France and 
England were then engaged in their great 
seven-years struggle for the mastery over 
the New World. The fire of patriotism 



seized young Adams, and for a tinir he 
studied over the question whether he 
should take to the law, to politics or ihe 
army. He wrote a remarkable letter to a 
friend, making prophecies concerning the 
future greatness of this country which have 
since beeu more than fulfilled. For two 
3'ears he taught school and studied law, 
wasting no odd moments, and at the early 
age of twenty-two years he opened a law 
office in his native town. His inherited 
powers of mind and untiring devotion to 
his profession caused him to rise rapidly 
in public esteem. 

In October, 1764, Mr. Adams married 
Miss Abigail Smith, daughter of a clergy- 
man at Weymouth and a lad}- of rare per- 
sonal and intellectual endowments, who 
afterward contributed much to her hus- 
band's celebrity. 

Soon the oppression of the British in 
America reached its climax. The Boston 
merchants employed an attorney by the 
name of James Otis to argue the legality of 
oppressive tax law before the Superior 
Court. Adams heard the argument, and 
afterward wrote to a friend concerning the 
abilit}' displayed, as follows : " Otis was a 
flame of fire. With a promptitude of 
classical allusion, a depth of research, a 
rapid summary of historical events and 
dates, a profusion of legal authorities and a 




f^t^f^ 






VJ 5^ 





JOHN AOAMS. 



17 



prophetic glance into futurity, he hurried 
away all before him. American indepetidence 
was then and there born. Every man of an 
immensely crowded audience appeared to 
me to go away, as Idid, ready to take up 
arms." 

Soon Mr. Adams wrote an essay to be 
read before the literary club of his town, 
upon the state of affairs, which was so able 
as to attract public attention. It was pub- 
lished in American journals, republished 
in England, and was pronounced by the 
friends of the colonists there as " one of the 
very best productions ever seen from North 
America." 

The memorable Stamp Act was now 
issued, and Adams entered with all the 
ardor of his soul into political life in order 
to resist it. He drew up a series of reso- 
lutions remonstrating against the act, which 
were adopted at a public meeting of the 
citizens of Braintree, and which were sub- 
sequently adcjpted, word for word, by more 
than forty towns in the State. Popular 
commotion prevented the landing of the 
Stamp Act papers, and the English author- 
ities then closed the courts. The town of 
Boston therefore appointed Jeremy Grid- 
ley, James Otis and John Adams to argue a 
petition before the Governor and council 
for the re-opening of the courts; and while 
the two first mentioned attorneys based 
their argument upon the distress caused to 
the people by the measure, Adams boldly 
claimed that the Stamp Act was a violation 
both of the English Constitution and the 
charter of the Provinces. It is said that 
this was the first direct denial of the un- 
limited right of Parliament over the colo- 
nies. Soon after this the Stamp Act was 
repealed. 

Directly Mr. .^^dams was employed to 
defend Ansell Nickerson, who had killed an 
Englishman in the act of impressing him 
(Nickerson) into the King's service, and his 
client was acquitted, the court thus estab- 



lishing the principle that the infamous 
royal prerogative of impressment could 
have no existence in the colonial code. 
But in 1770 Messrs. Adams and Josiah 
Quincy defended a party of British soldiers 
who had been arrested for murder when 
they had been only obeying Governmental 
orders ; and when reproached for thus ap- 
parently deserting the cause of popular 
liberty, Mr. Adams replied that he would a 
thousandfold rather live under the domina- 
tion of the worst ol Ensfland's kings than 
under that of a lawless mob. Next, after 
serving a term as a member of the Colonial 
Legislature from Boston, Mr. Adams, find- 
ing his health affected by too great labor, 
retired to his native home at Braintree. 

The year 1774 soon arrived, with its fa- 
mous Boston '• Tea Party," the first open 
act of rebellion. Adams was sent to the 
Congress at Philadelphia ; and when the 
Attorney-General announced that Great 
Britain had " determined on her system, 
and that her power to execute it was irre- 
sistible," Adams replied : " I know that 
Great Britain has determined on her sys- 
tem, and that very determinati(jn deter- 
mines me on mine. You know that I have 
been constant in my opposition to her 
measures. The die is now cast. I have 
passed the Rubicon. Sink or swim, live or 
die, with my country, is my unalterable 
determination." The rumor bea:innine: to 
prevail at Philadelphia that the Congress 
had independence in view, Adams foresaw 
that it was too soon to declare it openly. 
\\i advised every one to remain quiet in 
that respect; and as soon as it became ap- 
parent that he himself was for independ- 
ence, he was advised to hide himself, which 
he did. 

The next year the great Revolutionary 
war opened in earnest, and Mrs. Adams, 
residing near Boston, kept her husband ad- 
vised by letter of all the events transpiring 
in her vicinity. The battle of Bunker Hil! 



IS 



I'RBSIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 



came on. Congress had to do something 
immediately. The first thing was to 
choose a commander-in-chief for the — we 
can't say " army " — the fighting men of the 
colonies. The New England delegation 
was almost unanimous in favor of appoint- 
mg General Ward, then at the head of the 
Massachusetts forces, but Mr. Adams urged 
the appointment of George Washington, 
then almost unknown outside of his own 
State. He was appointed without oppo- 
sition. Mr. Adams offered the resolution, 
which was adopted, annulling all the royal 
authority in the colonies. Having thus 
prepared the way, a few weeks later, viz., 
June 7, 1776, Richard Henry Lee, of Vir- 
ginia, who a few months before had declared 
that the British Government would aban- 
don its oppressive measures, now offered 
the memorable resolution, seconded by 
Adams, " that these United States are, and 
of right ought to be, free and independent." 
Jefferson, Adams, Franklin, Sherman and 
Livingston were then appointed a commit- 
tee to draught a declaration of independ- 
ence. Mr. Jefferson desired Mr. Adams 
to draw up I he bold document, but the 
latter persuaded Mr. Jefferson to perform 
that responsible task. The Declaration 
drawn up, Mr. Adams became its foremost 
defender on the floor of Congress. It was 
signed by all the fifty-five members present, 
and the next day Mr. Adams wrote to his 
wife how great a deed was done, and how 
proud he was of it. Mr. Adams continued 
to be the leading man of Congress, and 
the leading advocate of American inde- 
pendence. Above all other Americans, 
he was considered by every one the prin- 
cipal shining mark for British vengeance. 
Thus circumstanced, he was appointed to 
the most dangerous task of crossing the 
ocean in winter, exposed to capture by the 
British, who knew of his mission, which 
was to visit Paris and solicit the co-opera- 
tion of the French. Besides, to take him- 



self away from the country of which he 
was the most prominent defender, at that 
critical time, was an act of the greatest self- 
sacrifice. Sure enough, while crossing the 
sea, he had two very narrow escapes from 
capture ; and the transit was otherwise a 
stormy and eventful one. During thf 
summer of 1779 he returned home, but was 
immediately dispatched back to France, to 
be in readiness there to negotiate terms of 
peace and commerce with Great Britain as 
soon as the latter power was ready for such 
business. But as Dr. Franklin was more 
popular than heat the court of France, Mr. 
Adams repaired to Holland, where he was 
far more successful as a diplomatist. 

The treaty of peace between the United 
States and England was finally signed at 
Paris, January 21, 1783; and the re-action 
from so great excitement as Mr. Adams had 
so long been experiencing threw him into 
a dangerous fever. Before he fully re- 
covered he was in London, whence he was 
dispatched again to Amsterdam to negoti- 
ate another loan. Compliance with this 
order undermined his physical constitution 
for life. 

In 1785 Mr. Adams was appointed envoy 
to the court of St. James, to meet face to 
face the very king who had regarded him 
as an arch traitor! Accordingly he re- 
paired thither, where he did actually meet 
and converse with George III.! After a 
residence there for about three years, he 
obtained permission to return to America. 
While in London he wrote and published 
an able work, in three volumes, entitled : 
" A Defense of the American Constitution." 

The Articles of Confederation proving 
inefficient, as Adams had prophesied, a 
carefully draughted Constitution was 
adopted in 1789, when George Washington 
was elected President of the new nation, 
and Adams Vice-President. Congress met 
for a time in New York, but was removed 
to Philadelphia for ten years, until suitable 



JOHN ADAMS. 



19 



buildings should be erected at the new 
capital in the District of Columbia. Mr. 
Adams then moved his family to Phila- 
delphia. Toward the close of his term of 
office the French Revolution culminated, 
when Adams and Washington rather 
sympathized with England, and Jefferson 
with France. The Presidential election of 
1796 resulted in giving Mr. Adams the first 
place by a small majority, and Mr. Jeffer- 
son the second place. 

Mr. Adams's administration was consci- 
entious, patriotic and able. The period 
was a turbulent one, and even an archangel 
could nut have reconciled the hostile par- 
ties. Partisanism with reference to Eng- 
land and France was bitter, and for four 
years Mr. Adams struggled through almost 
a constant tempest of assaults. In fact, he 
was not truly a popular man, and his cha- 
grin at not receiving a re-election was so 
great that he did not even remain at Phila- 
delphia to witness the inauguration of Mr. 
Jefferson, his successor. The friendly 
intimacy between these two men was 
interrupted for about thirteen years of their 
life. Adams finally made the first advances 
toward a restoration of their.mutual friend- 
ship, which were gratefully accepted by 
Jefferson. 

Mr. Adams was glad of his opportunity 
to retire to private life, where he could rest 
his mind and enjoy the comforts of home. 
By a thousand bitter experiences he found 
the path of public duty a thorny one. For 
twenty-six years his service of the public 
was as arduous, self-sacrificing and devoted 
as ever fell to the lot of man. In one im- 
portant sense he was as much the " Father 
of his Country " as was Washington in 
another sense. During these long 3?ears of 
anxiety and toil, in which he was laying. 
broad and deep, the foundations of the 



greatest nation the sun ever shone upon, he 
received from his impoverished country a 
meager support. The only privilege he 
carried with him into his retirement was 
that of franking his letters. 

Although taking no active part in public 
affairs, both himself and his son, John 
Quincy, nobly supported the policy of Mr. 
Jefferson in resisting the encroachments of 
England, who persisted in searching 
American ships on the high seas and 
dragging from them any sailors that might 
be designated by any pert lieutenant as 
British subjects. Even for this noble sup- 
port Mr. Adams was maligned by thou- 
sands of bitter enemies ! On this occasion, 
for the first time since his retirement, he 
broke silence and drew up a very able 
paper, exposing the atrocity of the British 
pretensions. 

Mr. Adams outlived nearly all his family. 
Though his physical frame began to give 
way many years before his death, his mental 
powers retained their strength and vigor to 
the last. In his ninetieth year he was 
gladdened by the popular elevation of his 
son to the Presidential office, the highest in 
the gift of the people. A few months more 
passed away and the 4th of July, 1826. 
arrived. The people, unaware of the near 
approach of the end of two great lives — 
that of Adams and Jefferson — -were making 
unusual preparations for a national holiday. 
Mr. Adams lay upon his couch, listening to 
the ringing of bells, the waftures of martial 
music and the roar of cannon, with silent 
emotion. Only four days before, he had 
given for a public toast, " Independence 
forever." About two o'clock in the after- 
noon he said, "And Jefferson still survives." 
But he was mistaken by an hour or so; 
and in a few minutes he had breathed his 
last. 



PRESIDENTS OF THE UN/TED STATES. 



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;'"S"HOMAS JEFFER- 
son, the third Presi- 
dent of the United 
States, 1801-9, ^v^s 
born April 2, 1743, 
the eldest child of 
his parents, Peter 
and Jane (Randolph) Jef- 
ferson, near Charlottes- 
ville, Albemarle County, 
Virginia, upon the slopes 
of the Blue Ridge. When 
he -was fourteen years of 
age, his father died, leav- 
^ widow and eight 
children. She was a beau- 
tiful and acc(jmplished 
lady, a good letter-writer, with a fund of 
humor, and an admirable housekeeper. His 
parents belonged to the Church of England, 
and are said to be of Welch origin. But 
little is known of them, however. 

Thomas was naturally of a serious turn 
of mind, apt to learn, and a favorite at 
school, his choice studies being mathemat- 
ics and the classics. At the age of seven- 
teen he entered William and Mary College, 
in an advanced class, and lived in rather an 
expensive style, consequently being much 
caressed by gay society. That he was not 
ruined, is proof of his stamina of character. 
But during his second year he discarded 



society, his horses and even his favorite 
violin, and devoted thenceforward fifteen 
hours a day to hard stud}', becoming ex- 
traordinarily proficient in Latin and Greek 
authors. 

On leaving college, before he was twenty- 
one, he commenced the study of law, and 
pursued it diligently until he was well 
qualified for practice, upon which he 
entered in 1767. By this time he was also 
versed in French, Spanish, Italian and An- 
glo-Saxon, and in the criticism of the fine 
arts. Being very polite and polished in his 
manners, he won the friendship of all whom 
he met. Though able with his pen, he was 
not fluent in public speech. 

In 1769 he was chosen a member of the 
Virginia Legislature, and was the largest 
slave-holding member of that body. He 
introduced a bill empowering slave-holders 
to manumit their slaves, but it was rejected 
by an overwhelming vote. 

In 1770 Mr. Jefferson met with a great 
loss; his house at Shadwell was burned, 
and his valuable library of 2,000 volumes 
was consumed. But he was wealthy 
enough to replace the most of it, as from 
his 5,000 acres tilled by slaves and his 
practice at the bar his income amounted to 
about $5,000 a year. 

In 1772 ho married Mrs. Martha Skelton, 
a beautiful, wealthy and accomplished 



,J,^i«te^^ 





y-pTZ-, 



THOMAS JEFFERSON. 



23 



young widow, who owned 40,000 acres of 
land and 130 slaves; yet he labored assidu- 
ously for the abolition of slavery. For his 
new home he selected a majestic rise of 
land upon his large estate at Shadwell, 
called Monticello, whereon he erected a 
mansion of modest yet elegant architecture. 
Here he lived in luxury, indulging his taste 
in magnificent, high-blooded horses. 

At this period the British Government 
gradually became more insolent and op- 
pressive toward the American colonies, 
and Mr. Jefferson was ever one of the most 
foremost to resist its encroachments. From 
time to time he drew up resolutions of re- 
monstrance, which were finally adopted, 
thus proving his ability as a statesman and 
as a leader. By the vear 1774 he became 
quite busy, both with voice and pen, in de- 
fending the right of the colonies to defend 
themselves. His pamphlet entitled : " A 
Summary View of the Rights of British 
America," attracted much attention in Eng- 
land. The following year he, in company 
with George Washington, served as an ex- 
ecutive committee in measures to defend 
by arms the State of Virginia. As a Mem- 
ber of the Congress, he was not a speech- 
maker, yet in conversation and upon 
committees he was so frank and decisive 
that he always made a favorable impression. 
But as late as the autumn of 1775 he re- 
mained in h(jpes of reconciliation with the 
parent country. 

At length, however, the hour arrived for 
draughting the " Declaration of Indepen- 
dence," and this responsible task was de- 
volved upon Jefferson. Franklin, and 
Adams suggested a few verbal corrections 
before it was submitted to Congress, which 
was June 28, 1776, only six days before it 
was adopted. During the three days of 
the fier}' ordeal of criticism through which 
it passed in Congress, Mr. Jefferson opened 
not his lips. John Adams was the main 
champion of the Declaration on the floor 



of Congress. The signing of this document 
was one of the most solemn and momentous 
occasions ever attended to by man. Prayer 
and silence reigned throughout the hall, 
and each signer realized that if American 
independence was not finally sustained by 
arms he was doomed to the scaffold. 

After the colonies became independent 
States, Jefferson resigned for a time his seat 
in Congress in order to aid in organizing 
the government of Virginia, of which State 
he was chosen Governor in 1779, when he 
was thirty-six years of age. At this time 
the British had possession of Georgia and 
were invading South Carolina, and at one 
time a British otificer, Farleton, sent a 
secret expedition to Monticello to capture 
the Governor. Five minutes after Mr. 
Jefferson escaped with his family, his man- 
sion was in possession of the enemy ! The 
British troops also destroyed his valuable 
plantation on the James River. " Had they 
carried off the slaves," said Jefferson, with 
characteristic magnanimity, " to give them 
freedom, they would have done right." 

The year 1781 was a gloomy one for the 
Virginia Governor. While confined to his 
secluded home in the forest by a sick and 
dying wife, a party arose against him 
throughout the State, severely criticising 
his course as Governor. Being very sensi- 
tive to reproach, this touched him to the 
quick, and the heap of troubles then sur- 
rounding him nearly crushed him. He re- 
solved, in despair, to retire from public life 
for the rest of his days. For weeks Mr. 
Jefferson sat lovingly, but with a crushed 
heart, at the bedside of his sick wife, during 
which time unfeeling letters were sent to 
him, accusing him of weakness and unfaith- 
fulness to duty. All this, after he had lost 
so much property and at the same time 
done so much for his country! After her 
death he actually fainted away, and re- 
mained so long insensible that it was feared 
he never would recover 1 Several weeks 



24 



PRBSfDEIVTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 



passed before he could fully recover his 
equilibrium. He was never married a 
second time. 

In the spring of 1782 the people of Eng- 
land compelled their king to make to the 
Americans overtures of peace, and in No- 
vember following, Mr. Jefferson was reap- 
pointed by Congress, unanimously and 
without a single adverse remark, minister 
plenipotentiary to negotiate a treaty. 

In March, 17S4, Mr. Jefferson was ap- 
pointed on a committee to draught a plan 
for the government of the Northwestern 
Territory. His slavery-prohibition clause 
in that plan was stricken out by the pro- 
slavery majority of the committee; but amid 
all the controversies and wrangles of poli- 
ticians, he made it a rule never to contra- 
dict anybody or engage in any discussion 
as a debater. 

In company with Mr. Adams and Dr. 
Franklin, Mr. Jefferson was appointed in 
May, 1784, to act as minister plenipotentiary 
in the negotiation of treaties of commerce 
with foreign nations. Accordingly, he went 
to Paris and satisfactorily accomplished his 
mission. The suavity and high bearing of 
his manner made all the French his friends; 
and even Mrs. Adams at one time wrote 
to her sister that he was " the chosen 
of the earth." But all the honors that 
he received, both at home and abroad, 
seemed to make no change in the simplicity 
of his republican tastes. On his return to 
America, he found two parties respecting 
the foreign commercial policy, Mr. Adams 
sympathizing with that in favor of England 
and himself favoring France. 

On the inauguration of General Wash- 
ington as President, Mr. Jefferson was 
chosen by him for the office of Secretary of 
State. At this time the rising storm of the 
French Revolution became visible, and 
Washington watched it with great anxiety. 
His cabinet was divided in their views of 
constitutional government as well as re- 



garding the issues in France. General 
Hamilton, Secretary of the Treasury, was 
the leader of the so-called Federal party, 
while Mr. Jefferson was the leader of the 
Republican party. At the same time there 
was a strong monarchical party in this 
country, with which Mr. Adams sympa- 
thized. Some important financial measures, 
which were proposed by Hamilton and 
finally adopted by the cabinet and approved 
by Washington, were opposed by Mr. 
Jefferson ; and his enemies then began to 
reproach him with holding office under an 
administration whose views he opposed. 
The President poured oil on the troubled 
waters. On his re-election to the Presi- 
dency he desired Mr. Jefferson to remain 
in the cabinet, but the latter sent in his 
resignation at two different times, probably 
because he was dissatisfied with some of 
the measures of the Government. His 
final one was not received until January i, 
1794, when General Washington parted 
from him with great regret. 

Jefferson then retired to his quiet home 
at Monticello, to enjoy a good rest, not even 
reading the newspapers lest the political 
gossip should disquiet him. On the Presi- 
dent's again calling him back to tiie office 
of Secretary of State, he replied that no 
circumstances would ever again tempt him 
to engage in an3'thing public ! But, while 
all Europe was ablaze with war, and France 
in the throes of a bloody revolution and the 
principal theater of the conflict, a new 
Presidential election in this country came 
on. John Adams was the Federal candi- 
date and Mr. Jefferson became the Republi- 
can candidate. The result of the election 
was the promotion of the latter to the Vice- 
Presidency, while the former was chosen 
President. In this contest Mr. Jefferson 
really did not desire to have either office, 
he was " so weary " of party strife. He 
loved the retirement of home more than 
any other place on the earth. 



THOMAS yEFFEkSON. 



25 



But for four long years his Vice-Presi- 
dency passed joylessly away, while the 
partisan strife between Federalist and Re- 
publican was ever growing hotter. The 
former party split and the result of the 
fourth general election was the elevation of 
Mr. Jefferson to the Presidency ! with 
Aaron Burr as Vice-President. These men 
being at the head of a growing party, their 
election was hailed everywhere with joy. 
On the other hand, many of the Federalists 
turned pale, as they believed what a portion 
of the pulpit and the press had been preach- 
ing — -that Jefferson was a " scoffing atheist," 
a "Jacobin," the "incarnation of all evil," 
"breathing threatening and slaughter! " 

Mr. Jefferson's inaugural address con- 
tained nothing but the noblest sentiments, 
expressed in fine language, and his personal 
behavior afterward exhibited the extreme 
of American, democratic simplicit}'. His 
disgust of European court etiquette grew 
upon him with age. He believed that 
General Washington was somewhat dis- 
trustful of the ultimate success of a popular 
Government, and that, imbued with a little 
admiration of the forms of a monarchical 
Government, he had instituted levees, birth- 
day's, pompous meetings with Congress, 
etc. Jefferson was always polite, even to 
slaves everywhere he met them, and carried 
in his countenance the indications of an ac- 
commodating disposition. 

The political principles of the Jeffersoni- 
an party now swept the country, and Mr. 
Jefferson himself swayed an influence which 
was never exceeded even by Washington. 
Under his administration, in 1803, the Lou- 
isiana purchase was made, for $15,000,000, 
the " Louisiana Territor}- " purchased com- 
prising all the land west of the Mississippi 
to the Pacific Ocean. 

The 3-ear 1804 witnessed another severe 
loss in his family. His highly accomplished 
and most beloved daughter Maria sickened 
and died, causing as great grief in the 



stricken parent as it was possible for him to 
survive with any degree of sanit}'. 

The same year he was re-elected to the 
Presidenc}', with George Clinton as Vice- 
President. During his second term our 
relations with England became more com- 
plicated, and on June 22, 1807, near Hamp- 
ton Roads, the United States frigate 
Chesapeake was fired upon by the Brit- 
ish man-of-war Leopard, and was made 
to surrender. Three men were killed and 
ten wounded. Jefferson demanded repara- 
tion. England grew insolent. It became 
evident that war was determined upon by 
the latter power. More than 1,200 Ameri- 
cans were forced into the British service 
upon the high seas. Before any satisfactory 
solution was reached, Mr. Jefferson's 
Presidential term closed. Amid all these 
public excitements he thought constantly 
of the welfare of his family, and longed 
for the time when he could return home 
to remain. There, at Monticello, his sub- 
sequent life was verv similar to that of 
Washington at Mt. Vernon. His hospi- 
tality toward his numerous friends, indul- 
gence of his slaves, and misfortunes to his 
property, etc., finally involved him in debt. 
For years his home resembled a fashion- 
able watering-place. During the summer, 
thirty -seven house servants were required ! 
It was presided over by his daughter, Mrs. 
Randolph. 

Mr. Jefferson did much for the establish- 
ment of the University at Charlottesville, 
making it unsectarian, in keeping with the 
spirit of American institutions, but poverty 
and the feebleness of old age prevented 
him from doing what he would. He even 
went so far as to petition the Legislature 
for permission to dispose of some of his 
possessions by lottery, in order to raise the 
necessary funds for home expenses. It was 
granted ; but before the plan was carried 
out, Mr. Jefferson died, July 4, 1826, at 
12:50 r. M. 



26 



PHES/DBNTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 




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li' AMES MADISON, t h e 
fourth President of the 
United States, iSoci-'ij, 
was born at Port Con- 
way, Prince George 
Count)', Virginia, March 
i6, 1751. His father, 
Colonel James Madison, was 
a wealthy planter, residing 
upon a very fine estate 
called " Montpelier," only 
twenty-five miles from the 
home of Thomas Jefferson 
at Monticello. The closest 
personal and political at- 
taciuTient existed between 
these illustrious men from their early youth 
until death. 

James was the eldest of a family of seven 
children, four sons and three daughters, all 
of whom attained maturity. His early edu- 
cation was conducted mostly at home, 
under a private tutor. Being naturally in- 
tellectual in his tastes, he consecrated him- 
self with unusual vigor to study. At a very 
earl}' age he made considerable proficiency 
in the Greek, Latin, French and Spanish 
languages. In 1769 he entered Princeton 
College, New Jersey, of which the illus- 
trious Dr. Weatherspoon was then Presi- 
dent. He graduated in 1771, with a char- I 



acter of the utmost purity, and a mind 
highly disciplined and stored with all the 
learning which embellished and gave effi- 
ciency to his subsequent career. After 
graduating he pursued a course of reading 
for several months, under the guidance of 
President Weatherspoon, and in 1772 re- 
turned to Virginia, where he continued in 
incessant study for two years, nominally 
directed to the law, but really including 
extended researches in theology, philoso- 
phy and general literature. 

The Church of England was the estab- 
lished church in Virginia, invested with all 
the prerogatives and immunities which it 
enjo3'ed in the fatherland, and other de- 
nominations labored under serious disabili- 
ties, the enforcement of which was rightly 
or wrongly characterized by them as per- 
secution. Madison took a prominent stand 
in behalf of the removal of all disabilities, 
repeatedly appeared in the court of his own 
county to defend the Baptist nonconform- 
ists, and was elected from Orange County to 
the Virginia Convention in the spring of 
1766, when he signalized the beginning of 
his public career by procuring the passage 
of an amendment to the Declaration of 
Rights as prepared by George Mason, sub- 
stituting for "toleration" a more emphatic 
assertion of religious liberty. 



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in 1776 he was elected a member of the 
Virgmia Convention to frame the Constitu- 
tion of the State. Like Jefferson, he took 
but little part in the public debates. His 
main strength lay in his conversational in- 
fluence and in his pen. In November, 1777, 
he was chosen a member of the Council of 
State, and in March, 1780, took his seat in 
the Continental Congress, where he first 
gained prominence through his energetic 
opposition to the issue of paper money by 
the States. He continued in Congress three 
years, one of its most active and influential 
members. 

In 1784 Mr. Madison was elected a mem- 
ber of tlie Virginia Legislature. He ren- 
dered important service by promoting and 
participating in that revision of the statutes 
which effectually abolished the remnants of 
the feuflal system subsistent up to that 
time in the form of entails, primogeniture, 
and State support given the Anglican 
Church ; and his " Memorial and Remon- 
strance" against a general assessment for 
the support of religion is one of the ablest 
papers which emanated from his pen. It 
settled the question of the entire separation 
of church and State in Virginia. 

Mr. Jefferson says of him, in allusion to 
the stud}' and experience through which he 
had already passed : 

" Trained in these successive schools, he 
acquired a habit of self-possession which 
placed at ready command the rich resources 
of his luminous and discriminating mind and 
of his extensive information, and rendered 
him tlic first of every assembly of which he 
afterward became a member. Never wan- 
dering from his subject into vain declama- 
tion, but pursuing it closely in language 
pure, classical and copious, soothing al- 
ways the feelings of his adversaries by civili- 
ties and softness of expression, he rose to the 
eminent station which he held in the great 
National Convention of 1787 ; and in that of 
Virginia, which followed, he sustained the 



new Constitution in all its parts, bearing oS 
the palm against the logic of George Mason 
and the fervid declamation of Patrick 
Henry. With these consummate powers 
were united a pure and spotless virtue 
which no calumny has ever attempted to 
sully. Of the power and polish of his pen, 
and of the wisdom of his administration in 
the highest office of the nation, I need say 
nothing. They have spoken, and will for- 
ever speak, for themselves." 

In January, 1786, Mr. Madison took the 
initiative in proposing a meeting of State 
Commissioners to devise measures for more 
satisfactory commercial relations between 
the States. A meeting was held at An- 
napolis to discuss this subject, and but five 
States were represented. The convention 
issued another call, drawn up by Mr. Madi- 
son, urging all the States to send their dele- 
gates to Philadelphia, in May, 1787, to 
draught a Constitution for the United 
States. The delegates met at the time ap- 
pointed, every State except Rhode Island 
being represented. George Washington 
was chosen president of the convention, 
and the present Constitution of the United 
States was then and there formed. There 
was no mind and no pen more active in 
fi-aming this immortal document than the 
mind and pen of James Madison. He was, 
perhaps, its ablest advocate in the pages of 
the Federalist- 
Mr. Madison was a member of the first 
four Congresses, i789-'97, in which he main- 
tained a moderate opposition to Hamilton's 
financial policy. He declined the mission 
to France and the Secretaryship of State, 
and, gradually identifying himself with the 
Republican party, became from 1792 its 
avowed leader. In 1796 he was its choice 
for the Presidency as successor to Wash- 
ington. Mr. Jefferson wrote : " There is 
not another person in the United States 
with whom, being placed at the helm of our 
affairs, my mind would be so completely at 



30 



PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 



rest for the fortune of our political bark." 
But Mr. Madison declined to be a candi- 
date. His term in Congress had expired, 
and he returned from New York to his 
beautiful retreat at Montpelier. 

In 1794 Mr. Madison married a young 
widow of remarkable powers of fascination 
— Mrs. Todd. Her maiden name was Doro- 
thy Paine. She was born in 1767, in Vir- 
ginia, of Quaker parents, and had been 
educated in the strictest rules of that sect. 
When but eighteen years of age she married 
a young lawyer and moved to Philadelphia, 
where she was introduced to brilliant scenes 
of fashionable life. She speedily laid aside 
the dress and address of the Quakeress, and 
became one of the most fascinating ladies 
of the republican court. In New York, 
after the death of her husband, she was the 
belle of the season and was surrounded with 
admirers. Mr. Madison won the prize. 
She proved an invaluable helpmate. In 
Washington she was the life of society. 
If there was any diffident, timid young 
girl just making her appearance, she 
found in Mrs. Madison an encouraging 
friend. 

During the stormy administration of John 
Adams Madison remained in private life, 
but was the author of the celebrated " Reso- 
lutions of 1798," adopted by the Virginia 
Legislature, in condemnation of the Alien 
and Sedition laws, as well as of the " report" 
in which he defended those resolutions, 
which is, by many, considered his ablest 
State paper. 

The storm passed away ; the Alien and 
Sedition laws were repealed, John Adams 
lost his re-election, and in 1801 Thomas Jef- 
ferson was chosen President. The great re- 
action in public sentiment which seated 
Jefferson in the presidential chair was large- 
ly owing to the writings of Madison, who 
was consequently well entitled to the post 
of Secretary of State. With great ability 
he discharged the duties of this responsibly 



office during the eight years of Mr. Jeffer 
son's administration. 

As Mr. Jefferson was a widower, and 
neither of his daughters could be often with 
him, Mrs. Madison usually presided over 
the festivities of the White House; and as 
her husband succeeded Mr. Jefferson, hold- 
ing his office for two terms, this remarkable 
woman was the mistress of the presidential 
mansion for sixteen years. 

Mr. Madison being entirely engrossed by 
the cares of his office, all the duties of so- 
cial life devolved upon his accomplished 
wife. Never were such responsibilities 
more ably discharged. The most bitter 
foes of her husband and of the administra- 
tion were received with the frankly prof- 
fered hand and the cordial smile of wel- 
come; and the influence of this gentle 
woman in allaying the bitterness of party 
rancor became a great and salutary power 
in the nation. 

As the term of Mr. Jefferson's Presidency 
drew near its close, party strife was roused 
to the utmost to elect his successor. It was 
a death-grapple between the two great 
parties, the Federal and Republican. Mr. 
Madison was chosen President by an elec. 
toral vote of 122 to 53, and was inaugurated 
March 4, 1809, at a critical period, when 
the relations of the United States with Great 
Britain were becoming embittered, and his 
first term was passed in diplomatic quarrels, 
aggravated by the act of non-intercourse of 
May, 1810, and finally resulting in a decla- 
ration of war. 

On the iSth of June, 1812, President 
Madison gave his approval to an act of 
Congress declaring war against Great Brit- 
ain. Notwithstanding the bitter hostility 
of the Federal party to the war, the country 
in general approved ; and in the autumn 
Madison was re-elected to the Presidency 
by 128 electoral votes to 89 in favor of 
George Clinton. 

March 4, 1817, Madison yielded the Presi- 



yAMES MADISON. 



31 



dency to his Secretary of State and inti- 
mate friend, James Monroe, and retired to 
his ancestral estate at Montpelier, where he 
passed the evening of his days surrounded 
by attached friends and enjoying the 
merited respect of the whole nation. He 
took pleasure in promoting agriculture, as 
president of the county society, and in 
watching the development of the University 
of Virginia, of which he was long rector and 
visitor. In extreme old age he sat in 1829 
as a member of the convention called to re- 
form the Virginia Constitution, where his 
appearance was hailed with the most gen- 
uine interest and satisfaction, though he 
was too infirm to participate in the active 
work of revision. Small in stature, slender 
and delicate in form, with a countenance 
full of intelligence, and expressive alike of 
mildness and dignity, he attracted the atten- 
tion of all who attended the convention, 
and was treated with the utmost deference. 
He seldom addressed the assembly, though 
he always appeared self-possessed, ,and 
watched with unflagging interest the prog- 
ress of every measure. Though the con- 
vention sat sixteen weeks, he spoke only 
twice; but when he did speak, the whole 
house paused to listen. His voice was 
feeble though his enunciation was very dis- 
tinct. One of the reporters, Mr. Stansbury, 
relates the following anecdote of Mr. Madi- 
son's last speech: 

" The next day, as there was a great call 
for it, and the report had not been returned 
for publication, I sent my son with a re- 
spectful note, requesting the manuscript. 
My son was a lad of sixteen, whom I had 
taken with me to act as amanuensis. On 
delivering my note, he was received with 
the utmost politeness, and requested to 
come up into Mr. Madison's room and wait 
while his eye ran over the paper, as com- 
pany had prevented his attending to it. He 
did so, and Mr. Madison sat down to correct 
the report. The lad stood near him so that 



his eye fell on the paper. Coming to a 
certain "sentence in the speech, Mr. Madison 
erased a word and substituted another ; but 
hesitated, and not feeling satisfied with the 
second word, drew his pen through it also. 
My son was young, ignorant of the world, 
and unconscious of the solecism of which he 
was about to be guilty, when, in all simplic- 
ity, he suggested a word. Probably no 
other person then living would have taken 
such a liberty. But the sage, instead of 
regarding such an intrusion with a frown, 
raised his eyes to the boy's face with a 
pleased surprise, and said, ' Thank you, sir ; 
it is the very word,' and immediately in- 
serted it. I saw him the next day, and he 
mentioned the circumstance, with a compli- 
ment on the )^oung critic." 

Mr. Madison died at Montpelier, June 28, 
1836, at the advanced age of eighty-five. 
While not possessing the highest order of 
talent, and deficient in oratorical powers, 
he was pre-eminently a statesman, of a well- 
balanced mind. His attainments were solid, 
his knowledge copious, his judgment gener- 
ally sound, his powers of analysis and logi- 
cal statement rarely surpassed, his language 
and literary style correct and polished, his 
conversation witty, his temperament san- 
guine and trustful, his integrity unques- 
tioned, his manners simple, courteous and 
winning. By these rare qualities he con- 
ciliated the esteem not only of friends, but 
of political opponents, in a greater degree 
than any American statesman in the present 
century. 

Mrs. Madison survived her husband thir- 
teen years, and died July 12, 1849, in the 
eighty -second year of her age. She was one 
of the most remarkable women our coun- 
try has produced. Even now she is ad- 
miringly remembered in Washington as 
" Dolly Madison," and it is fitting that her 
memory should descend to posterity in 
company with thatof the companion of 
h(»r life. 



V 



PRBSlDEiVTS OF THE VNlTb.D STATES. 




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"^'AMES MONROE, the fifth 
President of the United 
States, 1817-25, was born 
in Westmoreland County 
Virginia, April 28, 1758. 
He was a son of Spence 
Monroe, and a descendant 
of a Scottish cavalier fam- 
ily. Like all his predeces- 
sors thus far in the Presi- 
dential chair, he enjoyed all 
the advantages of educa- 
tion which the country 
could then afford. He was 
early sent to a fine classical 
school, and at the age of six- 
teen entered William and Mary College.. 
In 1776, when he had been in college but 
two years, the Declaration of Independence 
was adopted, and our feeble militia, with- 
out arms, amunition or clothing, were strug- 
gling against the trained armies of England. 
James Monroe left college, hastened to 
General Washington's headquarters at New 
York and enrolled himself as a cadet in the 
army. 

At Trenton Lieutenant Monroe so dis- 
tinguished himself, receiving a wound in his 
shoulder, that he was promoted to a Cap- 
taincy. Upon recovering from his wound, 
he was invited to act as aide to Lord Ster- 
ling, and in that capacity he took an active 
part in the battles of Brandywine, Ger- 
aiantown and Monmouth. At Germantown 



he stood by the side of Lafayette when the 
French Marquis received his wound. Gen- 
eral Washington, who had formed a high 
idea of young Monroe's ability, sent him to 
Virginia to raise a new regiment, of which 
he was to be Colonel; but so exhausted was 
Virginia at that time that the effort proved 
unsuccessful. He, however, received his 
commission. 

Finding no opportunity to enter the army 
as a commissioned officer, he returned to his 
original plan of studying law, and entered 
the ofifice of Thomas Jefferson, who was 
then Governor of Virginia. He developed 
a very noble character, frank, manly and 
sincere. Mr. Jefferson said of him: 

"James Monroe is so perfectly honest 
that if his soul were turned inside out there 
would not be found a spot on it." 

In 1782 he was elected to the Assembly 
of Virginia, and was also appointed a mem- 
ber of the Executive Council. The next 
year he was chosen delegate to the Conti- 
nental Congress for a term of three years. 
He was present at Annapolis when Wash- 
ington surrendered his commission of Com- 
mander-in-chief. 

With Washington, Jefferson and Madison 
he felt deeply the inefficiency of the old 
Articles of Confederation, and urged the 
formation of a new Constitution, which 
should invest the Central Government with 
something like national power. Influenced 
by these views, he introduced a resolution 




^^^.-^^^-^z >;7 /^f-^Z^c^. 



yAMES MONROE. 



35 



that Congress should be empowered to 
regulate trade, and to lay an impost dut)^ 
of five per cent. The resolution was refer- 
red to a committee of which he was chair- 
man. The report and the discussion which 
rose upon it led to the convention of five 
States at Annapolis, and the consequent 
general convention at Philadelphia, which, 
in 1787, drafted the Constitution of the 
United States. 

At this time there was a controversy be- 
tween New York and Massachusetts in 
reference to their boundaries. The high 
esteem in which Colonel Monroe was held 
is indicated by the fact that he was ap- 
pointed one of the judges to decide the 
controversy. While in New York attend- 
ing Congress, he married Miss Kortright, 
a young lady distinguished alike for her 
beauty and accomplishments. For nearl}' 
fifty years this happ}' union ixmained un- 
broken. In London and in Paris, as in her 
own country, Mrs. Monroe won admiration 
and affection by the loveliness of her per- 
son, the brilliancy of her intellect, and the 
amiability of her character. 

Returning to Virginia, Colonel Monroe 
commenced the practice of law at Freder- 
icksburg. He was very soon elected to a 
seat in the State Legislature, and the next 
year he was chosen a member of the Vir- 
ginia convention which was assembled to 
decide upon the acceptance or rejection of 
the Constitution which had been drawn up 
at Philadelphia, and was now submitted 
to the several States. Deeply as he felt 
the imperfections of the old Confederacy, 
he was opposed to the new Constitution, 
thinking, with many others of the Republi- 
can party, that it gave too much power to 
the Central Government, and not enough 
to the individual States. 

In 1789 he became a member of the 
United States Senate, which office he held 
acceptably to his constituents, and with 
honor to himself for four years. 



Having opposed the Constitution as not 
leaving enough power with the States, he, 
of course, became more and more identi- 
fied with the Republican party. Thus he 
found himself in cordial co-operation with 
Jefferson and Madison. The great Repub- 
lican party became the dominant power 
which ruled the land. 

George Washington was then President. 
England had espoused the cause of the 
Bourbons against the principles of the 
French Revolution. President Washing- 
ton issued a proclamation of neutralit}' be- 
tween these contending powers. France 
had helped us in the struggle for our lib- 
erties. All the desf>otisms of Europe were 
now combined to prevent the French 
from escaping from tyranny a thousandfold 
worse than that which we had endured. 
Colonel Monroe, more magnanimous than 
prudent, was anxious that we should help 
our old allies in their extremit3^ He vio- 
lently opposed the President's procla- 
mation as ungrateful and wanting in 
magnanimity. 

Washington, who could appreciate such 
a character, developed his calm, serene, 
almost divine greatness by appointing that 
very James Monroe, who was denouncing 
the polic)' of the Government, as the Minis- 
ter of that Government to the republic of 
France. He was directed by Washington 
to express to the French people our warm- 
est sympathy, communicating to them cor- 
responding resolves approved by the Pres- 
ident, and adopted by both houses of 
Congress. 

Mr. Monroe was welcomed by the Na- 
tional Convention in France with the most 
enthusiastic demonstrations of respect and 
affection. He was publicly introduced to 
that body, and received the embrace of the 
President, Merlin de Douay, after having 
been addressed in a speech glowing with 
congratulations, and with expressions of 
desire that harmony might ever exist be 



36 



PRESIDEI^TS OF THE UNITED STATES. 



tween the two nations. The flags of the 
two repiibHcs were intertwined in the hall 
of the convention. Mr. Monroe presented 
the American colors, and received those of 
France in return. The course which he 
pursued in Paris was so annoying to Eng- 
land and to the friends of England in 
tiiis country that, near the close of Wash- 
iiigton's administration, Mr. Monroe, was 
recalled. 

After his return Colonel Monroe wrote a 
book of 400 pages, entitled " A View of the 
Conduct of the Executive in Foreign Af- 
fairs." In this work he verj' ably advo- 
cated his side of the question; but, with 
the magnanimity of the man, he recorded a 
warm tribute to the patriotism, ability and 
spotless integrity of John Jay, between 
whom and himself there was intense antag- 
onism ; and in subsequent years he ex- 
pressed in warmest terms his perfect 
veneration for the character of George 
Washington. 

Shortly after his return to this country 
Colonel Monroe was elected Governor of 
Virginia, and held that office for three 
years, the period limited b}' the Constitu- 
tion. In 1802 he was an Envoy to France, 
and to Spain in 1805, and was Minister to 
England in 1803. In 1806 he returned to 
his quiet home in Virginia, and with his 
wife and children and an ample competence 
from his paternal estate, enjoyed a few years 
of domestic repose. 

In 1809 Mr. Jeflerson's second term of 
office expired, and many of the Republican 
party were anxious to nominate James 
Monroe as his successor. The majority 
were in favor of Mr. Madison. Mr. Mon- 
roe withdrew his name and was soon after 
chosen a second time Governor of Virginia. 
He soon resigned that office to accept the 
position of Secretary of State, offered him 
by President Madison. The correspond- 
ence which he then carried on with the 
British Government demonstrated that 



there was no hope of any peaceful adjust- 
ment of our difficulties with the cabinet of 
St. James. War was consequently declared 
in June, 181 2. Immediately after the sack 
of Washington the Secretary of War re- 
signed, and Mr. Monroe, at the earnest 
request of Mr. Madison, assumed the ad- 
ditional duties of the War Department, 
without resigning his po.sition as Secretary 
of State. It has been confidently stated, 
that, had Mr. Monroe's energies been in the 
War Department a few months earlier, the 
disaster at Washington would not have 
occurred. 

The duties now devolving upon Mr. Mon- 
roe were extremel)' arduous. Ten thou- 
sand men, picked from the veteran armies 
of England, were sent with a powerful fleet 
to New Orleans to acquire possession of 
the mouths of the Mississippi. Our finan- 
ces were in the most deplorable condition. 
The treasury was exhausted and our credit 
gone. And yet it was necessary to make 
the most rigorous preparations to meet the 
foe. In this crisis James Monroe, the Sec- 
retary of War, with virtue unsurpassed in 
Greek or Roman story, stepped forward 
and pledged his own individual credit as 
subsidiary to that of the nation, and thus 
succeeded in placing the city of New Or- 
leans in such a posture of defense, that it 
was enabled successfull}' to repel the in- 
vader. 

Mr. Monroe was truly the armor-bearer 
of President Madison, and the most efficient 
business man in his cabinet. His energy 
in the double capacity of Secretary, both 
of State and War, pervaded all the depart- 
ments of the country. He proposed to 
increase the army to 100,000 men, a meas- 
ure which he deemed absolutely necessary 
to save us from ignominious defeat, but 
which, at the same time, he knew would 
render his name so unpopular as to preclude 
the possibility of his being a successful can- 
didate for the Presidency. 



JAMES MONROE. 



.->7 



The happy result of the conference at 
Ghent in securing peace rendered the in- 
crease of the army unnecessary; but it is not 
too much to say that James Monroe placed 
in the hands of Andrew Jackson the 
weapon with which to beat off the foe at 
New Orleans. Upon the return of peace 
Mr. Monroe resigned the department of 
war, devoting himself entirely to the duties 
of Secretary of State. These he continued 
to discharge until the close of President 
Madison's administration, with zeal which 
was never abated, and with an ardor of 
self-devotion which made him almost for- 
getful of the claims of fortune, health or 
life. 

Mr. Madison's second term expired in 
March, 1817, and Mr. Monroe succeeded 
to the Presidency. He was a candidate of 
the Republican party, now taking the name 
of the Democratic Republican. In 1821 he 
was re-elected, with scarcely any opposition. 
Out cf 232 electoral votes, he received 231. 
The slavery question, which subsequently 
assumed such formidable dimensions, now 
began to make its appearance. The State 
of Missouri, which had been carved out of 
that immense territory which we had pur- 
chased of France, applied for admission to 
the Union, with a slavery Constitution. 
There were not a few who foresaw the 
evils impending. After the debate of a 
week it was decided that Missouri could 
not be admitted into the Union with slav- 
ery. This important question was at length 
settled by a compromise proposed by 
Henry Clay. 

The famous "Monroe Doctrine," of which 
so much has been said, originated in this 
way: In 1823 it was rumored that the 
Holy Alliance was about to interfere to 
prevent the establishment of Republican 
liberty in the European colonies of South 
America. President Monroe wrote to his 
old friend Thomas Jefferson for advice in 
the emergency. In his reply under date of 



October 24, Mr. Jeflerson writes upon the 
supposition that our attempt to resist this 
European movement might lead to war: 

" Its object is to introduce and establish 
the American system of keeping out of our 
land all foreign powers; of never permitting 
those of Europe to intermeddle with the 
affairs of our nation. It is to maintain our 
own priaciple, not to depart from it." 

December 2, 1823, President Monroe 
sent a message to Congress, declaring it to 
be the policy of this Government not to 
entangle ourselves with the broils of Eu- 
rope, and not to allow Europe to interfere 
with the affairs of nations on the American 
continent; and the doctrine was announced, 
that any attempt on the part of the Euro- 
pean powers " to extend their system to 
any portion of this hemisphere would be 
regarded by the United States as danger- 
ous to our peace and safety." 

March 4, 1825, Mr. Monroe surrendered 
the presidential chair to his Secretary of 
State, John Quincy Adams, and retired, 
with the universal respect of the nation, 
to his private residence at Oak Hill, Lou- 
doun County, Virginia. His time had been 
so entirely consecrated to his country, that 
he had neglected his pecuniary interests, 
and was deeply involved in debt. The 
welfare of his country had ever been up- 
permost in his mind. 

For man)^ years Mrs. Monroe was in such 
feeble health that she rarely appeared in 
public. In 1830 Mr. Monroe took up his 
residence with his son-in-law in New York, 
where he died on the 4th of July, 1831. 
The citizens of New York conducted his 
obsequies with pageants more imposing 
than had ever been witnessed there before. 
Our country will ever cherish his mem- 
ory with pride, gratefully enrolling his 
name in the list of its benefactors, pronounc- 
ing him the worthy successor of the illus- 
trious men who had preceded him in the 
presidential chair. 



38 



PRESIDENTS OF THE UN /TED STATES. 




gHgHgF Hs ?PT???FHaprisHHHHa=^;r^:id,r^pFHF^F?HHFmr^rfe^'i= 










OHN QUINCY ADAMS, 
the sixth President of the 
United States, i825-'9, 
was born in the rural 
home of his honored 
father, John Adams, in 
Q u i n c y , Massachusetts, 
July II, 1767. His mother, 
a woman of exalted worth, 
watched over his childhood 
during the almost constant 
absence of his father. He 
commenced his education 
at the village school, giving 
at an early period indica- 
tions of superior mental en- 
dowments. 

When eleven years of age he sailed with 
his father for Europe, where the latter was 
associated with Franklin and Lee as Minister 
Plenipotentiary. The intelligence of John 
Quincy attracted the attention of these men 
and received from them flattering marks of 
attention. Mr. Adams had scarcely returned 
to this country in 1779 ere he was again 
sent abroad, and John Quincy again accom- 
panied him. On this voyage he commenced 
a diary, which practice he continued, with 
but few interruptions, until his death He 
journeyed with his father from Ferrol, in 
Spain, to Paris. Here he applied himself 
t(jr six months to study; then accompanied 



his father to Holland, where he entered, 
first a school in Amsterdam, and then the 
University of Leyden. In 1781, when only 
fourteen years of age, he was selected by 
Mr. Dana, our Minister to the Russian 
court, as his private secretary. In this 
school of incessant labor he spent fourteen 
months, and then returned alone to Holland 
through Sweden, Denmark, Hamburg and 
Bremen. Again he resumed his studies 
under a private tutor, at The Hague. 

In the spring of 1782 he accompanied his 
father to Paris, forming acquaintance with 
the most distinguished men on the Conti- 
nent. After a short visit to England, he re- 
turned to Paris and studied until May, 
1785, when he returned to America, leav- 
ing his father an embassador at the court 
of St. James. In 1786 he entered the jun- 
ior class in Harvard University, and grad- 
uated with the second honor of his class. 
The oration he delivered on this occasion, 
the " Importance of Public Faith to the 
Well-being of a Community," was pub- 
lished — an event very rare in this or any 
other land. 

Upon leaving college at the age of twenty 
he studied law three years with the Hon. 
Theophilus Parsons in Newburyport. In 
1790 he opened a law office in Boston. The 
profession was crowded with able men, and 
the fees were small. The first vear he had 




1 2. M 



O/Hvi 



JOHN ^UINCr ADAMS. 



no clients, but not a moment was lost. The 
second year passed away, still no clients, 
and still he was dependent upon his parents 
for support. Anxiously he awaited the 
third year. The reward now came. Cli- 
ents began to enter his office, and before 
the end of the year he was so crowded 
with business that all solicitude respecting 
a support was at an end. 

When Great Britain commenced war 
against France, in 1793, Mr. Adams wrote 
some articles, urging entire neutrality on 
the part of the United States. The view 
was not a popular one. Many felt that as 
France had helped us, we were bound to 
ht'p France. But President Washington 
coincided with Mr. Adams, and issued his 
proclamation of neutrality. His writings 
at this time in the Boston journals gave 
him so high a reputation, that in June, 
1794, he was appointed by Washington 
resident Minister at the Netherlands. In 
July, 1797, he left The Hague to go to Port- 
ugal as Minister Plenipotentiary. Wash- 
ington at this time wrote to his father, John 
Adams: 

" Without intending to compliment the 
father or the mother, or to censure any 
others, I give it as my decided opinion, 
that Mr. Adams is the most valuable char- 
acter we have abroad; and there remains 
no doubt in my mind that he will prove the 
ablest of our diplomatic corps." 

On his way to Portugal, upon his arrival 
in London, he met with dispatches direct- 
ing him to the court of Berlin, but request- 
ing him to remain in London until he should 
receive instructions. While waiting he 
was married to Miss Louisa Catherine John- 
son, to whom he had been previously en- 
gaged. Miss Johnson was a daughter of 
Mr. Joshua Johnson, American Consul 
in London, and was a lady endowed with 
that beauty and those accomplishments 
which fitted her to move in the elevated 
sphere for which she was destined. 



In July, 1799, having fulfilled all the pur- 
poses of his mission, Mr. Adams returned. 
In 1802 he was chosen to the Senate of 
Massachusetts from Boston, and then was 
elected Senator of the United States for si.\ 
years from March 4, 1804. His reputation, 
his ability and his experience, placed him 
immediately among the most prominent 
and influential members of that body. He 
sustained the Government in its measures 
of resistance to the encroachments of Eng- 
land, destroying our commerce and insult- 
ing our flag. There was no man in America 
more familiar with the arrogance of the 
British court upon these points, and no 
one more resolved to present a firm resist- 
ance. This course, so truly patriotic, and 
which scarcely a voice will now be found 
to condemn, alienated him from the Fed- 
eral party dominant in Boston, and sub- 
jected him to censure. 

In 1805 Mr. Adams was chosen professor 
of rhetoric in Harvard College. His lect- 
ures at this place were subsequently pub- 
lished. In 1809 he was sent as Minister to 
Russia. He was one of the commissioners 
that negotiated the treaty of peace with 
Great Britain, signed December 24, 18 14, 
and he was appointed Minister to the court 
of St. James in 1815. In 1817 he became 
Secretary of State in Mr. Monroe's cabinet 
in which position he remained eight years. 
Few will now contradict the assertion that 
the duties of that office were never more 
ably discharged. Probably the most im- 
portant measure which Mr. Adams con- 
ducted was the purchase of Florida from 
Spain for $5,000,000. 

The campaign of 1824 was an exciting 
one. Four candidates were in the field. 
Of the 260 electoral votes that were cast, 
Andrew Jackson received ninety-nine; John 
Ouincy Adams, eighty-four; William H. 
Crawford, fortv-one, and Henry Cla}-, 
thirty-seven. As there was no choice by 
the people, the question went to the House 



42 



PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 



of Representatives. Mr. Clay gave the 
vote of Kentucky to Mr. Adams, and he 
v/as elected. 

The friends of all disappointed candidates 
now combined in a venomous assault upon 
Mr. Adams. There is nothing more dis- 
graceful in the past history of our country 
than the abuse which was poured in one 
uninterrupted stream upon this high- 
minded, upright, patriotic man. There was 
never an administration more pure in prin- 
ciples, more conscientiously devoted to the 
best interests of the country, than that of 
John Quincy Adams; and never, perhaps, 
was there an administration more unscru- 
pulously assailed. Mr. Adams took his seat 
in the presidential chair resolved not to 
know any partisanship, but only to con- 
sult for the interests of the whole Republic, 

He refused to dismiss any man from of- 
fice for his political views. If he was a faith- 
ful officer that was enough. Bitter must 
have been his disappointment to find that the 
Nation could not appreciate such conduct. 

Mr. Adams, in his public manners, was 
cold and repulsive; though with his per- 
sonal friends he was at times very genial. 
This chilling address very seriously de- 
tracted from his popularity. No one can 
read an impartial record of his administra- 
tion without admitting that a more noble 
example of uncompromising dignity can 
scarcely be found. It was stated publicly 
that Mr. Adams' administration was to be 
put down, " though it be as pure as the an- 
gels which stand at the right hand of the 
throne of God." Many of the active par- 
ticipants in these scenes lived to regret the 
course they pursued. Some years after, 
Warren R. Davis, of South Carolina, turn- 
ing to Mr. Adams, then a member of the 
House of Representatives, said: 

" Well do I remember the enthusiastic 
zeal with which we reproached the admin- 
istration of that gentleman, and the ardor 
and vehemence with which we labored to 



bring in another. For the share I had in 
these transactions, and it was not a small 
one, I Iiopc God ivtll forgive me, for I shall 
never forgive myself." 

March 4, 1829, Mr. Adams retired from 
the Presidency and was succeeded by An- 
drew Jackson, the latter receiving 168 out 
of 261 electoral votes. John C. Calhoun 
was elected Vice-President. The slavery 
question now began to assume pretentious 
magnitude. Mr. Adams returned to 
Quincy, and pursued his studies with una- 
bated zeal. But he was not long permitted 
to remain in retirement. In November, 
1830, he was elected to Congress. In this 
he recognized the principle that it is honor- 
able for the General of 3'esterda3' to act as 
Corporal to-day, if by so doing he can ren- 
der service to his country. Deep as are 
our obligations to John Quincy Adams for 
his services as embassador, as Secretary of 
State and as President; in his capacity as 
legislator in the House of Representa- 
tives, he conferred benefits upon our land 
which eclipsed all the rest, and which can 
never be over-estimated. 

For seventeen years, until his death, he 
occupied the post of Representative, tow- 
ering above all his peers, ever ready to do 
brave battle for freedom, and winning the 
title of " the old man eloquent." Upon 
taking his seat in the House he announced 
that he should hold himself bound to no 
partv. He was usually the first in his 
place in the morning, and the last to leave 
his seat in the evening. Not a measure 
could escape his scrutiny. The battle 
which he fought, almost singly, against the 
pro-slavery party in the Government, was 
sublime in its moral daring and heroism. 
For persisting in presenting petitions for 
the abolition of slavery, he was threatened 
with indictment by the Grand Jury, with 
expulsion from the House, with assassina- 
tion; but no threats could intimidate him, 
and his final triumph was complete. 



JOHN ^UINCr ADAMS. 



43 



On one occasion Mr. Adams presented a 
petition, signed by several women, against 
the annexation of Texas for the purpose of 
cutting it up into slave States. Mr. How- 
ard, of Maryland, said that these women 
discredited not only themselves, but their 
section of the country, by turning from 
their domestic duties to the conflicts of po- 
litical life. 

"Are women," exclaimed Mr. Adams, 
" to have no opinions or actions on subjects 
relating to the general welfare ? Where 
did the gentleman get his principle? Did 
he find it in sacred histor3% — in the language 
of Miriam, the prophetess, in one of the 
noblest and sublime songs of triumph that 
ever met the human eye or ear? Did the 
gentleman never hear of Deborah, to whom 
the children of Israel came up for judg- 
ment ? Has he forgotten the deed of Jael, 
virho slew the dreaded enemy of her coun- 
try ? Has he forgotten Esther, who, by her 
petition saved her people and her coun- 
try? 

" To go from sacred history to profane, 
does the gentleman there find it ' discredita- 
ble ' for women to take an interest in politi- 
cal affairs? Has he forgotten the Spartan 
mother, who said to her son when going 
out to battle, ' My son, come back to me 
with thy shield, or upon thy shield ? ' Does 
he remember Cloelia and her hundred com- 
panions, who swam across the river uni^er 
a shower of darts, escaping from Porsena ? 
Has he forgotten Cornelia, the mother of 
the Gracchi? Does he not remember Por- 
tia, the wife of Brutus and the daughter of 
Cato? 

" To come to later periods, what says the 
history of our Anglo-Saxon ancestors ? 
To say nothing of Boadicea, the British 
heroine in the time of the Ceesars, what 
name is more illustrious than that of Eliza- 
beth ? Or, if he will go to the continent, 
will he not find the names of Maria Theresa 
of Hungary, of the two Catherines of 



Prussia, and of Isabella of Castile, the pa- 
troness of Columbus ? Did she bring ' dis- 
credit ' on her sex by mingling in politics ? " 

In this glowing strain Mr. Adams si- 
lenced and overwhelmed his antagonists. 

In January, 1842, Mr. Adams presented 
a petition from forty-five citizens of Haver- 
hill, Massachusetts, praying for a peaceable 
dissolution of the Union. The pro-slavery 
party in Congress, who were then plotting 
the destruction of the Government, were 
aroused to a pretense of commotion such as 
even our stormy hall of legislation has 
rarely witnessed. They met in caucus, and, 
finding that they probably would not be 
able to expel Mr. Adams from the House 
drew up a series of resolutions, which, if 
adopted, would inflict upon him disgrace, 
equivalent to expulsion. Mr. Adams had 
presented the petition, which was most re- 
spectfully worded, and had moved that it be 
referred to a committee instructed to re- 
port an answer, showing the reason whj 
the prayer ought not to be granted. 

It was the 25th of January. The whole 
body of the pro-slavery party came crowd- 
ing together in the House, prepared to 
crush Mr. Adams forever. One of the num- 
ber, Thomas F. Marshall, of Kentucky, was 
appointed to read the resolutions, which 
accused Mr. Adams of high treason, of 
having insulted the Government, and 01 
meriting expulsion; but for which deserved 
punishment, the House, in its great mercy, 
would substitute its severest censure. With 
the assumption of a very solemn and mag- 
isterial air, there being breathless silence in 
the audience, Mr. Marshall hurled the care- 
fully prepared anathemas at his victim. 
Mr. Adams stood alone, the whole pro-slav- 
ery party against him. 

As soon as the resolutions were read, 
every eye being fixed upon him, that bold 
old man, whose scattered locks were whit- 
ened by seventy-five years, casting a wither- 
ing glance in the direction of his assailantS; 



44 



PRESIDENTS OF THE UN/TED STATES. 



in a clear, shrill tone, tremulous with sup- 
pressed emotion, said: 

"In reply to this audacious, atrocious 
charge of high treason, I call for the read- 
ing oi the first paragraph of the Declaration 
of Independence. Read it ! Read it! and 
see what that says of the rights of a people 
to reform, to change, and to dissolve their 
Government.' 

The attitude, the manner, the tone, the 
words; the venerable old man, with flash- 
ing eye and flushed cheek, and whose very 
form seemed to expand under the inspiration 
of the occasion — all presented a scene over- 
flowing in its sublimity. There was breath- 
less silence as that paragraph was read, in 
defense of whose principles our fathers had 
pledged their lives, their fortunes and their 
sacred honor. It was a proud hour to Mr. 
Adams as they were all compelled to listen 
to the words: 

" That, to secure these rights, govern- 
ments are instituted among men, deriving 
their just powers from the consent of the 
governed; and that whenever any form of 
government becomes destructive of those 
ends, it is the right of the people to alter or 
abolish it, and to institute new government, 
laying its foundations on such principles 
and organizing its powers in such form 
as shall seem most likely to effect their 
safety and happiness." 

That one sentence routed and baffled the 



foe. The heroic old man looked around 
upon the audience, and thundered out, 
" Read that again ! " It was again read. 
Then in a few fiery, logical words he stated 
his defense in terms which even prejudiced 
minds could not resist. His discomfited 
assailants made several attempts to rally. 
After a conflict of eleven days they gave 
up vanquished and their resolution was ig- 
nominiously laid upon the table. 

In January, 1846, when seventy-eight 
years of age, he took part in the great de- 
bate on the Oregon question, displaying 
intellectual vigor, and an extent and accu- 
racy of acquaintance with the subject that 
excited great admiration. 

On the 2 1 St of February, 1848, he rose on 
the floor of Congress with a paper in his 
hand to address the Speaker. Suddenly 
he fell, stricken by paralysis, and was caught 
in the arms of those around him. For a 
time he was senseless and was conveyed 
to a sofa in the rotunda. With reviving 
consciousness he opened his eyes, looked 
calmly around and said, " This is the end of 
earth." Then after a moment's pause, he 
added, " / am content." These were his last 
words, and he soon breathed his last, in the 
apartment beneath the dome of the capitol 
— the theater of his labors and his triumphs. 
In the language of h)nnnology, he " died at 
his post;" he " ceased at once to work and 
live." 




.7 y 



-C;^^^r-^.^^ c:::=:^GLje.^4::j--^ri, 



ANDREW JACKSON. 



47 









Sill 




NDREW JACKSON, 

the seventh President 
of the United States, 
i829-'37, was born at 
the Waxhaw Settle, 
ment, Union Coun- 
ty, North Carolina, 
March i6, 1767. His parents 
;ere Scotch-Irish, natives of 
!^arrickfergus, who came to 
imerica in 1765, and settled 
on Twelve-Mile Creek, a trib- 
itary of the Catawba. His 
father, who was a poor farm 
laborer, died shortly before An- 
drew's birth, when his mother removed to 
Waxhaw, where some relatives resided. 

Few particulars of the childhood of Jack- 
son have been preserved. His education 
was of the most limited kind, and he showed 
no fondness for books. He grew up to be a 
tall, lank boy, with coarse hair and freck- 
led cheeks, with bare feet dangling from 
trousers too short for him, very fond of ath- 
letic sports, running, boxing and wrestling. 
He was generous to the younger and 
weaker bo3's, but very irascible and over- 
bearing with his equals and superiors. He 
was profane — ^a vice in which he surpassed 
all other men. The character of his mother 



he revered; and it was not until after her 
death that his predominant vices gained 
full strength. 

In 1780, at the age of thirteen, Andrew, 
or Andy, as he was called, with his brother 
Robert, volunteered to serve in the Revo- 
lutionary forces under General Sumter, and 
was a witness of the latter's defeat at Hang- 
ing Rock. In the following year the 
brothers were made prisoners, and confined 
in Camden, experiencing brutal treatment 
from their captors, and being spectators of 
General Green's defeat at Hobkirk Hill. 
Through their mother's exertions the boys 
were exchanged while suffering from small- 
pox. In two daj's Robert was dead, and 
Andy apparently dying. The strength of 
his constitution triumphed, and he regained 
health and vigor. 

As he was getting better, his mother 
heard the cry of anguish from the prison- 
ers whom the British held in Charleston, 
among whom were the sons of her sisters. 
She hastened to their relief, was attacked 
by fever, died and was buried where her 
grave could never be found. Thus Andrew 
Jackson, when fourteen years of age, was 
left alone in the world, without father, 
mother, sister or brother, and without one 
dollar which he could call his own. He 



PHBSIDBNTS OF Tfiti UNITED STATES. 



soon entered a saddler's shop, and labored 
diligently for six months. But gradually, 
as health returned, he became more and 
more a wild, reckless, lawless boy. He 
gambled, drank and was regarded as about 
the worst character that could be found. 

He now turned schoolmaster. He could 
teach the alphabet, perhaps the multiplica- 
tion table; and as he was a very bold boy, 
it is possible he might have ventured to 
teach a little writing. But he soon began to 
think of a profession and decided to study 
law. With a very slender purse, and on 
the back of a very fine horse, he set out 
for Salisbury, North Carolina, where he 
entered the law office of Mr. McCay. 
Here he remained two years, professedly 
studying law. He is still remembered in 
traditions of Salisbury, which say: 

" Andrew Jackson was the most roaring, 
rollicking, horse-racing, card-playing, mis- 
chievous fellow that ever lived in Salisbur}-. 
He did not trouble the law-books much." 

Andrew was now, at the age of twenty, 
a tall young man, being over six feet in 
height. He was slender, remarkably grace- 
ful and dignified in his manners, an exquis- 
ite horseman, and developed, amidst his 
loathesome profanity and multiform vices, a 
vein of rare magnanimity. His temper was 
fiery in the extreme; but it was said of him 
that no man knew better than Andrew 
Jackson when to get angry and when not. 

In 1786 he was admitted to the bar, and 
two years later removed to Nashville, 
in what was then the western district of 
North Carolina, with the appointment of so- 
licitor, or public prosecutor. It was an of- 
fice of little honor, small emolument and 
great peril. Few men could be found to 
accept it. 

And now Andrew Jackson commenced 
vigorously to practice law. It was an im- 
portant part of his business to collect debts. 
It required nerve. During the first seven 
years of his residence in those wilds he 



traversed the almost pathless forest between 
Nashville and Jonesborough, a distance of 
200 miles, twenty-two times. Hostile In- 
dians were constantl}' on the watch, and a 
man was liable at any moment to be shot 
down in his own field. Andrew Jackson 
was just the man for this service — a wild, 
daring, rough backwoodsman. Daily he 
made hair-breadth escapes. He seemed to 
bear a charmed life. Boldly, alone or with 
few companions, he traversed the forests, 
encountering all perils and triumphing 
over all. 

In 1790 Tennessee became a Territory, 
and Jackson was appointed, by President 
Washington, United States Attorney for 
the new district. In 1791 he married Mrs. 
Rachel Robards (daughter of Colonel John 
Donelson), whom he supposed to have been 
divorced in that year by an act of the Leg- 
islature of Virginia. Two years after this 
Mr. and Mrs. Jackson learned, to their 
great surprise, that Mr. Robards had just 
obtained a divorce in one of the courts of 
Kentucky, and that the act of the Virginia 
Legislature was not final, but conditional. 
To remedy the irregularity as much as pos- 
sible, a new license was obtained and the 
marriage ceremony was again performed. 

It proved to be a marriage of rare felic- 
ity. Probably there never was a more 
affectionate union. However rough Mr. 
Jackson might have been abroad, he was 
always gentle and tender at home; and 
through all the vicissitudes of their lives, he 
treated Mrs. Jackson with the most chival- 
ric attention. 

Under the circumstances it was not un- 
natural that the facts in the case of this 
marriage were so misrepresented b}- oppo- 
nents in the political campaigns a quarter 
or a century later as to become the basis 
of serious charges against Jackson's moral- 
ity which, however, have been satisfactorily 
attested by abundant evidence. 

Jackson was untiring in his duties as 



AX DREW yACKSO!^. 



49 



United States Attorney, which demanded 
frequent journeys through the wilderness 
and exposed him to Indian hostilities. He 
acquired considerable property in land, and 
obtained such influence as to be chosen 
a member of the convention which framed 
the Constitution for the new State of Ten- 
nessee, in 1796, and in that year was elected 
its first Representative in Congress. Albert 
Gallatin thus describes the first appearance 
of the Hon. Andrew Jackson in the House: 

" A tall, lank, uncouth-'.ooking personage, 
with locks of hair hanging over his face and 
a cue down his back, tied with an eel skin; 
his dress singular, his manners and deport- 
ment those of a rough backwoodsman." 

Jackson was an earnest advocate of the 
Democratic party. Jefferson was his idol. 
He admired Bonaparte, loved France and 
hated England. As Mr. Jackson took his 
seat. General Washington, whose second 
term of office was just expiring, delivered 
his last speech to Congress. A committee 
drew up a complimentary address in reply. 
Andrew Jackson did not approve the ad- 
dress and was one of twelve who voted 
against it. 

Tennessee had fitted out an expedition 
against the Indians, contrary to the policy 
of the Government. A resolution was intro- 
duced that the National Government 
should pay the expenses. Jackson advo- 
cated it and it was carried. This rendered 
him very popular in Tennessee. A va- 
cancy chanced soon after to occur in the 
Senate, and Andrew Jackson was chosen 
United States Senator by the State of Ten- 
nessee. John Adams was then President 
and Thomas Jefferson, Vice-President. 

In 1798 Mr. Jackson returned to Tennes- 
see, and resigned his seat in the Senate. 
Soon after he was chosen Judge of the Su- 
preme Court of that State, with a salary of 
$600. This office he held six years. It is 
said that his decisions, though sometimes 
ungrammatical, were generally right. He 



did not enjoy his seat upon the bench, and 
renounced the dignity in 1804. About 
this time he was chosen Major-General of 
militia, and lost the title of judge in that of 
General. 

When he retired from the Senate Cham- 
ber, he decided to try his fortune through 
trade. He purchased a stock of goods in 
Philadelphia and sent them to Nashville, 
where he opened a store. He lived about 
thirteen miles from Nashville, on a tract of 
land of several thousand acres, mostly un- 
cultivated. He used a small block-house 
for a store, from a narrow window of 
which he sold goods to the Indians. As he 
had an assistant his office as judge did not 
materially interfere with his business. 

As to slavery, born in the midst of it, the 
idea never seemed to enter his mind that it 
could be wrong. He eventually became 
an extensive slave owner, but he was one of 
the most humane and gentle of masters. 

In 1804 Mr. Jackson withdrew from pol- 
itics and settled on a plantation which he 
called the Hermitage, near Nashville. He 
set up a cotton-gin, formed a partnership 
and traded in New Orleans, making the 
voyage on flatboats. Through his hot tem- 
per he became involved in several quarrels 
and " affairs of honor," during this period, 
in one of which he was severely wounded, 
but had the misfortune to kill his opponent, 
Charles Dickinson. For a time this affair 
greatly injured General Jackson's popular- 
ity. The verdict then was, and continues 
to be, that General Jackson was outra- 
geously wrong. If he subsequently felt any 
remorse he never revealed it to anyone. 

In 1805 Aaron Burr had visited Nash- 
ville and been a guest of Jackson, with 
whom he corresponded on the subject of a 
war with Spain, which was anticipated and 
desired by them, as well as by the people 
of the Southwest generally. 

Burr repeated his visit in September, 
1806, when he engaged in the celeorated 



5° 



PREJ/DENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 



combinations which led to his trial for trea- 
son. He was warmly received by Jackson, 
at whose instance a public ball was given 
in his honor at Nashville, and contracted 
with the latter for boats and provisions. 
Early in 1807, when Burr had been pro- 
claimed a traitor by President Jefferson, 
volunteer forces for the Federal service 
were organized at Nashville under Jack- 
son's command; but his energy and activ- 
ity did not shield him from suspicions of 
connivance in the supposed treason. He 
was summoned to Richmond as a witness 
in Burr's trial, but was not called to the 
stand, probably because he was out-spoken 
in his partisanship. 

On the outbreak of the war with Great 
Britain in 1812, Jackson tendered his serv- 
ices, and in January, 181 3, embarked for 
New Orleans at the head of the Tennessee 
contingent. In March he received an or- 
der to disband his forces; but in Septem- 
ber he again took the field, in the Creek 
war, and in conjunction with his former 
partner. Colonel Coffee, inflicted upon the 
Indians the memorable defeat at Talladega, 
Emuckfaw and Tallapoosa. 

In May, 18 14, Jackson, who had now ac- 
quired a national leputation, was appointed 
a Major-General of the United States army, 
and commenced a campaign against the 
British in Florida. He conducted the de- 
fense at Mobile, September 15, seized upon 
Pensacola, November 6, and immediately 
transported the bulk of his troops to New 
Orleans, then threatened by a powerful 
naval force. Martial law was declared in 
Louisiana, the State militia was called to 
arms, engagements with the British were 
fought December 23 and 28, and after re-en- 
forcements had been received on both sides 
the famous victory of January 8, 18 15, 
::rowned Jackson's fame as a soldier, and 
made him the typical American hero of 
the first half of the nineteenth century. 

In i8i7-'i8 Jackson conducted the war 



against the Seminoles of Florida, during 
which he seized upon Pensacola and exe- 
cuted by courtmartial two British subjects, 

Arbuthnot and Ambrister acts which 

might easily have involved the United 
States in war both with Spain and Great 
Britain. Fortunately the peril was averted 
by the cession of Florida to the United 
States; and Jackson, who had escaped a 
trial for the irregularity of his conduct 
only through a division of opinion in Mon- 
roe's cabinet, was appointed in 1821 Gov- 
ernor of the new Territory. Soon after he 
declined the appointment of minister to 
Mexico. 

In 1823 Jackson was elected to the United 
States Senate, and nominated by the Ten- 
nessee Legislature for the Presidency. This 
candidacy, though a matter of surprise, and 
even merryment, speedily became popular, 
and in 1824, when the storm}' electoral can- 
vas resulted in the choice of John Quincy 
Adams by the House of Representatives, 
General Jackson received the largest popu- 
lar vote among the four candidates. 

In 1828 Jackson was triumphanth' elected 
President over Adams after a campaign of 
unparalleled bitterness. He was inaugu- 
rated March 4, 1829, and at once removed 
from office all the incumbents belonging to 
the opposite party — a procedure new to 
American politics, but which naturally be- 
came a precedent. 

His first term was characterized by quar- 
rels between the Vice-President, Calhoun, 
and the Secretary of State, Van Buren, at- 
tended by a calainet crisis originating in 
scandals connected with the name of Mrs. 
General Eaton, wife of the Secretary of 
War; by the beginning of his war upon the 
United States Bank, and by his vigorous 
action against the partisans of Calhoun, 
who, in Soutli Carolina, threatened to 
nullify the acts of Congress, establishing a 
protective tariff. 

In the Presidential campaign of 1832 



AhTDkBlV yACKSON. 



S' 



Jackson received 219 out of 288 electoral 
votes, his competitor being Mr. Clay, while 
Mr. Wirt, on an Anti-Masonic platform, 
received the vote of Vermont alone. In 
1833 President Jackson removed the Gov- 
ernment deposits from the United States 
bank, thereby incurring a vote of censure 
from the Senate, which was, however, ex- 
punged four years later. During this second 
terra of office the Cherokees, Choctaws and 
Creeks were removed, not without diffi- 
culty, from Georgia, Alabama and Missis- 
sippi, to the Indian Territory; the National 
debt was extinguished; Arkansas and 
Michigan were admitted as States to the 
Union; the Seminole war was renewed; the 
anti-slavery agitation first acquired impor- 
tance; the Mormon delusion, which had 
organized in 1829, attained considerable 
proportions in Ohio and Missouri, and the 
country experienced its greatest pecuniary 
panic. 

Railroads with locomotive propulsion 
were ir^.rodured into America during Jack- 
son's first term, and had become an impor- 
tant element of national life before the 
close of his second term. For many rea- 
sons, therefore, the administration of Presi- 
dent Jackson formed an era in American 
history, political, social and industrial. 
He succeeded in effecting the election of 



his friend Van Buren as his successor, re- 
tired from the Presidency March 4, 1837; 
and led a tranquil life at the Hermitage 
until his death, which occurred June 8, 

1845- 

During his closing years he was a pro- 
fessed Christian and a member of the Pres- 
byterian church. No American of this 
century has been the subject of such oppo- 
site judgments. He was loved and hated 
with equal vehemence during his life, but 
at the present distance of time from his 
career, while opinions still vary as to the 
merits of his public acts, few of his country- 
men will question that he was a warm- 
hearted, brave, patriotic, honest and sincere 
man. If his distinguishing qualities were 
not such as constitute statesmanship, in the 
highest sense, he at least never pretended 
to other merits than such as were written 
to his credit on the page of American his- 
tory—not attempting to disguise the de. 
merits which were equally legible. The 
majority of his countrymen accepted and 
honored him, in spite of all that calumny 
as well as truth could allege against him. 
His faults may therefore be truly said to 
have been those of his time; his magnifi- 
cent virtues may also, with the same jus- 
tice, be considered as typical of a state of 
society which has nearly passed away. 



52 



PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 




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"artin van bu 

REN, the eighth 
M- President of the 
United States, 1837- 
'41, was born at Kin- 
derhook, New York, 
December 5, 1782. 
His ancestors were of Dutch 
01 igin, and were among the 
Cell liest emigrants from Hol- 
land to the banks of the 
Hudson. His father was a 
ta\ ern-keeper, as well as a 
fat mer, and a very decided 
Democrat. 
Martin commenced the study 
of fourteen, and took an 
active part in politics before he had reached 
the age of twenty. In 1803 he commenced 
the practice of law in his native village. 
In 1809 he removed to Hudson, the shire 
town of his county, where he spent seven 
years, gaining strength by contending in 
the courts with some of the ablest men 
who have adorned the bar of his State. 
The heroic example of John Quincy Adams 
in retaining in office every faithful man, 
without regard to his political preferences, 
had been thoroughly repudiated by Gen- 
eral Jackson. The unfortunate principle 
was now fully established, that " to the 
victor belong the spoils." Still, this prin- 
ciple, to which Mr. Van Buren gave his ad- 



of law 



at the age 



herence, was not devoid of inconveniences. 
When, subsequently, he attained power 
which placed vast patronage in his hands, 
he was heard to say : " I prefer an office 
that has no patronage. When I give a man 
an office I offend his disappointed competi- 
tors and their friends. Nor am I certain oi 
gaining a friend in the man I appoint, for, 
in all probability, he expected something 
better." 

In 1812 Mr. Van Buren was elected to 
the State Senate. In 181 5 he was appointed 
Attorney-General, and in 1816 to the Senate 
a second time. In 1818 there was a great 
split in the Democratic party in New York, 
and Mr. Van Buren took the lead in or- 
ganizing that portion of the part}' called 
the Albany Regency, which is said to have 
swayed the destinies of the State for a 
quarter of a century. 

In 1821 he was chosen a member of the 
convention for revising the State Constitu- 
tion, in which he advocated an extension of 
tiie franchise, but opposed universal suf- 
frage, and also favored the proposal that 
colored persons, in order to vote, should 
have freehold property to the amount of 
$250. In this year he was also elected to 
the United States Senate, and at the con- 
clusion of his term, in 1827, was re-elected, 
but resigned the following year, having 
been chosen Governor of the State. In 
March, 1829, he was appointed .Secretary of 




O 7 Tyi^^ ^^^^^^^..^^^^ 



MARTIN VAN BUR EN. 



55 



State by President Jackson, but resigned 
in April, 1831, and during the recess of 
Congress was appointed minister to Eng- 
land, whither he proceeded in September, 
but the Senate, when convened in Decem- 
ber, refused to ratify the appointment. 

In May, 1832, Mr. Van Buren was nomi- 
nated as the Democratic candidate for Vice- 
President, and elected in the following 
November. May 26, 1836, he received the 
nomination to succeed General Jackson as 
President, and received 1 70 electoral votes, 
out of 283. 

Scarcely had he taken his seat in the 
Presidential chair when a financial panic 
swept over the land. Many attributed 
this to the war which General Jackson had 
waged on the banks, and to his endeavor to 
secure an almost exclusive specie currency. 
Nearly every bank in the country was com- 
pelled to suspend specie payment, and ruin 
pervaded all our great cities. Not less than 
254 houses failed in New York in one week. 
All public works were brought to a stand, 
and there was a general state of dismay. 
President Van Buren urged the adoption of 
the independent treasury system, which 
was twice passed in the Senate and defeated 
in the House, but finally became a law near 
the close of his administration. 

Another important measure was the pass- 
age of a pre-emption law, giving actual set- 
tlers the preference in the purchase of 
public lands. The question of slavery, also, 
now began to assume great prominence in 
national politics, and after an elaborate 
anti-slavery speech by Mr. Slade, of Ver- 
mont, in the House of Representatives, the 
Southern members withdrew for a separate 
consultation, at which Mr. Rhett, of South 
Carolina, proposed to declare it expedient 
that the Union should be dissolved ; but 
the matter was tided over by the passage 
of a resolution that no petitions or papers 
relating to slavery should be in any way 
considered or acted upon. 



In the Presidential election of 1840 Mr. 
Van Buren was nominated, without opposi- 
tion, as the Democratic candidate, William 
H. Harrison being the candidate of the 
Whig party. The Democrats carried only 
seven States, and out of 294 electoral votes 
only sixty were for Mr. Van Buren, the re- 
maining 234 being for his opponent. The 
Whig popular majority, however, was not 
large, the elections in many of the States 
being very close. 

March 4, 1841, Mr. Van Buren retired 
from the Presidency. From his fine estate 
at Lindenwald he still exerted a powerful 
influence upon the politics of the country. 
In 1844 he was again proposed as the 
Democratic candidate for the Presidency, 
and a majority of the delegates of the 
nominating convention were in his favor ; 
but, owing to his opposition to the pro- 
posed annexation of Texas, he could not 
secure the requisite two-thirds vote. His 
name was at length withdrawn by his 
friends, and Mr. Polk received the nomina- 
tion, and was elected. 

In 1848 Mr. Cass was the regular Demo- 
cratic candidate. A schism, however, 
sprang up in the party, upon the question 
of the permission of slavery in the newly- 
acquired territory, and a portion of the 
party, taking the name of " Free-Soilers," 
nominated Mr. Van Buren. They drew 
away sufficient votes to secure the election 
of General Taylor, the Whig candidate. 
After this Mr. Van Buren retired to his es- 
tate at Kinderhook, where the remainder 
of his life was passed, with the exception of 
a Eui^opean tour in 1853. He died at 
Kinderhook, July 24, 1862, at the age of 
eighty years. 

Martin Van Buren was a great and good 
man, and no one will question his right to 
a high position among those who have 
been the successors of Washington in the 
faithful occupancy of the Presidential 
chair. 



Presidents of the united states. 




^1 WILLIflffl HENRY HMHISDN. |fepi 




L I A M HENRY 
HARRISON, the 
ninth President of 
the United States, 
I 84 I, was born 
February 9, 1773, 
in Charles Count}', 
Virginia, at Berkeley, the resi- 
dence of his father, Governor 
Benjamin Harrison. He studied 
at Hampden, Sidney College, 
with a view of entering the med- 
ical profession. After graduation 
he went to Philadelphia to study 
medicine under the instruction of 
Dr. Rush. 
George Washington was then President 
3f the United States. The Indians were 
committing fearful ravages on our North- 
western frontier. Young Harrison, either 
lured by the love of adventure, or moved 
by the sufferings of families exposed to the 
most horrible outrages, abandoned his med- 
ical studies and entered the army, having 
obtained a commission of ensign from Pres- 
ident Washington. The first duty assigned 
him was to take a train of pack-horses 
bound to Fort Hamilton, on the Miami 
River, about forty miles from Fort Wash- 
ington. He was soon promoted to the 



rank of Lieutenant, and joined the army 
which Washington had placed under the 
command of General Wayne to prosecute 
more vigorously the war with the In- 
dians. Lieutenant Harrison received great 
commendation from his commanding offi- 
cer, and was promoted to the rank of 
Captain, and placed in command at Fort 
Washington, now Cincmnati, Ohio. 

About this time he married a daughter 
of John Cleves Symmes, one of the fron- 
tiersmen who had established a thriving 
settlement on the bank of the Maumce. 

In 1797 Captain Harrison resigned his 
commission in the army and was appointed 
Secretary of the Northwest Territory, and 
ex-officio Lieutenant-Governor, General St. 
Clair being then Governor of the Territory. 
At that time the law in reference to the 
disposal of the public lands was such that 
no one could purchase in tracts less than 
4,000 acres. Captain Harrison, in the 
face of violent opposition, succeeded in 
obtaining so much of a modification of 
this unjust law that the land was sold in 
alternate tracts of 640 and 320 acres. The 
Northwest Territory 'vas then entitled 
to one delegate in Congress, and Cap- 
tain Harrison was chosen to fill that of- 
fice. In 1800 he was appointed Governor 




^>/f. 



WILLIAM HENny HAlililSON. 



S9 



of Indiana Territory and soon after of 
Upper Louisiana. He was also Superin- 
tendent of Indian Affairs, and so well did he 
fulfill these duties that he was four times 
appointed to this office. During his admin- 
istration he effected thirteen treaties with 
the Indians, by which the United States 
acquired 60,000,000 acres of land. In 1804 
he obtained a cession from the Indians of 
all the land between the Illinois River and 
the Mississippi. 

In 18 1 2 he was made Major-General of 
Kentucky militia and Brigadier-General 
in the army, with the command of the 
Northwest frontier. In 1813 he was made 
Major-General, and as such won much re- 
nown by the defense of Fort Meigs, and the 
battle of the Thames, October 5, 1813. In 
1 8 14 he left the army and was employed in 
Indian affairs by the Government. 

In 1816 General Harrison was chosen a 
member of the National House of Repre- 
sentatives to represent the district of Ohio. 
In the contest which preceded his election 
he was accused of corruption in respect to 
the commissariat of the army. Immedi- 
ately upon taking his seat, he called for an 
investigation of the charge. A committee 
was appointed, and his vindication was 
triumphant. A high compliment was paid 
to his patriotism, disinterestedness and 
devotion to the public service. For these 
services a gold medal was presented to him 
with the thanks of Congress. 

In 1 8 19 he was elected to the Senate of 
Ohio, and in 1824, as one of the Presiden- 
tial electors of that State, he gave his vote 
to Henry Clay. In the same year he was 
elected to the Senate of the United States. 
In 1828 he was appointed by President 
Adams minister plenipotentiary to Colom- 
bia, but was recalled by General Jackson 
immediately after the inauguration of the 
latter. 

Upon his return to the United States, 
General Harrison retired to his farm at 



North Bend, Hamilton County, Ohio, six- 
teen miles below Cincinnati, where for 
twelve years he was clerk of the County 
Court. He once owned a distillery, but 
perceiving the sad effects of whisky upon 
the surrounding population, he promptly 
abandoned his business at great pecuniary 
sacrifice. 

In 1836 General Hairison was brought 
forward as a candidate for the Presidency. 
Van Buren was the administration candi- 
date; the opposite party could not unite, 
and four candidates were brought forward. 
General Harrison received seventy-three 
electoral votes without any general concert 
among his friends. The Democratic party 
triumphed and Mr. Van Buren was chosen 
President. In 1839 General Harrison was 
again nominated for the Presidency by the 
Whigs, at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Mr. 
Van Buren being the Democratic candi- 
date. General Harrison received 234 elec- 
toral votes against sixty for his opponent. 
This election is memorable chiefly for the 
then extraordinary means employed during 
the canvass for popular votes- Mass meet- 
ings and processions were introduced, and 
the watchwords " log cabin " and " hard 
cider " were effectually used b}' the Whigs, 
and aroused a popular enthusiasm. 

A vast concourse of people attended his 
inauguration. His address on that occasion 
was in accordance with his antecedents, and 
gave great satisfaction. A short time after he 
took his seat, he was seized by a pleurisy- 
fever, and after a few days of violent sick- 
ness, died April 4, just one short month after 
his inauguration. His death was universally 
regarded as one of the greatest of National 
calamities. Never, since the death of 
Washington, were there, throughout one 
land, such demonstrations of sorrow. Not 
one single spot can be found to sully his 
fame; and through all ages Americans wili 
pronounce with love and reverence the 
name of William Henry Harrison. 



6o 



PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 




EHHHHH3 



i T i li f ni m i fi[g iii j M 



^HSHHHH^HHSi: 









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t4%^«fe 




"OHN TYLER, the tenth 
President of the United 
States, was born in 
Charles City County, 
Virginia, March 29, 1790. 
His father, Judge John 
Tyler, possessed large 
landed estates in Virginia, 
and was one of the most 
distinguished men of his 
day, filling the offices of 
Speaker of the House of 
Delegates, Judge of the Su- 
preme Court and Governor 
of the State. 
At the early age of twelve 
young John entered William and Mary 
College, and oriaduated with honor when 
but seventeen years old. He then closely 
applied himself to the stud}' of law, and at 
nineteen years of age commenced the prac- 
tice of his profession. When only twenty- 
one he was elected to a seat in the State 
Legislature. He acted with the Demo- 
cratic party and advocated the measures of 
Jefferson and Madison. For five years he 
was elected to the Legislature, receiving 
nearly the unanimous vote of his county. 

When but twenty-six years of age he was 
elected a member of Congress. He advo- 
cated a strict construction of the Constitu- 
tion and the most careful vigilance over 



State rights. He was soon compelled to 
resign his seat in Congress, owing to ill 
health, but afterward took his seat in the 
State Legislature, where he exerted a 
powerful influence in promoting public 
works of great utility. 

In 1825 Mr. Tyler was chosen Governor 
of his State — a high honor, for Virginia 
had many able men as competitors for 
the prize. His administration was signally 
a successful one. He urged forward inter- 
nal improvements and strove to remove 
sectional jealousies. His popularity secured 
his re-election. In 1827 he was elected 
United States Senator, and upon taking his 
seat )omed the ranks of the opposition. He 
opposed the tariff, voted against the bank 
as unconstitutional, opposed all restrictions 
upon slavery, resisted all projects of inter- 
nal improvements by the General Govern- 
ment, avowed his sympathy with Mr. Cal- 
houn's views of nullification, and declared 
that General Jackson, by his opposition to 
the nullifiers, had abandoned the principles 
of the Democratic party. Such was Mr. 
Tyler's record in Congress. 

This hostility to Jackson caused Mr. 
Tyler's retirement from the Senate, after 
his election to a second term. He soon 
after removed to Williamsburg for the 
better education of his children, and again 
took his seat in the Legislature. 



^«gSi 





xJCn^'iyrc 




JOHN TVLER. 



63 



In 1839 he was sent to the National Con- 
vention at Harrisburg to nominate a Presi- 
dent. General Harrison received a majority 
of votes, much to the disappointment of the 
South, who had wished for Henry Clay. 
In order to conciliate the Southern Whigs, 
John Tyler was nominated for Vice-Presi- 
dent. Harrison and Tyler were inaugu- 
rated March 4, 1841. In one short month 
from that time President Harrison died, 
and Mr. Tyler, to his own surprise as well 
as that of the nation, found himself an 
occupant of the Presidential chair. His 
position was an exceedingly difficult one, 
as he was opposed to the main principles of 
the party which had brought him into 
power. General Harrison had selected a 
Whig cabinet Should he retain tliem, and 
thus surround himself with councilors 
whose views were antagonistic to his own? 
or should he turn against the party that 
had elected him, and select a cabinet in 
harmony with himself? This was his fear- 
ful dilemma. 

President Tyler deserves more charity 
than he has received. He issued an address 
to the people, which gave general satisfac- 
tion. He retained the cabinet General 
Harrison had selected. His veto of a bill 
chartering a new national bank led to an 
open quarrel with the party which elected 
him, and to a resignation of the entire 
cabinet, except Daniel Webster, Secretary 
of State. 

President Tyler attempted to conciliate. 
He appointed a new cabinet, leaving out all 
strong party men, but the Whig members 
of Congress were not satisfied, and they 
published a manifesto September 13, break- 
ing off all political relations. The Demo- 
crats had a majoritv in the House ; the 
Whigs in the Senate. Mr. Webster soon 
found it necessar}' to resign, being forced 
out by the pressure of his Whig friends. 

April 12, i8z^4. President Tyler concluded, 
t.hrough Mr. Calhoun, a treaty for the an- 



nexation ol Texas, which was rejected by 
the Senate ; but he effected his object in the 
closing days of his administration by the 
passage of the joint resolution of March i 

1845- 

He was nominated for the Presidency by 
an informal Democratic Convention, held 
at Baltimore in May, 1844, but soon with- 
drew from the canvass, perceiving that he 
liad nc^t gained the confidence of the Demo- 
crats at large. 

Mr. Tyler's administration was particu- 
larly unfortunate. No one was satisfied. 
WhiofS and Democrats alike assailed him. 
Situated as he was, it is more than can 
be expected of human nature that he 
should, in all cases, have acted in the wisest 
manner ; but it will probably be the verdict 
of all candid men, in a careful review of his 
career, that John Tyler was placed in a 
position of such difficult}' that he could not 
pursue an)- course which would not expose 
him to severe censure and denunciation. 

In 1813 Mr. Tyler married Letitia Chris- 
tian, who bore him three sons and three 
daughters, and died in Washington in 1842. 
June 26, 1844, he contracted a second mar- 
riage with Miss Julia Gardner, of New 
York. He lived in almost complete retire- 
ment from politics until February, 1861, 
when he was a member of the abortive 
" peace convention," held at Washington, 
and was chosen its President. Soon after 
he renounced his allegiance to tiie United 
States and was elected to the Confederate 
Congress. He died at Richmond, January 
17, 1862, after a short illness. 

Unfortunately for his memory the name 
of John Tyler must forever be associated 
with all the misery of that terrible Re- 
bellion, whose cause he openly espoused. 
It is with sorrow that history records that 
a President of the United States died while 
defending the flag of rebellion, which was 
arrayed against the national banner in 
deadly warfare. 



(•^ 



PUBS/DENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 



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'V' AMES KNOX POLK, 
the eleventh President of 
r^^«* the United States, 1845- 
'49, was born in Meck- 
lenburg County, North 
Carolina, November 2, 
1795. He was the eldest 
son of a family of six sons 
and four daughters, and was 
a grand-nephew of Colonel 
Thomas Polk, celebrated in 
connection with the Meck- 
lenburg Declaration of In- 
dependence. 

In 1806 his father, Samuel 
Polk, emigrated with his fam- 
ily' two or three hundred miles west to the 
valley of the Duck River. He was a sur- 
veyor as well as farmer, and gradually in- 
creased in wealth until he became one of 
the leading men of the region. 

In the common schools James rapidly be- 
came proficient in all the common branches 
of an English education. In 1813 he was 
sent to Murfreesboro Academy, and in the 
autumn of 181 5 entered the sophomore class 
in the University of North Carolina, at 
Chapel Hill, graduating in 181 8. iifter a 
short season of recreation he went to Nasn- 
ville and entered the law office of Felix 
Grundy. As soon a? he had his finished 



legal studies and been admitted to the bar, 
he returned to Columbia, the shire town of 
Maury County, and opened an office. 

James K. Polk ever adhered to the polit- 
ical faith of his father, which was that of 
a Jeffersonian Republican. In 1823 he was 
elected to the Legislature of Tennessee. As 
a " strict constructionist," he did not think 
that the Constitution empowered the Gen- 
eral Government to carrv on a system of 
internal improvements in the States, but 
deemed it important that it should have 
that power, and wished the Constitution 
amended that it might be conferred. Sub- 
sequently, however, he became alarmed lest 
the General Government become so strong 
as to undertake to interfere with slavery. 
He therefore gave all his influence to 
strengthen the State governments, and to 
check the growth of the central power. 

In Januar}', 1824, Mr. Polk married Miss 
Mary Childress, of Rutherford County, Ten- 
nessee. Had some one then whispered to 
him that he was destined to become Presi- 
dent of the United States, and that he must 
select for his companion one who would 
adorn that distinguished station, he could 
not have made a more fitting choice. She 
was truly a lady of rare beauty and culture. 

In the fall of 1825 Mr. Polk was chosen 
a member of Congress, and was continu- 




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yA UfiS K. POLK. 



67 



ously re-elected until 1839. He then with- 
drew, only that he might accept the 
srubernatorial chair of his native State. 
He was a warm friend of General Jackson, 
who had been defeated in the electoral 
contest by John Quincy Adams. This 
latter gentleman had just taken his seat in 
the Presidential chair when Mr. Polk took 
his seat in the House of Representatives. 
He immediately united himself with the 
opponents of Mr. Adams, and was soon 
regarded as the leader of the Jackson party 
in the House. 

The four years of Mr. Adams' adminis- 
tration passed away, and General Jackson 
took ttie Presidential chair. Mr. Polk had 
now become a man of great influence in 
Congress, ana was chairman of its most 
important committee — that of Ways and 
Means. Eloquently he sustained General 
Jackson in all his measures — in his hostility 
to internal improvements, to the banks, and 
to the tariff. Eight years of General Jack- 
son's administration passed away, and the 
powers he had wielded passed into the 
hands of !\fartin Van Buren ; and still Mr. 
Polk remained in the House, the advocate 
of that type of Democracy which those 
distinguished men upheld. 

During five sessions of Congress Mr. 
Polk was speaker of the House. He per- 
formed his arduous duties to general satis- 
faction, and a unanimous vote of thanks to 
him was passed by the House as he with- 
drew, March 4, 1839. He was elected 
Governor by a large majority, and took 
the oath of office at Nashville, October 14, 
1839. He was a candidate for re-election 
in 1 84 1, but was defeated. In the mean- 
time a wonderful revolution had swept 
over the country. W. H. Harrison,the Whig 
candidate, had been called to the Presiden- 
tial chair, and in Tennessee the Whig ticket 
had been carried by over 12,000 majority. 
Under these circumstances Mr. Polk's suc- 
cess was hopeless. Still he canvassed the 



State with his Whig competitor, Mr. Jones, 
traveling in the most friendly manner to- 
gether, often in the same carriage, and at 
one time sleeping in the same bed. Mr. 
Jones was elected by 3,000 majority. 

And now the question of the annexation 
of Texas to our countr}' agitated the whole 
land. When this question became national 
Mr. Polk, as the avowed champion of an- 
nexation, became the Presidential candidate 
of the pro-slavery wing of the Democratic 
party, and George M. Dallas their candi- 
date for the Vice-Presidency. They were 
elected by a large majority, and were in- 
augurated March 4, 1845. 

President Polk formed an able cabinet, 
consisting of James Buchanan, Robert J. 
Walker, William L. Marcy, George Ban 
croft, Cave Johnson and John Y. Mason. 
The Oregon boundary question was settled, 
the Department of the Interior was created, 
the low tariff ol 1846 was carried, the 
financial system of the Government was 
reorganized, the Mexican war was con- 
ducted, which resulted in the acquisition of 
California and New Mexico, and had far- 
reaching consequences upon the later fort- 
unes of the republic. Peace was made. 
We had wrested from Mexico territory 
equal to four times the empire of France, 
and five times that of Spain. In the prose- 
cution of this war we expended 20,000 
lives and more than $100,000,000. Of this 
money $15,000,000 were paid to Mexico. 

Declining to seek a renomination, Mr. 
Polk retired from the Presidency March 4, 
1849, when he was succeeded by General 
Zachary Taylor. He retired to Nashville, 
and died there June 19, 1849, i" the fifty- 
fourth year of his age. His funeral was at- 
tended the following day, in Nashville, with 
every demonstration of respect. He left 
no children. Without being possessed of 
extraordinary talent, Mr. Polk was a capable 
administrator of public affairs, and irre- 
proachable in private life. 



S8 



PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 




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ACHARY TAY- 
LOR, the twelfth 
President of the 
United States, 
i849-'50, was born 
in Orange County, 
Virginia, Septem- 
ber 24, 1784. His father, 
Richard Taylor, was Colo- 
nel of a Virginia regiment 
in the Revolutionary war, 
and removed to Kentucky 
in 1785 ; purchased a large 
plantation near Loiiisville 
and became an influential cit- 
izen ; was a member of the convention that 
framed the Constitution of Kentucky; served 
in both branches of the Legislature; was 
Collector of the port of Louisville under 
President Washington ; as a Presidential 
elector, voted for Jefferson, Madison, Mon- 
roe and Clay; died January 19,1829. 

Zachary remained on his father's planta- 
tion until 1808, in which year (May 3) he 
was appointed First Lieutenant in the 
Seventh Infantry, to fill a vacancy oc- 
casioned by the death of his elder brother, 
Hancock. Up to this point he had received 
but a limited education. 

Joining his regiment at New Orleans, he 



was attacked with yellow fever, with nearly 
fatal termination. In November, 18 10, he 
was promoted to Captain, and in the sum- 
mer of 181 2 he was in command of Fort 
Harrison, on the left bank of the Wabash 
River, near the present site of Terre Haute, 
his successful defense of which with but a 



handful of men agfainst a 



large 



force of 



Indians which had attacked him was one of 
the first marked military achievements of 
the war. He was then brevetted Major, 
and in 1814 promoted to the full rank. 

During the remainder of the war Taylor 
was actively employed on the Western 
frontier. In the peace organization of 181 5 
he was retained as Captain, but soon after 
resigned and settled near Louisville. In 
May, 1816, however, he re-entered the army 
as Major of the Third Infantrv ; became 
Lieutenant-Colonel of the Eighth Infantry 
in 1819, and in 1832 attained the Colonelcy 
of the First Infantry, of which he had been 
Lieutenant-Colonel since 1 82 1 . On different 
occasions he had been called to Washington 
as member of a military board for organiz- 
ing the militia of the Union, and to aid the 
Government with his knowledge in the 
organization of the Indian Bureau, having 
for many years discharged the duties of 
Indian agent over large tracts of Western 




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7i 



country. He served through the Black 
Hawk war in 1832, and in 1837 was ordered 
to take command in Florida, then the scene 
of war with the Indians. 

In 1846 he was transferred to the com- 
mand of the Army of the Southwest, from 
which he was relieved the same year at his 
own request. Subsequently he was sta- 
tioned on the Arkansas frontier at Forts 
Gibbon, Smith and Jesup, which latter work 
had been built under his direction in 1822. 

May 28, 1845, he received a dispatch from 
the Secretary of War informing him of the 
receipt of information by the President 
" that Texas would shortly accede to the 
terms of annexation," in which event he 
was instructed to defend ami protect her 
from "foreign invasion and Indian incur- 
sions." He proceeded, upon the annexation 
of Texas, with about 1,500 men to Corpus 
Christi, where his force was increased to 
some 4,000. 

Taylor was brevetted Major-General May 
28, and a month later, June 29, 1S46, his full 
commission to that grade was issued. After 
needed rest and reinforcement, he advanced 
in September on Monterey, which city ca- 
pitulated after three-days stubborn resist- 
ance. Here he took up his winter quarters. 
The plan for the invasion of Mexico, by 
way of Vera Cruz, with General Scott in 
command, was now determined upon by 
the Govenrment, and at the moment Taylor 
was about to resume active operations, he 
received orders to send the larger part of 
his force X.o reinforce the army of General 
Scott at Vera Cruz. Though subsequently 
reinforced b} raw recruits, yet after pro- 
viding a garrison for Monterey and Saltillo 
he had but about 5,300 effective troops, of 
which but 500 or 600 were regulars. In 
this weakened condition, however, he was 
destined to achieve his greatest victory. 
Confidently relying upon his strength at 
Vera Cruz to resist the enemy for a long 
time, Santa Anna directed his entire army 



against Taylor to overwhelm him, and then 
to return to oppose the advance of Scott's 
more formidable invasion. The battle of 
Buena Vista was fought February 22 and 
23, 1847. Taylor received the thanks of 
Congress and a gold medal, and " Old 
Rough and Ready," the sobriquet given 
him in the army, became a household word. 
He remained in quiet possession of the 
Rio Grande Valley until November, when 
he returned to the United States. 

In the Whig convention which met at 
Philadelphia, June 7, 1848, Taylor was nomi- 
nated on the fourth ballot as candidate :;{ 
the Whig party for President, over Henry 
Clay, General Scott and Daniel Webster. 
In November Taylor received a majority 
of electoral votes, and a popular vote of 
1,360,752, against 1,219,962 for Cass and 
Butler, and 291,342 for Van Buren and 
Adams. General Taylor was inaugurated 
March 4, 1849. 

The free and slave States being then equal 
in number, the struggle for supremacy on 
the part of the leaders in Congress was 
violent and bitter. In the summer of 1849 
California adopted in convention a Consti- 
tution prohibiting slavery within its borders. 
Taylor advocated the immediate admission 
of California with her Constitution, and the 
postponement of the question as to the other 
Territories until they could hold conven- 
tions and decide for themselves whether 
slavery should exist within their borders. 
This policy ultimately prevailed through 
the celebrated " Compromise Measures" of 
Henry Clay; but not during the life of the 
brave soldier and patriot statesman. July 
5 he was taken suddenly ill with a bilious 
fever, which proved fatal, his death occur- 
ring July 9, 1850. One of his daughters 
married Colonel W.'W. S. Bliss, his Adju- 
tant-General and Chief of Staff in Florida 
and Mexico, and Private Secretary during 
his Presidency. Another daughter was 
married to Jefferson Davis. 



PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 




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ILLARD FILL- 
MORE, the thir- 
J* teenth President 
of the United 
States, i85o-'3, was 
■''^'^-■^MtC born in Summer 
Hill, Cayuga 



County, New York, Janu- 
ary' 7, i8oo. He was of 
New England ancestry, and 
his educational advantages 
were limited. He earl}' 
learned the clothiers' trade, 
but spent ail his leisure time 
in study. At nineteen years 
of age he was induced b}' 
Judge Walter Wood to abandon his trade 
and commence the study of law. Upon 
learning that the young man was entirely 
destitute of means, he took him into his 
own office and loaned him such money as 
he needed. That he might not be heavil}' 
burdened with debt, young Fillm.ore taught 
school during the winter months, and in 
various other ways helped himself along. 
At the age of twenty-three he was ad- 
mitted to the Court of Common Pleas, and 
commenced the practice of his profession 
in the village of Aurora, situated on the 



eastern bank of the Cayuga Lake. In 1825 
he married Miss Abigail Powers, daughter 
of Rev. Lemuel Powers, a lady of great 
moral worth. In 1S25 he took his scat in 
the House of Assembly of his native State, 
as Representative from Erie County, 
whither he had recently moved. 

Though he iiad never taken a very 
active part in politics his vote and his sym- 
pathies were with the Whig party. The 
State was then Democratic, but his cour- 
tesy, ability and integrity won the respect 
of his associates. In 1832 he was elected 
to a seat in the United States Congress. 
*\.t the close of his term he returned to his 
law practice, and in two years more he was 
again elected to Congress. 

He now began to have a national reputa- 
tion. His labors were very arduous. To 
draft resolutions in the committee room, 
and then to defend them against the most 
skillful opponents on the floor of the House 
requires readiness of mind, mental resources 
and skill in debate such as few possess. 
Weary with these exhausting labors, and 
pressed by the claims of his private affairs, 
Mr. Fillmore wrote a letter to his constitu- 
ents and declined to be a candidate foi re- 
election. Notwithstanding this ccmmuni- 





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MILLARD FILLMORE. 



75 



cation his friends met in convention and 
renominated him by acclamation. Though 
gratified by this proof of their appreciation 
of his labors he adhered to his resolve and 
returned to his home. 

In 1847 Mr. Fillmore was elected to the 
important office of comptroller of the State. 
In entering upon the very responsible duties 
which this situation demanded, it was nec- 
essary for him to abandon his profession, 
and he removed to the cit}' of Albany. In 
this year, also, the Whigs were looking 
around to find suitable candidates for the 
President and Vice-President at the ap- 
proaching election, and the names of Zach- 
ary Taylor and Millard Fillmore became 
the rallying cry of the Whigs. On the 4th 
of March, 1849, General Taylor was inaug- 
urated President and Millard Fillmore 
Vice-President of the United States. 

The great question of slavery had as- 
sumed enormous proportions, and perme- 
ated every subject that was brought before 
Congress. It was evident that the strength 
of our institutions was to be severely tried. 
July 9, 1850, President Taylor died, and, by 
the Constitution, Vice-President Fillmore 
became President of the United States. 
The agitated condition of the country 
brought questions of great delicacy before 
him. He was bound by his oath of office 
to execute the laws of the United States. 
One of these laws was understood to be, 
that if a slave, escaping from bondage, 
should reach a free State, the United States 
was bound to do its utmost to capture him 
and return him to his master. Most Chris- 
tian men loathed this law. President Fill- 
more felt bound by his oath rigidly to see 
it enforced. Slavery was organizing armies 
to invade Cuba as it had invaded Texas, 
and annex it to the United States. Presi- 
dent Fillmore gave all the influence of his 
exalted station against the atrocious enter- 
prise. 

Mr. Fillmore had serious difficulties to 



contend with, since the opposition had a 
majority in both Houses. He did every- 
thing in his power to conciliate the South, 
but the pro-slavery party in that section 
felt the inadequency of all measures of tran- 
sient conciliation. The population of the 
free States was so rapidly increasing over 
that of the slave States, that it was inevita- 
ble that the power of the Government 
should soon pass into the hands of the free 
States. The famous compromise measures 
were adopted under Mr. Fillmore's admin- 
istration, and the Japan expedition was 
sent out. 

March 4, 1853, having served one term. 
President Fillmore retired from office. He 
then took a long tour through the South, 
where he met with quite an enthusiastic 
reception. In a speech at Vicksburg, al- 
luding to the rapid growth of the country, 
he said: 

" Canada is knocking for admission, and 
Mexico would be glad to come in, and 
without saying whether it would be right 
or wrong, we stand with open arms to re- 
ceive them; for it is the manifest destiny of 
this Government to embrace the whole 
North American Continent." 

In 1855 Mr. Fillmore went to Europe 
where he was received with those marked 
attentions which his position and character 
merited. Returning to this country in 
1856 he was nominated for the Presidency 
by the "Know-Nothing" party. Mr. Bu- 
chanan, the Democratic candidate was 
the successful competitor. Mr. Fillmore 
ever afterward lived in retirement. Dur- 
ing the conflict of civil war he was mostly 
silent. It was generally supposed, how- 
ever, that his sympathy was with the South- 
ern Confederacy. He kept aloof from the 
conflict without any words of cheer to the 
one party or the other. For this reason 
he was forgotten by both. He died of 
paralysis, in Buffalo, New York, March 8, 
1874. 



76 



PHES/DENTS OF THE UN /TED STATES. 







KP^ 



■n?<'^g-*<^>< ^.'<r* <'- 






Fp]]I^m]] PIERCE. I 



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HP.r'Hr'.PHP'jBE iaEHjaJHS: 








'; I^ANKLIN PIERCE, 

the fourteenth Presi- 
dent of the Utiitcd 
States, was born in 
Hillsborough, New 
Hampshire, Novem- 
ber 23, 1804. His 
f a t h e r. Governor 
in Pierce, was a Rev- 
olutionary soldier, a man of 
rigid integrity; was for sev- 
eral years in the State Legis- 
lature, a member of the (iov- 
ernor's council and a General 
of the militia. 
Franlvlin was the sixth of eight children. 
As a boy he listened eagerly to tiie argu- 
ments of his father, enforced by strong and 
ready utterance and earnest gesture. It 
was in the days of intense political excite- 
ment, when, all over the New England 
States, Federalists and Democrats were ar- 
rayed so fiercely against each other. 

In 1820 he entered Bowdoin College, at 
Brunswick, Maine, and graduated in 1824, 
and commenced the study of law in the 
office of Judge Woodbury, a very distin- 
guished lawyer, and in 1827 was admitted 
to the bar. He practiced with great success 
in Hillsborough and Concord. He served 



in the State Legislature four years, the last 
two of which he was chosen Speaker of the 
House by a very large vote. 

In 1833 he was elected a member of Con- 
gress. In 1837 he was elected to the United 
States Senate, just as Mr. Van Buren com- 
menced his administration. 

In 1834 he married Miss Jane Means 
Appleton, a lady admirably fitted to adorn 
every station with which her husband was 
honored. Three sons born to them all 
found an early grave. 

Upon his accession to office. President 
Polk aj)pointed Mr. Pierce Attorney-Gen- 
eral of the United States, but the offer was 
declined in consequence of numerous pro- 
fessional engagements at home and the 
precarious state of Mrs. Pierce's health. 
About the same time he also declined the 
nomination for Governor by the Demo- 
cratic party. 

The war with Mexico called Mr. Pierce 
into the army. Receiving the appointment 
of Brigadier-General, he embarked with a 
portion of his troops at Newport, Rhode 
Island, May 27, 1847. He served during 
this war, and distinguished himself by his 
bravery, skill and excellent judgment. 
When he reached his home in his native 
State he was enthusiastically received by 





W^/^i^I/a , 




FRANKLIN PIERCE. 



the advocates of the war, and coldly by its 
opponents. He resumed the practice of his 
profession, frequently taking an active part 
in political questions, and giving his sup- 
port to the pro-slavery wing of the Demo- 
cratic party. 

June 12, 1852, the Democratic convention 
met in Baltimore to nominate a candidate 
for the Presidency. For four days they 
continued in session, and in thirty-five bal- 
lotings no one had received tiie requisite 
two-thirds vote. Not a vote had been 
thrown thus far for General Pierce. Then 
the Virginia delegation brought forward 
his name. There were fourteen more bal- 
lotings, during which General Pierce 
gained strength, until, at the forty-ninth 
ballot, he received 282 votes, and all other 
candidates eleven. General Winfield Scott 
was the Whig candidate. General Pierce 
was elected with great unanimity. Only 
four States — Vermont, Massachusetts, Ken- 
tucky and Tennessee — cast their electoral 
votes against him. March 4, 1853, he was 
inaugurated President of the United States, 
and William YL. King, Vice-President. 

President Pierce's cabinet consisted of 
William S. Marcy, James Guthrie, Jefferson 
Davis, James C. Dobbin, Robert McClel- 
land, James Campbell and Caleb Cushing. 

At the demand of slavery the Missouri 
Compromise was repealed, and all the Ter- 
ritories of the Union were thrown open to 
slaver}'. The Territorj' of Kansas, west of 
Missouri, was settled by emigrants mainly 
from the North. According to law, the}' 
were about to meet and decide whether 
slavery or freedom should be the law of 
that realm. Slavery in Missouri and 
other Southern States rallied her armed 
legions, marched them into Kansas, took 
possession of the polls, drove away the 
citizens, deposited their own votes by 
handiuls, went through the farce of count- 
ing them, and then declared that, by an 
overwhelming majority, slavery was estab- 



lished in Kansas. These facts nobody 
denied, and yet President Pierce's adminis- 
tration felt bound to respect the decision 
obtained by such votes. The citizens of 
Kansas, the majority of whom were free- 
State men, met in convention and adopted 
the following resolve : 

"Resolved, That the body of men who, 
for the past two months, have been passing 
laws for the people of our Territory, 
moved, counseled and dictated to by the 
demagogues of other States, arc to us a 
foreign body, representing only the lawless 
invaders who elected them, and not the 
people of this Territory ; that we repudiate 
their action as the monstrous consummation 
of an act of violence, usurpation and fraud 
unparalleled in the history of the Union." 

The free-State people of Kansas also sent 
a petition to the General Government, im- 
ploring its protection. Ii; reply the Presi- 
dent issued a proclamation, declaring that 
Legislature thus created must be recog- 
nized as the legitimate Legislature of Kan- 
sas, and that its laws were binding upon 
the people, and that, if necessary, the whole 
force of the Governmental arm would be 
put forth to inforce those laws. 

James Buchanan succeeded him in the 
Presidency, and, March 4, 1857, President 
Pierce retired to his home in Concord, 
New Hampshire. When the Rebellion 
burst forth Mr. Pierce remained steadfast 
to the principles he had always cherished, 
and gave his sympathies to the pro-slavery 
party, with which he had ever been allied. 
He declined to do anything, either by 
voice or pen, to strengthen the hands of 
the National Government. He resided in 
Concord until his death, which occurred in 
October, 1869. He was one of the most 
genial and social of men, generous to 
a fault, and contributed liberally of his 
moderate means for the alleviation of suf- 
fering and want. He was an honored 
communicant of the Episcopal chuich. 



So 



PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 




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'AMES BUCHANAN, the 
fifteentli President of the 
United States, 1857-61, 
was born in Franklin 
County, Pennsylvania, 
April 23, 1791. The 
place where his father's 
cabin stood was called 
Stony Batter, and it was 
situated in a wild, romantic 
spot, in a gorge of mount- 
ains, with towering sum- 
mits rising all around. He 
was of Irish ancestry, his 
father having emigrated in- 
1783, with very little prop- 
erty, save his own strong arms. 

James remained in his secluded home for 
eight yeai-s enjoying very few social or 
intellectual advantages. His parents were 
industrious, frugal, prosperous and intelli- 
gent. In 1799 his father removed to Mer- 
cersburg, where James was placed in 
school and commenced a course in English, 
Greek and Latin. His progress was rapid 
and in 1801 he entered Dickinson College 
at Carlisle. Here he took his stand among 
the first scholars in the institution, and was 
able to master the most abstruse subjects 
with facilit}'. In 1809 he graduated with 
the highest honors in his class. 

He was then eighteen years of age, tall, 



graceful and in vigorous health, fond oi 
athletic sports, an unerring shot and en- 
livened with an exuberant flow of animal 
spirits. He immediately commenced the 
study of law in the city of Lancaster, and 
was admitted to the bar in 1812. He rose 
very rapidly in his profession and at once 
took undisputed stand with the ablest law- 
yers of the State. When but twenty-six 
years of age, unaided by counsel, he suc- 
cessfully defended before the State Senate 
one of the Judges of the State, who was 
tried upon articles of impeachment At 
the age of thirty it was generally admitted 
that he stood at the head of the bar, and 
there was no lawyer in the State who had 
a more extensive or lucrative practice. 

In 18 1 2, just after Mr. Buchanan had 
entered upon the practice of the law, our 
second war with England occurred. With 
all his powers he sustained the Govern- 
ment, eloquently urging the rigorous pros- 
ecution of the war; and even enlisHng as a 
private soldier to assist in repelling the 
British, who had sacked Washington and 
were threatening Baltimore. He was at 
that time a Federalist, but when the Con- 
stitution was adopted by both parties, 
Jefferson truly said, " We are all Federal- 
ists; we are all Republicans." 

The opposition of the Federalists to the 
war with England, and the alien and sedi- 




a^??ze^ &^^C>^^, 



91^^^.^^ 



■<k 



yAMES BUCHANAN. 



03 



tion laws of John Adams, brought the party 
into dispute, and the name of Federalist 
became a reproach. Mr. Buchanan almost 
immediately upon entering Congress began 
to incline more and more to the Repub- 
licans. In the stormy Presidential election 
of 1824, in which Jackson, Clay, Crawford 
and John Quincy Adams were candidates, 
Mr. Buchanan espoused the cause of Gen- 
eral Jackson and unrelentingly opposed the 
administration of Mr. Adams. 

Upon his elevation to the Presidency, 
General Jackson appointed Mr. Buchanan, 
minister to Russia. Upon his return in 1833 
he was elected to a seat in the United States 
Senate. He there met as his associates, 
Webster, Clay, Wright and Calhoun. He 
advocated the measures proposed by Presi- 
dent Jackson of making reprisals against 
France, and defended the course of the Pres- 
ident in his unprecedented and wholesale 
removals from office of those who were not 
the supporters of his administration. Upon 
this question he was brought into direct col- 
lision with Henry Clay. In the discussion 
of the question respecting the admission of 
Michigan and Arkansas into the Union, Mr. 
Buchanan defined his position by saying: 

" The older I grow, the more I am in- 
clined to be what is called a State-rights 
man." 

M. de Tocqueville, in his renowned work 
upon " Democracy in America," foresaw 
the trouble which was inevitable from the 
doctrine of State sovereignty as held by 
Calhoun and Buchanan. He was con- 
vinced that the National Government was 
losing that strength which was essential 
to its own existence, and that the States 
were assuming powers which threatened 
the perpetuity of the Union. Mr. Buchanan 
received the book in the Senate and de- 
clared the fears of De Tocqueville to be 
groundless, and yet he lived to sit in the 
Presidential chair and see State after State, 
in accordance with his own views of State 



rights, breaking from the Union, thus 
crumbling our Republic into ruins; while 
the unhappy old man folded his arms in 
despair, declaring that the National Consti- 
tution invested him with no power to arrest 
the destruction. 

Upon Mr. Polk's accession to the Presi- 
dencv, Mr. Buchanan became Secretary of 
State, and as such took his share of thf 
responsibility in the conduct of the Mexi- 
can war. At the close of Mr. Polk's ad- 
ministration, Mr. Buchanan retired to pri- 
vate life; but his intelligence, and his great 
ability as a statesman, enabled him to exert 
a powerful influence in National affairs. 

Mr. Pierce, upon his election to the 
Presidency, honored Mr. Buchanan with 
the mission to England. In the year 1856 
the National Democratic convention nomi- 
nated Mr. Buchanan for the Presidency. 
The political conflict was one of the most 
severe in which our country has ever en- 
gaged. On the 4th of March, 1857, Mr. 
Buchanan was inaugurated President. His 
cabinet were Lewis Cass, Howell Cobb, 
J. B. Floyd, Isaac Toucey, Jacob Thomp- 
son, A. V. Brown and J. S. Black. 

The disruption of the Democratic party, 
in consequence of the manner in which the 
issue of the nationality of slavery was 
pressed by the Southern wing, occurred at 
the National convention, held at Charleston 
in April, i860, for the nomination of Mr. 
Buchanan's successor, when the majority 
of Southern delegates withdrew upon the 
passage of a resolution declaring that the 
constitutional status of slavery should be 
determined by the Supreme Court. 

In the next Presidential canvass Abra- 
ham Lincoln was nominated by the oppo- 
nents of Mr. Buchanan's administration. 
Mr. Buchanan remained in Washington 
long enough to see his successor installed 
and then retired to his home in Wheatland. 
He died June i, 1868, aged seventy-seven 
)'ears. 



S4 



PUBS/DENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 






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BRAHAM LIN- 
COLN, the sixteenth 
President of the 
United States, i86i-'5, 
was born February 
12, 1809, in Larue 
(then Hardin) Coimt}', 
Kentuck)', in a cabin on Nolan 
Creek, tlirce miles west of 
Hudgensville. H i s parents 
were Thomas and Nanc}' 
(Hanks) Lincoln. Of his an- 
cestry and early years the little 
that is known may best be 
given in his own language : " My 
parents were both born in Virginia, of un- 
distinguished families — second families, per- 
haps I should say. My mother, who died 
in my tenth year, was of a family of the 
name of Hanks, some of whom now remain 
in Adams, and others in Macon Count)-, 
Illinois. My paterna' grandfather, Abra- 
ham Lincoln, emigrated from Rockbridge 
County, Virginia, to Kentucky in 1781 or 
1782, where, a year or two later, he was 
killed by Indians — not in battle, but by 
stealth, when he was laboring to open a 
farm in the forest. His ancestors, who were 
Quakers, went to Virginia from Berks 
County, Pennsylvania. An effort to iden- 



tify them with the New England family of 
the same name ended in nothing more defi- 
nite than a similarity of Christian names in 
both families, such as Enoch, Levi, Mor- 
decai, Solomon, Abraham and the like. 
My father, at the death of his father, was 
but six )'ears of age, and he grew up, liter- 
ally, without education. He removed from 
Kentucky to what is now Spencer County, 
Indiana, in my eighth 3'ear. We reached 
our new home about the time the State came 
into the Union. It was a wild region, with 
bears and other wild animals still in the 
woods. There I grew to manhood. 

" There were some schools, so called, but 
no qualification was ever required of a 
teacher bevond ' readin', writin', and cipher- 
in' to the rule of three.' If a straggler, sup- 
posed to understand Latin, happened to 
sojourn in the neighborhood, he was looked 
upon as a wizard. There was absolutely 
nothing to excite ambition for education. 
Of course, when I came of age I did not 
know much. Still, somehow, I could read, 
write and cipher to the rule of three, and 
that was all. I have not been to school 
since. The little advance I now have upon 
this store of education I have picked up 
from time to time under the pressure of 
necessity. I was raised to farm-work, which 



4*"' 





c^ 



r-~Ci^ 



ABRAHAM LINCOLN. 



87 



I continued till I was twenty-two. At 
twenty-one I came to Illinois and passed 
the first year in Macon County. Then I got 
to New Salem, at that time in Sangamon, 
now in Menard County, where I remained 
a year as a sort of clerk in a store. 

" Then came the Black Hawk war, and I 
was elected a Captain of volunteers — a suc- 
cess which gave me more pleasure than any 
I have had since. I went the campaign, 
was elated ; ran for the Legislature the 
same year (1832) and was beaten, the only 
time I have ever been beaten by the people. 
The next and three succeeding biennial 
elections I was elected to the Legislature, 
and was never a candidate afterward. 

" During this legislative period I had 
studied law, and removed to Springfield to 
practice it. In 1846 I was elected to the 
Lower House of Congress ; was not a can- 
didate for re-election. From 1849 to 1854, 
inclusive, I practiced the law more assid- 
uously than ever before. Always a Whig 
in politics, and generally on the Whig elec- 
toral tickets, making active canvasses, I was 
losing interest in politics, when the repeal 
of the Missouri Compromise roused me 
again. What I have done since is pretty 
well known." 

The early residence of Lincoln in Indi- 
ana was sixteen miles north of the Ohio 
River, on Little Pigeon Creek, one and a 
half miles east of Gentryville, within the 
present township of Carter. Here his 
mother died October 5, 1818, and the next 
year his father married Mrs. Sally (Bush) 
Johnston, of Elizabethtown, Kentucky. She 
was an affectionate foster-parent, to whom 
Abraham was indebted for his first encour- 
agement to study. He became an eager 
reader, and the few books owned in the 
vicinity were many times perused. He 
worked frequently for the neighbors as a 
farm laborer ; was for some time clerk in a 
store at Gentryville ; and became famous 
throughout that region for his athletic 



powers, his fondness for argument, his in- 
exhaustible fund of humerous anecdote, as 
well as for mock oratory and the composi 
tion of rude satirical verses. In 1828 he 
made a trading voyage to New Orleans as 
" bow-hand " on a flatboat ; removed to 
Illinois in 1830; helped his father build a 
log house and clear a farm on the north 
fork of Sangamon River, ten miles west of 
Decatur, and was for some time employed 
in splitting rails for the fences — a fact which 
was prominently brought forward for 
political purpose thirty years later. 

In the spring of 1851 he, with two of his 
relatives, was hired to build a flatboat on 
the Sangamon River and navigate it to 
New Orleans. The boat " stuck " on a 
mill-dam, and was got off with great labor 
through an ingenious mechanical device 
which some years later led to Lincoln's 
taking out a patent for "an improved 
method for lifting vessels over shoals." 
This voyage was memorable for another 
reason — the sight of slaves chained, mal- 
treated and flogged at New Orleans was 
the origin of his deep convictions upon the 
slavery question. 

Returning from this voyage he became a 
resident for several years at New Salem, a 
recently settled village on the Sangamon, 
where he was successively a clerk, grocer, 
surveyor and postmaster, and acted as pilot 
to the first steamboat that ascended the 
Sangamon. Here he studied law, inter- 
ested himself in local politics after his 
return from the Black Hawk war, and 
became known as an effective "stump 
speaker." The subject of his first political 
speech was the improvement of the channel 
of the Sangamon, and the chief ground on 
which he announced himself (1832) a candi- 
date for the Legislature was his advocacy 
of this popular measure, on which subject 
his practical experience made him the high- 
est authority. 

Elected to the Legislature in 1834 as a 



88 



PRES/DEXTS OF THE UN/TED STATES. 



" Henry Clay Whig," he rapidly acquired 
that command of language and that homely 
but forcible rhetoric which, added to his 
intimate knowledge of the people from 
which he sprang, made him more than a 
match in debate for his few well-educated 
opponents. 

Admitted to the bar in 1837 he soon 
established himself at Springfield, where 
the State capital was located in 1839, 
largely through his influence ; became a 
successful pleader in the State, Circuit and 
District Courts ; married in 1842 a lady be- 
longing to a prominent famil}- in Lexington, 
Kentucky; took an active part in the Pres- 
idential campaigns of 1840 and 1844 as 
candidate for elector on the Harrison and 
Clay tickets, and in 1846 was elected to the 
United States House of Representatives 
over the celebrated Peter Cartwright. 
During his single term in Congress he did 
not attain anv prominence. 

He voted for the reception of anti-slavery 
petitions for the abolition of the slave trade 
in the District of Columbia and for the 
Wilmot proviso; but was chiefly remem- 
bered for the stand he took against the 
Mexican war. For several years there- 
after he took comparatively little interest 
in politics, but gained a leading position at 
the Springfield bar. Two or three non- 
political lectures and an eulog}' on Henry 
Clay (1852) added nothing to his reputation. 

In 1854 the repeal of the Missouri 
Compromise by the Kansas-Nebraska act 
aroused Lincoln from his indifference, and 
in attacking that measure he had the im- 
mense advantage of knowing perfectly well 
the motives and the record of its author, 
Stephen A. Douglas, of Illinois, then popu- 
larly designated as the " Little Giant." The 
latter came to Springfield in October, 1854, 
on the occasion of the State Fair, to vindi- 
cate his policy in the Senate, and the " Anti- 
Nebraska" Whigs, remembering that Lin- 
coin had often measured his strength with 



Douglas in the Illinois Legislature and be- 
fore the Springfield Courts, engaged him 
to improvise a reply. This speech, in the 
opinion of those who heard it, was one of 
the greatest efiforts of Lincoln's life ; cer- 
tainly the most effective in his whole career. 
It took the audience by storm, and from 
that moment it was felt that Douglas had 
met his match. Lincoln was accordingly 
selected as the Anti-Nebraska candidate for 
the United States Senate in place of General 
Shields, whose term expired March 4, 1855, 
and led to several ballots ; but Trumbull 
was ultimately chosen. 

The second conflict on the soil of Kan- 
sas, which Lincoln had predicted, soon be- 
gan. The result was the disruption of the 
Whig and the formation of the Republican 
party. At the Bloomington State Conven- 
tion in 1856, where the new part)' first 
assumed form in Illinois, Lincoln made an 
impressive address, in which for the first 
time he took distinctive ground against 
slavery in itself. 

At the National Republican Convention 
at Philadelphia, June 17, after the nomi- 
nation of Fremont, Lincoln was put for- 
ward by the Illinois delegation for the 
Vice-Presidency, and received on the first 
ballot no votes against 259 for William L 
Dayton. He took a prominent part in the 
canvass, being on the electoral ticket. 

In 1858 Lincoln was unanimously nomi- 
nated by the Republican State Convention 
as its candidate for the United States Senate 
in place of Douglas, and in his speech of 
acceptance used the celebrated illustration 
of a "house divided against itself" on the 
slavery question, which was, perhaps, the 
cause of his defeat. The great debate car- 
ried on at all the principal towns of Illinois 
between Lincoln and Douglas as rival Sena- 
torial candidates resulted at the time in the 
election of the latter ; but being widely cir- 
culated as a campaign document, it fixed 
the attention of the country upon the 



ABRAHAM TJNCOL?f. 



89 



former, as the clearest and most convinc- 
ing exponent of Republican doctrine. 

Early in 1859 he began to be named in 
Illinois as a suitable Republican candidate 
for the Presidential campaign of the ensu- 
ing year, and a political address delivered 
at the Cooper Institute, New York, Febru- 
ary 27, i860, followed by similar speeches 
at New Haven, Hartford and elsewhere in 
New England, first made him known to the 
Eastern States in the light by which he had 
long been regarded at home. By the Re- 
publican State Convention, which met at 
Decatur, Illinois, May 9 and 10, Lincoln 
was unanimously endorsed for the Presi- 
dency. It was on this occasion that two 
rails, said to have been split by his hands 
thirty years before, were brought into the 
convention, and the incident contributed 
much to his popularity. The National 
Republican Convention at Chicago, after 
spirited efforts made in favor of Seward, 
Chase and Bates, nominated Lincoln for 
the Presidency, with Hannibal Hamlin 
for Vice-President, at the same time adopt- 
ing a vigorous anti-slavery platform. 

The Democratic party having been dis- 
organized and presenting two candidates, 
Douglas and Breckenridge, and the rem- 
nant of the " American" party having put 
forward John Bell, of Tennessee, the Re- 
publican victory was an easy one, Lincoln 
being elected November 6 by a large plu- 
rality, comprehending nearly all the North- 
ern States, but none of the Southern. The 
secession of South Carolina and the Gulf 
States was the immediate result, followed 
a few months later by that of the border 
slave States and the outbreak of the great 
civil war. 

The life of Abraham Lincoln became 
thenceforth merged in the history of his 
countr)-. None of the details of the vast 
conflict which filled the remainder of Lin- 
coln's life can here be given. Narrowly 
escaping assassination by avoiding Balti- 



more on his way to the capital, he reached 
Washington February 23, and was inaugu- 
rated President of the United States March 
4, 1 86 1. 

In his inaugural address he said: " I hold, 
that in contemplation of universal law and 
the Constitution the Union of these States is 
perpetual. Perpetuity is implied if not ex- 
pressed in the fundamental laws of all na- 
tional governments. It is safe to assert 
that no government proper ever had a pro- 
vision in its organic law for its own termi- 
nation. I therefore consider that in view 
of the Constitution and the laws, the Union 
is unbroken, and to the extent of my ability 
I shall take care, as the Constitution en- 
joins upon me, that the laws of the United 
States be extended in all the States. In 
doing this there need be no bloodshed or vio- 
lence, and there shall be none unless it be 
forced upon the national authority. The 
power conferred to me will be used to hold, 
occupy and possess the property and places 
belonging to the Government, and to col- 
lect the duties and imports, but beyond 
what may be necessary for these objects 
there will be no invasion, no using of force 
against or among the people anywhere. In 
your hands, my dissatisfied fellow-country- 
men, is the momentous issue of civil war. 
The Government will not assail you. You 
can have no conflict without being your- 
selves the aggressors. You have no oath 
registered in heaven to destroy the Gov- 
ernment, while I shall have the most sol- 
emn one to preserve, protect and defend 
it." 

He called to his cabinet his principal 
rivals for the Presidential nomination — 
Seward, Chase, Cameron and Bates; se- 
cured the co-operation of the Union Demo- 
crats, headed by Douglas; called out 75.000 
militia from the several States upon the first 
tidings of the bombardment of Fort Sumter, 
April 15; proclaimed a blockade of the 
Southern posts April 19; called an extra 



90 



PRESIDENTS OF THE VNIFED STATES. 



session of Congress for July 4, from which 
he asi<ed and obtained 400,000 men and 
$400,000,000 for the war; placed McCleilan 
at the liead of the Federal army on General 
Scott's resignation, October 31; appointed 
Edwin M. Stanton Secretary of War, Jan- 
uary 14, 1862, and September 22, 1862, 
issued a proclamation declaring the free- 
dom of all slaves in the States and parts of 
States then in rebellion from and after 
January i, 1863. This was the crowning 
act of Lincoln's career — the act by which 
he will be chiefly known through all future 
time — and it decided the war. 

October 16, 1863, President Lincoln called 
for 300,000 volunteers to replace those 
whose term of enlistment had expired ; 
made a celebrated and touching, though 
brief, address at the dedication of the 
Gettysburg military cemetery, November 
19, 1863; commissioned Ulysses S. Grant 
Licutenant-General and Commander-in- 
Chief of the armies of the United States, 
March 9, 1864; was re-elected President in 
November of the same year, by a large 
majority over General McCleilan, with 
Andrew Johnson, of Tennessee, as Vice- 
President; delivered a very remarkable ad- 
dress at his second inauguration, March 4, 
1865; visited the army before Richmond the 
same month; entered the capital of the Con- 
federacy the da}- after its fall, and upon the 
surrender of General Robert E. Lee's army, 
April 9, was actively engaged in devising 
generous plans for the reconstruction of the 
Union, when, on the evening of Good Fri- 
day, April 14, he was shot in his box at 
Ford's Theatre, Washington, byJohnWilkes 
Booth, a fanatical actor, and expired early 
on the following morning, April 15. Al- 
most simultaneous!}' a murderous attack 
was made upoti William H. Seward, Secre- 
tary of State. 

At noon on the 15th of April Andrew 



Johnson assumed the Presidency, and active 
measures were taken which resulted in the 
death of Booth and the execution of his 
principal accomplices. 

The funeral of President Lincoln was 
conducted with unexampled solemnity and 
magnificence. Impressive services were 
held in Washington, after which the sad 
procession proceeded over the same route 
he had traveled four years before, from 
Springheld to Washington. In Philadel- 
phia his body lay in state in Independence 
Hall, in which he had declared before his 
first inauguration " that I would sooner be 
assassinated than to give up the principles 
of the Declaration of Independence." He 
was buried at Oak Ridge Cemetery, near 
Springfield, Illinois, on May 4, where a 
monument emblematic of the emancipation 
of the slaves and the restoration of the 
Union mark his resting place. 

The leaders and citizens of the expiring 
Confederacy expressed genuine indignation 
at the murder of a generous political adver- 
sary. Foreign nations took part in mourn- 
ing the death of a statesman who had proved 
himself a true representative of American 
nationality. The freedmen of the South 
almost worshiped the memory of their de- 
liverer; and the general sentiment of the 
great Nation he had saved awarded him a 
place in its affections, second only to that 
held by Washington. 

The characteristics of Abraham Lincoln 
have been familiarly known throughout the 
civilized world. His tall, gaunt, ungainly 
figure, homely countenance, and his shrewd 
mother-wit, shown in his celebrated con- 
versations overflowing in humorous and 
pointed anecdote, combined with an accu- 
rate, intuitive appreciation of the questions 
of the time, are recognized as forming the 
best type of a period of American history 
now rapidly passing away. 





Vv£-c^^-^ 




^^<^<l'a^/t. 



AN DREW JOHNSON. 



9.5 




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>HSHaaaHSEHHr 












'^^^^^^^^^S':^ NDREW JOHNSON, 
the seventeenth Presi- 
!^ dent of the United 
'"^ States, i865-'9, was 
born at Raleigh, 
North Carolina, De- 
c e m b e r 29, 1808. 
His father died when 
was four years old, and in 
eleventh year he was ap- 
?nticed to a tailor. He nev- 
attended school, and did 
learn to read until late in 
apprenticeship, when he 
lenly acquired a passion for 
obtaining knowledge, and devoted 
all his spare time to reading. 

After working two years as a journey- 
man tailor at Lauren's Court-House, South 
Carolina, he removed, in 1826, to Green- 
ville, Tennessee, where he worked at his 
trade and married. Under his wife's in- 
structions he made rapid progress in his 
education, and manifested such an intelli- 
gent interest in local politics as to be 
elected as " workingmen's candidate " al- 
derman, in 1828, and mayor in 1830, being 
twice re-elected to each office. 

During this period he cultivated his tal- 
ents as a public speaker b}- taking part in a 



debating society, consisting largely of stu- 
dents of Greenville College. In 1835, and 
again in 1839, '^^ ^^''is chosen to the lower 
house of the Legislature, as a Democrat. 
In 1 841 he was elected State Senator, and 
in 1843, Representative in Congress, being 
re-elected four successive periods, until 
1853, when he was chosen Governor of 
Tennessee. In Congress he supported the 
administrations of Tyler and Polk in their 
chief measures, especially the annexation 
of Texas, the adjustment of the Oregon 
boundary, the Mexican war, and the tariff 
of 1846. 

In 1855 Mr. Johnson was re elected Gov- 
ernor, and in 1857 entered the United 
States Senate, where he was conspicuous 
as an advocate of retrenchment and of the 
Homestead bill, and as an opponent of the 
Pacific Railroad. He was supported by the 
Tennessee delegation to the Democratic 
convention in i860 for the Presidential 
nomination, and lent his influence to the 
Breckenridge wing of that party. 

When the election of Lincoln had 
brought about the first attempt at secession 
in December, i860, Johnson took in the 
Senate a firm attitude for the Union, and 
in May, 1861, on returning to Tennessee, 
he was in imminent peril of suffering from 



9+ 



PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 



popular violence for his loyalty to the " old 
flag." He was the leader of the Loyalists' 
convention of East Tennessee, and during 
the following winter was very active in or- 
ganizing relief for the destitute loyal refu- 
gees from that region, his own family being 
among those compelled to leave. 

By his course in this crisis Johnson came 
prominently before the Northern public, 
and when in March, 1862, he was appointed 
by President Lincoln military Governor of 
Tennessee, with the rank of Brigadier-Gen- 
eral, he increased in popularity by the vig- 
orous and successful manner in which he 
labored to restore order, protect Union 
men and punish marauders. On the ap- 
proach of the Presidential campaign of 1864, 
the termination of the war being plainly 
foreseen, and several Southern States being 
partially reconstructed, it was felt that the 
Vice-Presidency should be given to a South- 
ern man of conspicuous loyalty, and Gov- 
ernor Johnson was elected on the same 
platform and ticket as President Lincoln; 
and on the assassination of the latter suc- 
ceeded to the Presidency, April 15, 1865. 
In a public speech two days later he said: 
'• The American people must be taught, if 
they do not already feel, that treason is a 
crime and must be punished; that the Gov- 
ernment will not always bear with its ene- 
mies; that it is strong, not onl}' to protect, 
but to punish. In our peaceful history 
treason has been almost unknown. The 
people must understand that it is the black- 
est of crimes, and will be punished." He 
then added the ominous sentence: " In re- 
gard to my future course, I make no prom- 
ises, no pledges." President Johnson re- 
tained the cabinet of Lincoln, and exhibited 
considerable severity toward traitors in his 
earlier acts and speeches, but he soon inaug- 
urated a policy of reconstruction, proclaim- 
ing a general amnesty to the late Confeder- 
ates, and successively establishing provi.s- 
ionai Governments in the Southern States. 



These States accordingly claimed i"epresen- 
tation in Congress in the following Decem- 
ber, and the momentous question of what 
should be the policy of the victorious Union 
toward its late armed opponents was forced 
upon that body. 

Two considerations impelled the Repub- 
lican majority to reject the policy of Presi. 
dent Johnson: First, an apprehension that 
the chief magistrate intended to undo the re- 
sults of the war in regard to slavery; and,sec- 
ond, the sullen attitude of the South, which 
seemed to be plotting to regain the policy 
which arms had lost. The credentials of the 
Southern members elect were laid on the 
table, a civil rights bill and a bill extending 
the sphere of the Freedmen's Bureau were 
passed over the executive veto, and the two 
highest branches of the Government were 
soon in open antagonism. The action of 
Congress was characterized by the Presi- 
dent as a " new rebellion." In July the 
cabinet was reconstructed, Messrs. Randall, 
Stanbury and Browning taking the places 
of Messrs. Denison, Speed and Harlan, and 
an unsuccessful attempt was made by 
means of a general convention in Philadel- 
phia to form a new party on the basisof the 
administration policy. 

In an excursion to Chicago for the pur- 
pose of laying a corner-stone of the monu- 
ment to Stephen A. Douglas, President 
Johnson, accompanied by several members 
of the cabinet, passed through Philadelphia, 
New York and Albany, in each of which 
cities, and in other places along the route, 
he made speeches justifying and explaining 
his own polic3% and violently denouncing 
the action of Congress. 

August 12, 1867, President Johnson re- 
moved the Secretary of War, replacing 
him by General Grant. Secretary Stanton 
retired under protest, based upon the ten- 
ure-of-ofifice act which had been passed the 
preceding March. The President then is- 
sued a proclamation declaring the insurrec- 



A NDRE W JOHNSON. 



95 



tion at an end, and that " peace, order, tran- 
quility and civil authority existed in and 
throughout the United States." Another 
proclamation enjoined obedience to the 
Constitution and the laws, and an amnesty 
was published September 7, relieving nearly 
all the participants in the late Rebellion 
from the disabilities thereby incurred, on 
condition of taking the oath to support the 
Constitution and the laws. 

In December Congress refused to confirm 
the removal of Secretary Stanton, who 
thereupon resumed the exercise of his of- 
fice; but February 21, 1868, President 
Johnson again attempted to remove him, 
appointing General Lorenzo Thomas in his 
place. Stanton refused to vacate his post, 
and was sustained by the Senate. 

February 24 the House of Representa- 
tives voted to impeach the President for 
" high crime and misdemeanors," and March 
5 presented eleven articles of impeachment 
on the ground of his resistance to the exe- 
cution of the acts of Congress, alleging, in 
addition to the offense lately committed, 
his public expressions of contempt for Con- 
gress, in " certain intemperate, inflamma- 
tory and scandalous harangues" pronounced 
in August and September, 1866, and there- 
after declaring that the Thirty-ninth Con- 
gress of the United States was not a 
competent legislative body, and denying 
its power to propose Constitutional amend- 
ments. March 23 the impeachment trial 
began, the President appearing b}- counsel, 
and resulted in acquittal, the vote lacking 



one of the two-thirds vote required for 
conviction. 

The remainder of President Johnson's 
term of office was passed without any such 
conflicts as might have been anticipated. 
He failed to obtain a nomination for re- 
election by the Democratic party, though 
receiving sixty-five votes on the first ballot. 
July 4 and December 25 new proclamations 
of pardon to the participants in the late 
Rebellion were issuec", but were of little 
effect. On the accession of General Grant 
to the Presidency, March 4, 1869, Johnson 
returned to Greenville, Tennessee. Unsuc- 
cessful in 1870 and 1872 as a candidate re- 
spectively for United States Senator and 
Representative, he was finally elected to the 
Senate in 1875, and took his seat in the extra 
session of March, in which his speeches 
were comparatively temperate. He died 
July 31, 1875, and was buried at Green- 
ville. 

President Johnson's administration was a 
peculiarly unfortunate one. That he should 
so soon become involved in bitter feud with 
the Republican majority in Congress was 
certainly a surprising and deplorable inci- 
dent; yet, in reviewing the circumstances 
after a lapse of so many years, it is easy to 
find ample room for a charitable judgment 
of both the parties in the heated contro- 
versy, since it cannot be doubted that any 
President, even Lincoln himself, had he 
lived, must have sacrificed a large portion 
of his popularity in carrying out any pos- 
sible scheme of reconstruction. 



96 



PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 




♦hJtJ 



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-^^LYSSES SIMPSON 
GRANT, the eight- 
eenth President of the 
United States, i%6g-7y, 
,„ wasborn April 27, 1822, 
^^-^^^-^^'-fej/ at Point Pleasant, 
'r<-^^^^^" ^^f: Clermont County, 
''% Ohio. His father was of Scotch 
descent, and a dealer in leather. 
At the age of seventeen he en- 
tered the Military Acadeni)' at 
West Point, and four }• ears later 
graduated twenty-first in a class 
of thirty-nine, receiving the 
commission of Brevet Second 
Lieutenant. He was assigned 
to the Fourth Infantry and re- 
mained in the army eleven j^ears. He was 
engaged in every battle of the Mexican war 
except that of Buena Vista, and received 
two brevets for gallantrv. 

In 1848 Mr. Grant married Julia, daughter 
of Frederick Dent, a prominent merchant of 
St. Louis, and in 1854, having reached the 
grade of Captain, he resigned his commis- 
sion in the army. For several years he fol- 
lowed farming near St. Louis, but unsuc- 
cessfully ; and in i860 he entered the leather 
trade with his father at Galena, Illinois. 

When the civil war broke out in 1861, 
Grant was thirty-nine years of age, but en- 
tirely unknown to public men and without 




any personal acquaintance with great affairs. 
President Lincoln's first call for troops was 
made on the 15th of April, and on the 19th 
Grant was drilling a company of volunteers 
at Galena. He also offered his services to 
the Adjutant-General of the army, but re- 
ceived no reply. The Governor of Illinois, 
however, employed him in the organization 
of volunteer troops, and at the end of live 
weeks he was appointed Colonel of the 
Twenty-tirst Infantry. He took command 
of his regiment in June, and reported first 
to General Pope in Missouri. His superior 
knowledge of military life rather surprised 
his superior officers, who had never before 
even heard of him, and they were thus led 
to place him on the road to rapid advance- 
ment. August 7 he was commissioned a 
Brigadier-General of volunteers, the ap- 
pointment having been made without his 
knowledge. He had been unanimously 
recommended by the Congressmen from 
Illinois, not one of whom had been his 
personal acquaintance. For a few weeks 
he was occupied in watching the move- 
ments of partisan forces in Missouri. 

September i he was placed in command 
of the District of Southeast Missouri, with 
headquarters at Cairo, and on the 6th, with- 
out orders, he seized Paducah, at the mouth 
of the Tennessee River, and commanding 
the navigation both of that stream and of 




i^- 



J^^ 



l/LrSSES S. GRANT. 



99 



the Ohio. This stroke secured Kentucky 
to the Union ; for the State Legislature, 
which had until then affected to be neutral, 
at once declared in favor of the Govern- 
ment. In November following, according 
to orders, he made a demonstration about 
eighteen miles below Cairo, preventing the 
crossing of hostile troops into Missouri ; 
but in order to accomplish this purpose he 
had to do some fighting, and that, too, with 
only 3,000 raw recruits, against 7,000 Con- 
federates. Grant carried off two pieces of 
artillery and 200 prisoners. 

After repeated applications to General 
Halleck, his immediate superior, he was 
allowed, in February, 1862, to move up the 
Tennessee River against Fort Henry, in 
conjunction with a naval force. The gun- 
boats silenced the fort, and Grant immedi- 
ately made preparations to attack Fort 
Donelson, about twelve miles distant, on 
the Cumberland River. Without waiting 
for orders he moved his troops there, and 
with 15,000 men began the siege. The 
fort, garrisoned with 21,000 men, was a 
strong one, but after hard fighting on three 
successive days Grant forced an " Uncon- 
ditional Surrender " (an alliteration upon 
the initials of his name). The prize he capt- 
ured consisted of sixty-five cannon, 17,600 
small arms and 14,623 soldiers. About 4,- 
000 of the garrison had escaped in the night, 
and 2,500 were killed or wounded. Grant's 
entire loss was less than 2,000. This was the 
first important success won by the national 
troops during the war, and its strategic re- 
sults were marked, as the entire States of 
Kentucky and Tennessee at once fell into the 
National hands. Our hero was made a 
Major-General of Volunteers and placed in 
command of the District of West Ten- 
nessee. 

In March, 1862, he was ordered to move 
up the Tennessee River toward Corinth, 
where the Confederates were concentrat- 
ing a large army ; but he was directed not 



to attack. His forces, now numbering 38.- 
000, were accordingly encamped near Shi- 
loh, or Pittsburg Landing, to await the 
arrival of General Buell with 40,000 more; 
but April 6 the Confederates came out from 
Corinth 50,000 strong and attacked Grant 
violently, hoping to overwhelm him before 
Buell could arrive ; 5,000 of his troops were 
beyond supporting distance, so that he was 
largely outnumbered and forced back to the 
river, where, however, he held out until 
dark, when the head of Buell's column 
came upon the field. The next day the 
Confederates were driven back to Corinth, 
nineteen miles. The loss was heavy on 
both sides ; Grant, being senior in rank to 
Buell, commanded on both days. Two 
days afterward Halleck arrived at the front 
and assumed command of the army, Grant 
remaining at the head of the right wing and 
the reserve. On May 30 Corinth was 
evacuated by the Confederates. In July 
Halleck was made General-in-Chief, and 
Grant succeeded him in command of the 
Department of the Tennessee. September 
19 the battle of luka was fought, where, 
owing to Rosecrans's fault, only an incom- 
plete victory was obtained. 

Next, Grant, with 30,000 men, moved 
down into Mississippi and threatened Vicks- 
burg, while Sherman, with 40,000 men, was 
sent by way of the river to attack that place 
in front ; but, owing to Colonel Murphy's 
surrendering Holly Springs to the Con- 
federates, Grant was so weakened that he 
had to retire to Corinth, and then Sherman 
failed to sustain his intended attack. 

In January, 1863, General Grant took 
command in person of all the troops in the 
Mississippi Valley, and spent several months 
in fruitless attempts to compel the surrender 
or evacuation of Vicksburg; but July 4, 
following, the place surrendered, with 31,- 
600 men and 172 cannon, and the Mississippi 
River thus fell permanently into the hands 
of the Government. Grant was made a 



PRES/DENTH OF THE UNITED ^TATEH. 



Major-General in the regular army, and in 
October following he was placed in com- 
mand of the Division of the Mississippi. 
The same month he went to Chattanooga 
and saved the Army of the Cumberland 
from starvation, and drove Bragg from that 
part of the country. This victory over- 
threw the last important hostile force west 
of the Alleghanies and opened the way for 
the National armies into Georgia and Sher- 
man's march to the sea. 

The remarkable series of successes which 
Grant had now achieved pointed him out 
as the appropriate leader of the National 
armies, and accordingly, in February, 1864, 
the rank of Lieutenant-General was created 
for him by Congress, and on March 17 he 
assumed command of the armies of the 
United States. Planning the grand final 
campaign, he sent Sherman into Georgia, 
Sigel into the valley of Virginia, and Butler 
to capture Richmond, while he fought his 
own way from the Rapidan to the James. 
The costly but victorious battles of the 
Wilderness, Spottsylvania, North Anna and 
Cold Harbor were fought, more for the 
purpose of annihilating Lee than to capture 
any particular point. In June, 1S64, the 
siege of Richmond was begun. Sherman, 
meanwhile, was marching and fighting daily 
in Georgia and steadily advancing toward 
Atlanta ; but Sigel had been defeated in the 
valley of Virginia, and was superseded by 
Hunter. Lee sent Earl}' to threaten the Na- 
tional capital ; whereupon Grant gathered 
up a force which he placed under Sheridan, 
and that commander rapidly drove Early, 
in a succession of battles, through the valley 
of Virginia and destroyed his army as an 
organized force. The siege of Richmond 
went on, and Grant made numerous attacks, 
but was only partially successful. The 
people of the North grew impatient, and 
even the Government advised him to 
abandon the attempt to take Richmond or 
crush the Confederacy in that way ; but he 



fight it 



never wavered. He resolved to 

out on that line, if it took all summer." 

By September Sherman had made his 
way to Atlanta, and Grant then sent him 
on his famous " march to the sea," a route 
which the chief had designed six months 
before. He made Sherman's success possi- 
ble, not only by holding Lee in front of 
Richmond, but also by sending reinforce- 
ments to Thomas, who then drew off and 
defeated the only army which could have 
confronted Sherman. Thus the latter was 
left unopposed, and, with Thomas and Sheri- 
dan, was used in the furtherance of Grant's 
plans. Each executed his part in the great 
design and contributed his share to the re- 
sult at which Grant was aiming. Sherman 
finally reached Savannah, Schofield beat 
the enemy at Franklin, Thomas at Nash- 
ville, and Sheridan wherever he met him ; 
and all this while General Grant was hold- 
ing Lee, with the principal Confederate 
army, near Richmond, as it were chained 
and helpless. Then Schofield was brought 
from the West, and Fort Fisher and Wil- 
mington were captured on the sea-coast, so 
as to afford him a foothold ; from here he 
was sent into the interior of North Caro- 
lina, and Sherman was ordered to move 
northward to j(jin him. When all this was 
effected, and Sheridan could find no one else 
to fight in the Shenandoah Valley, Grant 
brought the cavalry leader to the front of 
Richmond, and, making a last effort, drove 
Lee from his entrenchments and captured 
Richmond. 

At the beginning of the final campaign 
Lee had collected 73,000 fighting men in 
the lines at Richmond, besides the local 
militia and the gunboat crews, amounting 
to 5,000 more. Including Sheridan's force 
Grant had 1 10,000 men in the works before 
Petersburg and Richmond. Petersburg fell 
on the 2d of April, and Richmond on tl:e 
3d, and Lee fled in the direction of Lynch- 
burg. Grant pursued with remorseless 



l/LrSSES 6'. GRANT. 



energy, only stopping to strike fresh blows, 
and Lee at last found himself not only out- 
fought but also out-marched and out-gen- 
eraled. Being completely surrounded, he 
surrendered on the glh of April, 1865, at 
Appomattox Court-House, in the open field, 
with 27,000 men, all that remained of his 
army. This act virtually ended the war. 
Thus, in ten days Grant had captured 
Petersburg and Richmond, fought, by his 
subordinates, the battles of Five Forks and 
Sailor's Creek, besides numerous smaller 
ones, captured 20,000 men in actual battle, 
and received the surrender of 27,000 more 
at Appomattox, absolutely annihilating an 
army of 70,000 soldiers. 

General Grant returned at once to Wash- 
ington to superintend the disbandment of 
the armies, but this pleasurable work was 
scarcely begun when President Lincoln was 
assassinated. It had doubtless been in- 
tended to inflict the same fate upon Grant ; 
but he, fortunately, on account of leaving 
Washington early in the evening, declined 
an invitation to accompany the President 
to the theater where the murder was com- 
mitted. This event made Andrew Johnson 
President, but left Grant by far the most 
conspicuous figure in the public life of the 
country. He became the object of an en- 
thusiasm greater than had ever been known 
in America. Every possible honor was 
heaped upon him ; the grade of General 
was created for him b}' Congress; houses 
were presented to him by citizens; towns 
were illuminated on his entrance into them ; 
and, to cap the climax, when he made his 
tour around the world, "all nations did him 
honor" as they had never before honored 
a foreigner. 

The General, as Commander-in-Chief, 
was placed in an embarrassing position by 
the opposition of President Johnson to the 
measures of Congress ; but he directly man- 
ifested his characteristic lo^-alty by obeying 
Congress rather than the disaffected Presi- 



dent, although for a short time he had 
served in his cabinet as Secretary of War. 

Of course, everybody thought of General 
Grant as the next President of the United 
States, and he was accordingl}' elected as 
such in 1868 "by a large majority," and 
four years later re-elected by a much larger 
majorit}' — the most overwhelming ever 
given by the people of this country. His first 
administration was distinguished by a ces- 
sation of the strifes which sprang from the 
war, by a large reduction of the National 
debt, and by a settlement of the difficulties 
with England which had grown out of the 
depredations committed by privateers fit- 
ted out in England during the war. This 
last settlement was made by the famous 
" Geneva arbitration," which saved to this 
Government $1 5,000,000, but, more than all, 
prevented a war with England. " Let us 
have peace," was Grant's motto. And this 
is the most appropriate place to remark 
that above all Presidents whom this Gov- 
ernment has ever had. General Grant was 
the most non-partisan. He regarded the 
Executive office as purely and exclusively 
executive of the laws of Congress, irrespect- 
ive of "politics." But every great man 
has jealous, bitter enemies, a fact Grant 
was well aware of. 

After the close of his Presidency, our 
General made his famous tour around the 
world, already referred to, and soon after- 
ward, in company with Ferdinand Ward, 
of New York City, he engaged in banking 
and stock brokerage, which business was 
made disastrous to Grant, as well as to him- 
self, by his rascality. By this time an in- 
curable cancer of the tongue developed 
itself in the person of the afflicted ex- 
President, which ended his unrequited life 
July 23, 1885. Thus passed away from 
earth's turmoils the man, the General, who 
was as truly the " father of this regenerated 
country" as was Washington the father of 
the infant nation. 



PJiESIDBNTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 











UTHERFORD BIRCH- 
ARD HAYES, the nine- 
teenth President of 
the United States, 
i877-'8i, was born in 
• J^ Delaware, Ohio, Oc- 
^O:^^;^^ tober 4, 1822. His 
ancestry can be traced as far 
back as 1280, when Hayes and 
Rutherford were two Scottish 
chieftains figliting side by side 
with Baliol, William Wallace 
and Robert Bruce. Both fami- 
lies belonged to the nobility, 
owned extensive estates and had 
a large following. The Hayes 
family had, for a coat of-arms, a 
shield, barred and surmounted by a flying 
eagle. There was a circle of stars about 
the eagle and above the shield, while on a 
scroll underneath the shield was inscribed 
the motto, " Recte." Misfortune overtaking 
the family, George Hayes left Scotland in 
1680, and settled in Windsor, Connecticut. 
He was an industrious worker in wood and 
iron, having a mechanical genius and a cul- 
tivated mind. His son George was born 
in Windsor and remained there during his 
life. 

Daniel Hayes, son of the latter, married 
Sarah Lee, and lived in Simsbury, Con- 



necticut. Ezekiel, son of Daniel, was born 
in 1724, and was a manufacturer of scythes 
at Bradford, Connecticut. Rutherford 
Hayes, son of Ezekiel and grandfather of 
President Hayes, was born in New Haven, 
in August, 1756. He was a famous black- 
smith and tavern-keeper. He immigrated to 
Vermont at an unknown date, settling in 
Brattleboro where he established a hotel. 
Here his son Rutherford, father of Presi- 
dent Hayes, was born. In September, 1S13, 
he married Sophia Birchard, of Wilming- 
ton, Vermont, whose ancestry on the male 
side is traced back to 1635, to John Birch- 
ard, one of the principal founders of Nor- 
wich. Both of her grandfathers were 
soldiers in the Revolutionary war. 

The father of President Hayes was of a 
mechanical turn, and could mend a plow, 
knit a stocking, or do almost anything that 
he might undertake. He was prosperous 
in business, a member of the church and 
active in all the benevolent enterprises of 
thetown. After the close of the war of 1812 
he immigrated to Ohio, and purchased a 
farm near the present town of Delaware. 
His family then consisted of his wife and 
two children, and an orphan girl whom he 
had adopted. 

It was in 18 17 that the family arrived at 
Delaware. Instead of settling upon his 




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nvTHnnFono' s. uaybs. 



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farm, Mr. Hayes concluded to enter into 
business in the village. He purchased an 
interest in a distillery, a business then as re- 
spectable as it was profitable. His capital 
and recognized ability assured him the 
highest social position in the community. 
He died July 22, 1822, less than three 
months before the birth of the son that was 
destined to fill the office of President of the 
United States. 

Mrs. Hayes at this period was very weak, 
and the subject of this sketch was so feeble 
at birth that he was not e.vpected to live 
beyond a month or two at most. As the 
months went by he grew weaker and weaker 
so that the neighbors were in the habit of 
inquiring from time to time "if Mrs. 
Hayes's baby died last night." On one oc- 
casion a neighbor, who was on friendly 
terms with the family, after alluding to the 
boy's big head and the mother's assiduous 
care of him, said to her, in a bantering way, 
"That's right! Stick to him. You have 
got him along so far, and I shouldn't won- 
der if he would really come to something 
yet." " You need not laugh," said Mrs. 
Hayes, " you wait and see. You can't tell 
but I shall make him President of the 
United States yet." 

The boy lived, in spite of the universal 
predictions of his speedy death; and when, 
in 1825, his elder brother was drowned, he 
became, if possible, still dearer to his mother. 
He was seven years old before he was 
placed in school. His education, however, 
was not neglected. His sports were almost 
wholly within doors, his playmates being 
his sister and her associates. These circum- 
stances tended, no doubt, to foster that 
gentleness of disposition and that delicate 
consideration for the feelings of others 
which are marked traits of his character. 
At school he was ardently devoted to his 
studies, obedient to the teacher, and care- 
ful to avoid the quarrels in which many of 
his schoolmates were involved. He was 



always waiting at the school-house door 
when it opened in the morning, and never 
late in returning to his seat at recess. His 
sister Fannie was his constant companion, 
and their affection for each other excited 
the admiration of their friends. 

In 1838 young Hayes entered Kenyon 
College and graduated in 1842. He then 
began the study of law in the office of 
Thomas Sparrow at Columbus. His health 
was now well established, his figure robust, 
his mind vigorous and alert. In a short 
time he determined to enter the law school 
at Cambridge, Massachusetts, where for 
two years he pursued his studies with great 
diligence. 

In 1845 he was admitted to the bar at 
Marietta, Ohio, and shortly afterward went 
into pi'actice as an attorney-at-law with 
Ralph P. Buckland, of Fremont. Here he 
remained three years, acquiring but limited 
practice, and apparently unambitious of 
distinction in his profession. His bachelor 
uncle, Sardis Birchard, who had always 
manifested great interest in his nephew and 
rendered him assistance in boyhood, was 
now a wealthy banker, and it was under- 
stood that the young man would be his 
heir. It is possible that this expectation 
may have made Mr. Ha\es more indifferent 
to the attainment of wealth than he would 
otherwise have been, but he was led into no 
extravagance or vices on this account. 

In 1849 ^^ removed to Cincinnati where 
his ambition found new stimulus. Two 
events occurring at this period had a pow- 
erful influence upon his subsequent life. 
One of them was his marriage to Miss 
Lucy Ware Webb, daughter of Dr. James 
Webb, of Cincinnati; the other was his 
introduction to the Cincinnati Literary 
Club, a bodv embracing such men as Chief 
Justice Salmon P. Chase, General John 
Pope and Governor Edward F. Noyes. 
The marriage was a fortunate one as every- 
body knows. Not one of all the wives (j1 



lo6 



PRESIDENTS OF THE UXITED STATES. 



our Presidents was more universally ad- 
mired, reverenced and beloved than is Mrs. 
Hayes, and no one has done more than she 
to reflect honor upon American woman- 
hood. 

In 1856 Mr. Hayes was nominated to the 
office of Judge of the Court of Common 
Pleas, but decHned to accept the nomina- 
tion. Two years later he was chosen to the 
office of City Solicitor. 

In 1861, when the Rebellion broke out, 
he was eager to take up arms in the defense 
of his country. His military life was 
bright and illustrious. June 7, 1861, he 
was appointed Major of the Twenty-third 
Ohio Infantry. In July the regiment was 
sent to Virginia. October 15, 1861, he was 
made Lieutenant-Colonel of his regiment, 
and in August, 1862, was promoted Colonel 
of the Seventy-ninth Ohio Regiment, but 
refused to leave his old comrades. He was 
wounded at the battle of South Mountain, 
and suffered severely, being unable to enter 
upon active duty for several weeks. No- 
vember 30, 1862, he rejoined his regiment as 
its Colonel, having been promoted Octo- 
ber 15. 

December 25, 1862, he was placed in com- 
mand of the Kanawha division, and for 
meritorious service in several battles was 
promoted Brigadier-General. He was also 
brevetted Major-General for distinguished 



services in 1864. He was wounded lour 
times, and five horses were shot from 
under him. 

Mr. Hayes was first a Whig in politics, 
and was among the first to unite with the 
Free-Soil and Republican parties. In 1864 
he was elected to Congress from che Sec- 
ond Ohio District, which had always been 
Democratic, receiving a majority of 3,098. 
In 1 866 he was renominated for Congress 
and was a second time elected. In 1867 he 
was elected Governor over Allen G. Thur- 
man, the Democratic candidate, and re- 
elected in 1869. In 1874 Sardis Birchard 
died, leaving his large estate to General 
Hayes. 

In 1876 he was nominated for the Presi- 
dency. His letter of acceptance excited 
the admiration of the whole country. He 
resigned the office of Governor and retired 
to his home in Fremont to await the result 
of the canvass. After a hard, long contest 
he was inaugurated March 5, 1877. His 
Presidency was characterized by compro- 
mises with all parties, in order to please as 
many as possible. The close of his Presi- 
dential term in 1881 was the close of his 
public life, and since then he has remained 
at his home in Fremont, Ohio, in Jefferso- 
nian retirement from public notice, in strik- 
ing contrast with most others of the world's 
notables. 




•■V, 




yAMES A. GARFIELD. 



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AMES A. GARFIELD, 

twentieth President of 
the United States, i88i, 
was born November 19, 
183 1, in the wild woods 
o f Cuyahoga County, 
Ohio. His parents were 
Abram and Eliza (Ballou) 
Garfield, who were of New 
• England ancestry. The 
senior Garfield was an in- 
"" dustrious farmer, as the 
rapid improvements which 
appeared on his place at- 
tested. The residence was 
the familiar pioneer log cabin, 
and the household comprised the parents 
and their children — Mehetable, Thomas, 
Mar)' and James A. In May, 1833, the 
father died, and the care of the house- 
hold consequently devolved upon young 
Thomas, to whom James was greatly in- 
debted for the educational and other ad- 
vantages he enjoyed. He now lives in 
Michigan, and the two sisters live in Solon, 
Ohio, near their birthplace. 

As the subject of our sketch grew up, he, 
too, was industrious, both in mental and 
physical labor. He worked upon the farm, 
or at carpentering, or chopped wood, or at 
any other odd job that would aid in support 
of the family, and in the meantime made the 



most of his books. Ever afterward he was 
never ashamed of his humble origin, nor for- 
got the friends of his youth. The poorest 
laborer was sure of his sympathy, and he 
always exhibited the character of a modest 
gentleman. 

Until he was about sixteen jears of age, 
James's highest ambition was to be a lake 
captain. To this his mother was strongly 
opposed, but she finally' consented to his 
going to Cleveland to carry out his long- 
cherished design, with the understanding, 
however, that he should try to obtain some 
other kind of employment. He walked all 
the way to Cleveland, and this was his first 
visit to the city. After making many ap- 
plications for work, including labor on 
board a lake vessel, but all in vain, he 
finally engaged as a driver for his cousin, 
Amos Letcher, on the Ohio & Pennsyl- 
vania Canal. In a short time, however, he 
quit this and returned home. He then at- 
tended the seminary at Chester for about 
three years, and next he entered Hiram In- 
stitute, a school started in 1850 by the 
Disciples of Christ, of which church he was 
a member. In order to pa}' his way he 
assumed the duties of janitor, and at times 
taught school. He soon completed the cur- 
riculum there, and then entered Williams 
College, at which he graduated in 1S56, 
taking one of the highest honors of his class. 



PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 



Afterward he returned to Hiram as Presi- 
dent. In his youthful and therefore zealous 
piety, he exercised his talents occasionally 
as a preacher of the Gospel. He was a 
man of strong moral and religious convic- 
tions, and as soon as he began to look into 
politics, he saw innumerable points that 
could be improved. He also studied law, 
and was admitted to the bar in 1859. 
November 11, 1858, Mr. Garfield married 
Miss Lucretia Rudolph, who ever after- 
ward proved a worthy consort in all the 
stages of her husband's career. They had 
seven children, five of whom are still living. 

It was in 1859 that Garfield made his 
first political speeches, in Hiram and the 
neighboring villages, and three years later 
he began to speak at county mass-meetings, 
being received ever3'where with popular 
favor. He was elected to the State Senate 
this year, taking his seat in January, i860. 

On the breaking out of the war of the 
Rebellion in 1861, Mr. Garfield resolved to 
fight as he had talked, and accordingly he 
enlisted to defend the old flag, receiving 
his commission as Lieutenant-Colonel of the 
Forty-second Regiment of the Ohio Volun- 
teer Infantry, August 14, that year. He 
was immediately thrown into active service, 
and before he had ever seen a gun fired in 
action he was placed in command of four 
regiments of infantry and eight companies 
of cavalry, charged with the work of driv- 
ing the Confederates, headed by Humphrey 
Marshall, from his native State, Kentucky. 
This task was speedily accomplished, al- 
though against great odds. On account of 
his success. President Lincoln commissioned 
him Brigadier-General, January 11, 1862; 
and, as he had been the youngest man in 
the Ohio Senate two years before, so now 
he was the youngest General in the army. 
He was with General Buell's army at Shi- 
loh, also in its operations around Corinth 
and its march through Alabama. Next, he 
was detailed as a member of the general 



court-martial for the trial of General Fitz- 
John Porter, and then ordered to report to 
General Rosecrans, when he was assigned 
to the position of Chief of Staff. His mili- 
tary history closed with his brilliant ser- 
vices at Chickamauga, where he won the 
stars of Major-General. 

In the fall of 1862, without any effort on 
his part, he was elected as a Representative 
to Congress, from that section of Ohio 
which had been represented for sixty years 
mainly by two men — Elisha Whittlesey and 
Joshua R. Giddings. Again, he was the 
youngest member of that body, and con- 
tinued there by successive re-elections, as 
Representative or Senator, until he was 
elected President in 1880. During his life 
in Congress he compiled and published by 
his speeches, there and elsewhere, more 
information on the issues of the day, espe- 
cially on one side, than any other member. 

June 8, 1880, at the National Republican 
Convention held in Chicago, General Gar- 
field was nominated for the Presidency, in 
preference to the old war-horses, Blaine 
and Grant ; and although many of the Re- 
publican party felt sore over the failure of 
their respective heroes to obtain the nomi- 
nation, General Garfield was elected by a 
fair popular majority. He was duly in- 
augurated, but on July 2 following, before 
he had fairly got started in his administra- 
tion, he was fatally shot by a half-demented 
assassin. After very painful and protracted 
suffering, he died September 19, 1881, la- 
mented by all the American people. Never 
before in the history of this country had 
anything occurred which so nearly froze 
the blood of the Nation, for the moment, as 
the awful act of Guiteau, the murderer. 
He was duly tried, convicted and put to 
death on the gallows. 

The lamented Garfield was succeeded by 
the Vice-President, General Arthur, who 
seemed to endeavor to carry out the policy 
inaugurated by his predecessoi". 



CHESTER A. ARTHUR. 



"3 







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HESTER ALLEN 

ARTHUR, the twen- 
t3'-first Chief Execu- 
tive of this growing 
republic, i88i-'5, was 
born in FrankHn 
County, Vermont, 
October 5, 1830, the eldest of a 
family of two sons and five 
P'^Ml''^ daughters. His father, Rev. 
tH™^ Dr. William Arthur, a Baptist 
clergyman, immigrated to this 
country from Count}' Antrim, 
Ireland, in his eighteenth year, 
and died in 1875, in Newton- 
ville, near Albany, New York, 
many years as a successful 
minister. Chester A. was educated at that 
old, conservative institution. Union Col- 
lege, at Schenectady, New York, where he 
excelled in all his studies. He graduated 
there, with honor, and then struck out in 
life for himself by teaching school for about 
two years in his native State. 

At the expiration of that time young 
Arthur, with $500 in his purse, went to the 
city of New York and entered the law office 
of ex-Judge E. D. Culver as a student. In 
due time he was admitted to the bar, when 
he formed a partnership with his intimate 



after serving 



friend and old room-mate, Henry D. Gar. 
diner, with the intention of practicing law 
at some point in the West; but after spend- 
ing about three months in the Wester. 
States, in search of an eligible place, they 
returned to New York City, leased a room, 
exhibited a sign of their business and al- 
most immediately enjoyed a paying patron- 
age. 

At this stage of his career Mr. Arthur's 
business prospects were so encouraging 
that he concluded to take a wife, and ac- 
cordingly he married the daughter of Lieu- 
tenant Herndon, of the United States Navy, 
who had been lost at sea. To the widow 
of the latter Congress voted a gold medal, 
in recognition of the Lieutenant's bravery 
during the occasion in which he lost his 
life. Mrs. Artnur died shortl}' before her 
husband's nomination to the Vice-Presi- 
dency, leaving two children. 

Mr. Arthur obtained considerable celeb- 
rity as an attorney in the famous Lemmon 
suit, which was brought to recover posses- 
sion of eight slaves, who had been declared 
free by the Superior Court of New York 
City. The noted Charles O'Conor, who 
was nominated by the " Straight Demo- 
crats" in 1872 for the United States Presi- 
dency, was retained by Jonathan G. Lem- 



114 



PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 



mon, of Virginia, to recover the negroes, 
but he lost the suit. In this case, however, 
Mr. Arthur was assisted b}' William M. 
Evarts, now United States Senator. Soon 
afterward, in 1856, a respectable colored 
woman was ejected from a street car in 
New York City. Mr. Arthur sued the car 
company in her behalf and recovered $500 
damages. Immediately afterward all the 
car companies in the city issued orders to 
their employes to admit colored persons 
upon their cars. 

Mr. Arthur's political doctrines, as well 
as his practice as a lawyer, raised him to 
prominence in the part}' of freedom ; and 
accordingly he was sent as a delegate to 
the first National Republican Convention. 
Soon afterward he was appointed Judge 
Advocate for the Second Brigade of the 
State of New York, and then Engineer-in- 
Chief on Governor Morgan's staff. In 1S61, 
the first year of the war, he was made In- 
spector-General, and next, Quartermaster- 
(leneral, in both which offices he rendered 
great service to the Government. Alter 
the close of Governor Morgan's term he 
resumed the practice of law, forming first a 
partnership with Mr. Ransom, and subse- 
quently adding Mr. Phelps to the firm. 
Each of these gentlemen were able lawyers. 

November 21, 1872, General Arthur was 
appointed Collector of the Port of New 
York by President Grant, and he held the 
office until July 20, 1878. 

The next event of prominence in General 
Arthur's career was his nomination to the 
Vice-Presidency of the United States, under 
the influence of Roscoe Conkling, at the 
National Republican Convention held at 
Chicago in June, 1S80, when James A. Gar- 
field was placed at the head of the ticket. 
Both the convention and the campaign that 
followed were noisy and exciting. The 
iriends of Grant, constituting nearl}' half 



the convention, were exceedingly persist- 
ent, and were sorely disappomted over 
their defeat. At the head of the Demo- 
cratic ticket was placed a very strong and 
popular man ; yet Garfield and Arthur were 
elected by a respectable plurality of the 
popular vote. The 4th of March following, 
these gentlemen were accordingly inaugu- 
rated ; but within four months the assassin's 
bullet made a fatal wound in the person of 
General Garfield, whose life terminated 
September 19, 1881, when General Arthur, 
ex officio, was obliged to take the chief 
reins of government. Some misgivings 
were entertained by many in this event, as 
Mr. Arthur was thought to represent espe 
cially the Grant and Conkling wing of the 
Republican part}' ; but President Arthur 
had both the ability and the good sense to 
allay all fears, and he gave the restless, 
critical American people as good an ad- 
ministration as they had ever been blessed 
with. Neither selfishness nor low parti- 
sanism ever characterized any feature of 
his public service. He ever maintained a 
high sense of every individual right as well 
as of the Nation's honor. Indeed, he stood 
so high that his successor. President Cleve- 
land, though of opposing politics, expressed 
a wish in his inaugural address that he 
could only satisfy the people with as good 
an administration. 

But the day of civil service reform had 
come in so far, and the corresponding re- 
action against "third-termism" had en- 
croached so far even upon "second-term" 
service, that the Republican party saw fit 
in 1884 to nominate another man for Presi- 
dent. Only by this means was General 
Arthur's tenure of office closed at Wash- 
ini?t(>n. On his retirement from the Presi- 
dcncy, March, 1885, he engaged in the 
practice of law at New York City, where he 
died Novemlier 18, 188G. 




.• »■ ^ — »-- 






G HOVER CLEVELAND. 



117 



^^^^^ 



^^^ 








ROVER CLEVE- 
LAND, the twenty- 
second President of the 
United States, 1885—, 
was born in Caldwell, 
Essex County, New 
Jersey, March 18, 
The house in which he 
was born, a small two-story 
wooden building, is still stand- 
ing-. It was the parsonage of 
the Presbyterian church, of 
w h i c h his father, Richard 
Cleveland, at the time was 
pastor. The family is of New 
England origin, and for two centuries has 
contributed to the professions and to busi- 
ness, men who have reflected honor on the 
name. Aaron Cleveland, Grover Cleve- 
land's great-great-grandfather, was born in 
Massachusetts, but subsequently moved to 
Philadelphia, where he became an intimate 
friend of Benjamin Franklin, at whose 
house he died. He left a large family of 
children, who in time married and settled 
in different parts of New England. A 
grandson was one of the small American 
force that fought the British at Bunker 
Hill. He served with gallantry through- 
out the Revolution and was honorably 
discharged at its close as a Lieutenant in 
the Continental army. Another grandson, 
William Cleveland (a son of a second Aaron 



Cleveland, who was distinguished as a 
writer and member of the Connecticut 
Legislature) was Grover Cleveland's grand- 
father. William Cleveland became a silver- 
smith in Norwich, Connecticut. He ac- 
quired by industry some property and sent 
his son, Richard Cleveland, the father of 
Grover Cleveland, to Yale College, where 
he graduated in 1824. During a year spent 
in teaching at Baltimore, Maryland, after 
graduation, he met and fell in love with a 
Miss Annie Neale, daughter of a wealthy 
Baltimore book publisher, of Irish birth. 
He was earning his own way in the world 
at the time and was unable to marry; but 
ill three years he completed a course of 
preparation for the ministry, secured a 
church in Windham, Connecticut, and 
married Annie Neale. Subsequently he 
moved to Portsmouth, Virginia, where he 
preached for nearly two years, when he 
was summoned to Caldwell, New Jersey, 
where was born Grover Cleveland. 

When he was three years old the family 
moved to Fayetteville, Onondaga County, 
New York. Here Grover Cleveland lived 
until he was fourteen years old, the rugged, 
healthful life of a country boy. His frank, 
generous manner made him a favorite 
among his companions, and their respect 
was won by the good qualities in the germ 
which his manhood developed. He at- 
tended the district school of the village and 



ii8 



PUBS/DENTS OF THE UN/TED STATES. 



was for a short time at the academy. His 
lather, however, believed that boys should 
be taught to labor at an early age, and be- 
fore he had completed the course of study 
at the academy he began to work in the 
village store at $50 for the first year, and the 
promise of $100 for the second year. His 
work was well done and the promised in- 
crease of pay was granted the second year. 

Meanwhile his father and family had 
moved to Clinton, the seat of Hamilton 
College, where his father acted as agent to 
the Presbyterian Board of Home Missions, 
preaching in the churches of the vicinity. 
Hither Grover came at his father's request 
shortly after the beginning of his second 
year at the Fayetteville store, and resumed 
his studies at the Clinton Academy. After 
three years spent in this town, the Rev. 
Richard Cleveland was called to the vil- 
lage church of Holland Patent. He had 
preached here only a month when he was 
suddenly stricken down and died without 
an hour's warning. The death of the father 
left the family in straitened circumstances, 
as Richard Cleveland had spent all his 
salary of $1,000 per year, which was not 
required for the necessary expenses of liv- 
ing, upon the education of his children, of 
whom there were nine, Grover being the 
fifth. Grover was hoping to enter Hamil- 
ton College, but the death of his father 
made it necessary for him to earn his own 
livelihood. For the first year (i853-'4) he 
acted as assistant teacher and bookkeeper in 
the Institution for the Blind in New York 
City, of which the late Augustus Schell was 
for many years the patron. In the winter 
of 1854 he returned to Holland Patent 
where the generous people of that place, 
Fayetteville and Clinton, had purchased a 
home for his mother, and in the following 
spring, borrowing $25, he set out for the 
West to earn his living. 

Reaching Buffalo he paid a hasty visit to 
an uncle, Lewis F. Allen, a well-known 



stock farmer, living at Black Rock, a few 
miles distant. He communicated his plans 
to Mr. Allen, who discouraged the idea of 
the West, and finally induced the enthusi- 
astic boy of seventeen to remain with him 
and help him prepare a catalogue of blooded 
short-horn cattle, known as " Allen's Amer- 
ican Herd Book," a publication familiar to 
all breeders of cattle. In August, 1855, he 
entered the law office of Rogers, Bowen 
& Rogers, at Buffalo, and after serving a 
few months without pay, was paid $4 a 
week — an amount barely sufficient to meet 
the necessary expenses of his board in the 
family of a fellow-student in Buffalo, with 
whom he took lodgings. Life at this time 
with Grover Cleveland was a stern battle 
with the world. He took his breakfast by 
candle-light with the drovers, and went at 
once to the office where the whole day was 
spent in work and study. Usuall}' he re- 
turned again at night to resume reading 
which had been interrupted by the duties 
of the day. Gradually his employers came 
to recognize the abilit}', trustworthiness 
and capacity for hard work in their young 
employe, and by the time he was admitted 
to the bar (1859) he stood high in their con- 
fidence. A year later he was made confi- 
dential and managing clerk, and in the 
course of three years more his salary had 
been raised to $1,000. In 1863 he was ap- 
pointed assistant district attorney of Erie 
County by the district attorney, the Hon. 
C. C. Torrance. 

Since his first vote had been cast in 1858 
he had been a staunch Democrat, and until 
he was chosen Governor he always made 
it his duty, rain or shine, to stand at the 
polls and give out ballots to Democratic 
voters. During the first year of his term 
as assistant district attorney, the Democrats 
desired especially to carry the Board of Su- 
pervisors. The old Second Ward in which 
he lived was Republican- ordinarily by 250 
majority, but at the urgent request of the 



GRO VER CL E VELA ND. 



119 



party Grover Cleveland consented to be 
the Democratic candidate for Supervisor, 
and came within thirteen votes of an elec- 
tion. The three years spent in the district 
attorney's office were devoted to assiduous 
iabor and the extension of his professional 
attainments. He then formed a law part- 
nership with the late Isaac V. Vanderpoel, 
ex-State Treasurer, under the firm name 
of Vanderpoel & Cleveland. Here the bulk 
of the work devolved on Cleveland's shoul- 
ders, and he soon won a good standing at 
the bar of Erie County. In 1869 Mr. 
Cleveland formed a partnership with ex- 
Senator A. P. Laning and e.x-Assistant 
United States District Attorney Oscar Fol- 
som, under the firm name of Laning, Cleve- 
land & Folsom. During these years he 
began to earn a moderate professional in- 
come; but the larger portion of it was sent 
to his mother and sisters at Holland Patent 
to whose support he had contributed ever 
since i860. He served as sheriff of Erie 
County, i870-'4, and then resumed the 
practice of law, associating himself with the 
Hon. Lyman K. Bass and Wilson S. Bissell. 



The firm was strong and popular, and soon 
commanded a large and lucrative practice. 
Ill health forced the retirement of Mr. Bass 
in 1879, and the firm became Cleveland & 
Bissell. In 1881 Mr. George J. Sicard was 
added to the firm. 

In the autumn election of 1881 he was 
elected mayor of Buffalo by a majority of 
over 3,500 — the largest majority ever given 
a candidate for mayor^and the Democratic 
city ticket was successful, although the 
Republicans carried Buffalo by over 1,000 
majority for their State ticket. Grover 
Cleveland's administration as mayor fully 
justified the confidence reposed in him by 
the people of Buffalo, evidenced by the 
great vote he received. 

The Democratic State Convention met 
at Syracuse, September 22, 1882, and nomi- 
nated Grover Cleveland for Governor 
on the third ballot and Cleveland was 
elected by 192,000 majoritv. In the fall of 
1 884 he was elected President of the United 
States by about 1,000 popular majority, 
in New York State, and he was accordingly 
inaugurated the 4th of March following. 



PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 




'</^^^^xs:==i— 



•s=^=J5-s'-55r'!-<a- 



% 



g BENJAMIN HAI^I^ISON. |^_, 



>1 




ENJAMIN HAERISON, 

the twenty-third Presi- 
dent of the United States, 
1889, was born at North 
Bend, Hamilton County, 
Ohio, in the house of his 
grandfather, William Hen- 
ry Harrison (who was the 
ninth President of this 
country), August 20th, 
1833. He is a descendant 
of one of the historical 
families of this country, as 
also of England. The 
head of the family was a 
Major-General Harrison 
who was devoted to the canse of Oliver 
Cromwell. It became the duty of this Har- 
rison to participate in the trial of Charles 1. 
and afterward to sign the death M'arrant of 
the king, which subsequently cost him his 
life. His enemies succeeding to power, he 
was condemned and executed October 13th, 
1660. His descendants came to America, 
and the first mention made in history of the 
Harrison family as representative in public 
affairs, is that of Benjamin Harrison, great- 
grandfather of our present President, who 
was a member of the Continental Congress, 
1774-5-6, and one of the original signers of 



the Declaration of Independence, and three 
times Governor of Virginia. His son, Will- 
iam Henry Harrison, made a brilliant mili- 
tary record, was CTOvernor of the Northwest 
Territory, and the ninth President of the 
United States. 

The subject of this sketch at an early age 
became a student at Farmers College, where 
he remained two years, at the end of which 
time he entered Miami University, at Ox- 
ford, Ohio. Upon graduation from said seat 
of learning he entered, as a student, the of- 
fice of Stover & Gwyne, a notable law firm at 
Cincinnati, Ohio, where he applied himself 
closely to the study of his chosen profession, 
and here laid the foundation for the honora- 
ble and famous career before him. He spent 
two years with the firm in Cincinnati, at the 
expiration of which time he received the 
only inheritance of his life, which was a lot 
left him by an aunt, which he sold for 8S00. 
This sura he deemed snfiicient to justify him 
in marrying the lady of his choice, and to 
whom he was then engaged, a daughter of 
Dr. Scott, then Principal of a female school 
at Oxford, Ohio. 

After marriage he located at Indianapolis, 
Indiana, where he began the practice of law. 
Meeting with slight encouragement he made 
but little the first year, but applied himself 





. cJ?^ 



£:t^'^-^^?\yL>^^iS>-'-t^ 



BENJAMIM HARRISON. 



123 



closely to his business, and by perseverance, 
honorable dealing and an upright life, suc- 
ceeded in building up ah extensive practice and 
took a leading position in the legal profession. 

In 1S60 he was nominated for the position 
of Supreme Conrt Reporter for the State of 
Indiana, and then began his experience as a 
stump speaker. He canvassed the State 
thoroughly and was elected. 

In 18,62 his patriotism caused him to 
abandon a civil office and to offer his country 
his services in a military capacity. He or- 
ganized the Seventieth Indiana Infantry and 
was chosen its Colonel. Altliough his regi- 
ment was composed of raw materia], and he 
practically void of military schooling, he at 
once mastered military tactics and drilled his 
men, so that when he with his regiment was 
assigned to Gen. SherinaTi's command it was 
known as one of the best drilled organ- 
izations of the army. He was especially 
distinguished for bravery at the battles of 
Ilesacca and Peach Tree Creek. For his 
bravery and efficiency at the last named bat- 
tle he was made a Brigadier-General, Gen- 
eral Hooker speaking of him in the most 
complimentary terms. 

While General Harrison was actively en- 
gaged in the iield the Supreme Court declared 
the office of Supreme Court lieporter vacant, 
and another person was elected to fill the 
position. From the time of leaving Indiana 
with his regiment for the front, until the fall 
of ISO-i, General Harrison had taken no leave 
of absence. But having been nominated 
that year for the same office that he vacated 
in order to serve liis country where he could 
do the greatest good, he got a thirty-day leave 
of absence, and during that time canvassed 
the State and was elected for another term as 
Supreme Court Reporter. He then started 
to rejoin his command, then with General 
Sherman in the South, but was stricken down 



with fever and after a very trying siege, made 
his way to the front, and participated in the 
closing scenes and incidents of tlie war. 

In 1868 General Harrison declined a re- 
election as Reporter, and applied himself to 
the practice of his profession. He was a 
candidate for Governor of Indiana on the 
Republican ticket in 1876. Although de- 
feated, the brilliant campaign brought him 
to public notice and gave him a National 
reputation as an able and formidable debater 
and lie was much sought in the Eastern 
States as a public speaker. He took an act- 
ive part in the Presidential campaign of 
1880, and was elected to the United States 
Senate, where he served six years, and was 
known as one of the strongest debaters, as 
well as one of the ablest men and l)est law- 
yers. When his term expired in the Senate 
he resumed his law practice at Indianapolis, 
becoming the head of one of the stroufirest 
law firms in the State of Indiana. 

Sometime prior to the opening of the 
Presidential campaign of 1888, the two great 
political parties (Republican and Democratic) 
drew the line of political battle on the ques- 
tion of tarift', which became the leading issue 
and the rallyirg watchword during the mem- 
orable camrv.l^'n. The Republicans appealed 
to the people for their voice as to a tariff to 
protect home industries, while the Democrats 
wanted a tariff for revenue only. The Re- 
publican convention assembled in Chicago in 
June and selected Mr. Harrison as their 
standard bearer on a platform of ] rinciples, 
among other important clauses being that of 
protection, which he cordially indorsed in 
accepting the nomination. November 6, 
1888, after a heated canvass. General Harri- 
son was elected, defeating Grover Cleveland, 
who was again the nominee of the Demo- 
cratic party. He was inaugurated and as- 
sumed the duties of his office March 4, 1889, 




^^^^^\- 






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IOWA STATE HOUSE AT DES MOINES. 



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HISTORY OF IOWA. 



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HJ.nORT OF IOWA. 



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j^istory of lou/a. 



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,HE race or races who 
occupied this beau- 
tiful prairie country 
before the advent of 
the whites from Eu- 
rope had no litera- 
ture, and therefore 
have left us no history of 
themselves. Not even tra- 
ditions, to any extent, have 
been handed down to us. 
Hence, about all we know 
of the Indians, previous to 
explorations by the whites, 
is derived from mounds 
and a few simple relics. 
The mounds were erected 
by a people generally denominated Mound 
Builders, but whether they were a distinct 
race from the Indians is an unsettled ques- 
tion. Prof. Alex. Winchell,of the Michigan 
State University, as well as a number of 
other investigators, is of the opinion that 
those who built mounds, mined copper and 
iron, made elaborate implements of war, 
agriculture and domestic economy, and 
built houses and substantial villages, etc., 
were no other than the ancestors of the 
present Indians, who, like the ancient 
Greeks and Romans, were more skilled in 

10 



the arts of life than their successors during 
the middle ages. Most people have their 
periods of decline, as well as those of prog- 
ress. The Persians, Hindoos and Chinese, 
although so long in existence as distinct 
nations, have been forages in a state of de- 
cay. Spain and Italy do not improve, 
while Germany, Russia and the United 
States have now their turn in enjoying a 
rapid rise. Similarly, the Indians have long 
been on the decline in the practical arts of 
life. Even since the recent days of Feni- 
more Cooper, the " noble " red men have 
degenerated into savages, despite the close 
contact of the highest order of civilization. 

Nearly all modern authorities unite in 
the opinion that the American continent 
was first peopled from Eastern Asia, either 
by immigration across Behring's Strait or 
by shipwrecks of sailors from the Kamt- 
schatkan and Japanese coast. If mankind 
originated at the north pole, and subse- 
quently occupied an Atlantic continent, 
now submerged, it is possible that the 
American Indians are relics of polar or 
Atlantic races. 

The ancient race which built the towns 
and cities of Mexico and the Western 
United States is called the Aztec, and even 
of them is scarcely anything known save 



124 



HTSTORT OF IOWA. 



what can be learned from their buried 
structures. The few inscriptions that are 
found seem to be meaningless. 

Indian mounds are found throughout 
the United States east of the Rocky 
Mountains, but are far more abundant in 
some places than others. In this State 
they abound near the principal rivers. 
They vary in size from a few to hundreds 
of feet in diameter, and from three to fifteen 
or more feet in height. They are generally 
round, or nearly so, but in a few notable 
exceptions they bear a rude resemblance in 
their outline to the figure of some animal. 
1 heir contents are limited, both in quantity 
and variety, and consist mainly of human 
bones, stone implements, tobacco pipes, 
beads, etc. The stone implements are axes, 
skinning knives, pestles and mortars, arrow 
points, etc. The human bones are often 
found in a mass as if a number of corpses had 
been buried together, and indicate that their 
possessors were interred in a sitting posture. 
Judge Samuel Murdock, of Elkader, this 
State, who has made this subject a special 
stud}' for many years, is of the opinion that 
these remams are not of subjects who were 
inhumed as corpses, but of persons who, 
under the influence of a savage religion, 
voluntarily sacrificed themselves by under- 
going a burial wlien alive. 

CAUCASIAN. 

The first member of this race to discover 
the Mississippi River was Ferdinand De 
Soto, a Spaniard, who explored the region 
of the Lower Mississippi in 1541, but came 
no farther north than the 35th parallel. 
He founded no settlements, nor was he ever 
followed by others of his country to make 
settlements, and hence Spain lost her title 
to the country which she had earned by 
discovery through her subject, De Soto. 
At a subsequent period a Frenchman re- 
discovered the realm, took possession of it 
Hi tne name of France, and his fellow 



countrymen soon followed and effected 
actual settlements. Accordingly, in 16S2, 
France claimed the country, and, accord- 
ing to the usage of European nations, 
earned a proper title to the same. The re- 
sult was a collision between those two na- 
tions, success finally crowning the efforts of 
France. 

In a grand council of Indians, on the 
shore of Lake Superior, they told the 
Frenchmen glowing stories of the " Father 
of Waters " and of the adjacent country, 
and in 1669 Jacques Marquette, a zealous 
and shrewd Jesuit missionary, became in- 
spired witli the idea of visiting this re- 
gion, in the interests of civilization. After 
studying the language and customs of 
the Illinois Indians until 1673, he made prep- 
arations for the journey, in which he was 
to be accompanied by Louis Joliet, an agent 
of the French Government. The Indians, 
who had gathered in large numbers to wit- 
ness his departure, endeavored to dissuade 
him from the undertaking, representing that 
the Indians of the Mississippi Valley were 
cruel and bloodthirsty. The great river 
itself, they said, was the abode of terrible 
monsters which could swallow men, canoes 
and all. But the shrewd missionary, already 
aware of Indian extravagance in descrip- 
tion, set out upon the contemplated jour- 
ney May 13. With the aid of two Miami 
guides he proceeded to the Wisconsin 
River, and down that stream to the Mis- 
sissippi. Floating down the latter he dis- 
covered, on the 25th of June, traces of 
Indians on the west bank, and landed. 
This was at a point a little above the mouth 
of the Des Moines River, and tiius a Euro- 
pean first trod the soil of Iowa. After re- 
maining a short time and becoming ac- 
quainted with the red man as he then and 
there exhibited himself, he proceeded down 
to the mouth of the Illinois, thence up 
that river and by Lake Michigan to the 
French settlements. 



HISTORY OF IOWA. 



12$ 



Nine years later, in 1682, Rene Robert 
Cavelier La Salle descended the Missis- 
sippi to the Gulf of Mexico, and in the name 
■ of the King of France took formal posses- 
sion of all the Mississippi Valley, naming it 
Louisiana, in honor of his king, Louis XIV. 
The river itself he named Colbert, in honor 
of the French minister. Soon afterward 
the Government of France began to en- 
courage the establishment of a line of trad- 
ing posts and missionary stations through- 
out the West from Canada to Louisiana, 
and this policy was maintained with par- 
tial success for about seventy-five years. 
Christian zeal animated both France and 
England in missionary enterprise, the 
former in the interests of Catholicism and 
thelatter in favor of Protestantism. Hence 
their haste to pre-occupy the land and prose- 
lyte the aborigines; but this ugly rivalry dis- 
gusted the Indians and they refused to be 
converted to either branch of Christianity. 
The traders also persisted in importing 
whisky, which canceled nearly every civ- 
ilizing influence that could be brought to 
bear upon the savages. Another character- 
istic of Indian nature was to listen atten- 
tively to all that the missionary said, pre- 
tending to believe all he preached, and then 
offer in turn his theory of the world, of re- 
ligion, etc.; and, not being listened to with 
the same degree of attention and pretense 
of belief, would depart from the white 
man's presence in disgust. This was his 
idea of the golden rule. 

Comparatively few Indians were perma- 
nently located within the present bounds 
of the State of Iowa. Favorite hunting 
grounds were resorted to by certain bands 
lor a time, and afterward by others, subject 
to the varying fortunes of their little wars. 
The tribes were principally the Illinois, 
lowas, Dakotas, Sioux, Pottawatomies and 
finally the Sacs and Foxes. 

In 1765 the Miami confederacy was com- 
posed of four tribes, whose total number 



of warriors was estimated at only 1,050 
men. Of these about 250 were Twightwees, 
or Miamis proper; 300 Weas, or Ouiate- 
nons; 300 Piankeshaws and 200 Shockeys; 
but their headquarters were along the 
Maumee River, in Indiana and Ohio. 

From 1688 to 1697 the wars in which 
France and England were engaged re- 
tarded the growth of their American colo- 
nies. The efforts made by France to 
connect Canada and the Gulf of Mexico by 
a chain of trading posts and colonies nat- 
urally excited the jealousy of England and 
gradually laid the foundation for a struggle 
at arms. The crisis came and the contest 
obtained the name of the French and Indian 
war, the French and Indians combining 
against the English. The war was termi- 
nated in 1763 by a treaty at Paris, by which 
France ceded to Great Britain all of North 
America east of the Mississippi, except the 
island on which New Orleans is situated. 
The preceding autumn France ceded to 
Spain all the country west of that river. 

In 1765 the total number of French fami- 
lies within the limits of the Northwest Ter- 
ritory did not probably exceed 600. These 
were in settlements about Detroit, along 
the river Wabash and the neighborhood of 
Fort Chartres on the Mississippi. The 
colonial policy of the British Government 
opposed any measures which might 
strengthen settlements in the interior of 
this country, lest they should become self- 
supporting and consequently independent 
of the mother country. Hence the settle- 
ment of the Northwest was still further 
retarded. That short-sighted policy con- 
sisted mainly in holding the lands in the 
possession of the Government, and not 
allowing it to be subdivided and sold to 
those who would become settlers. After 
the establishment of American indepen- 
dence, and especially under the administra- 
tion of Thomas Jefferson, both as Governor 
of Virginia and President of the United > 



l^fl 



HISTORY OF row A. 



States, subdivision of land and giving it to 
actual settlers rapidly peopled this portion 
of the Union, so that the Northwest Terri- 
tory was formed and even subdivided into 
other Territories and States before the 
year 1820. 

For more than 100 years after Marquette 
and Joliet trod the virgin soil of Iowa and 
admired its fertile plains, not a single settle- 
ment was made or attempted ; not even a 
trading-post was established. During this 
time the Illmois Indians, once a powerful 
tribe, gave up the entire possession of this 
" Beautiful Land," as Iowa was then called, 
to the Sacs and Foxes. In 1803, when 
Louisiana was purchased b}' the United 
States, the Sacs, Foxes and lowas pos- 
sessed this entire State, and the two for- 
mer tribes occupied also most of the State 
of Illinois. The four most important towns 
of the Sacs were along the Mississippi, two 
on the east side, one near the mouth of the 
Upper Iowa and one at the head of the 
Des Moines Rapids, near the present site 
of Montrose. Those of the Foxes were — 
one on the west side of the Mississippi just 
above Davenport, one about twelve miles 
from the river back of the Dubuque lead 
mines and one on Turkey River. The 
principal village of the lowas was on the 
Des Moines River, in Van Buren County, 
where lowaville now stands. Here the last 
great battle between the Sacs and Foxes 
and the lowas was fought, in which Black 
Hawk, then a 3'oung man, commanded the 
attacking forces. 

The Sioux had the northern portion of 
this State and Southern Minnesota. They 
were a fierce and war-like nation, who often 
disputed possessions with their rivals in 
savage and bloody warfare ; but finally a 
boundary line was established between 
them by the Government of the United 
States, in a treaty held at Prairie du Chien 
in 1825. This, however, became the occa- 
sion of an increased number of quarrels be- 



tween the tribes, as each trespassed, or was 
thought to trespass, upon the other's side of 
the line. In 1830, therefore, the Govern- 
ment created a forty-mile neutral strip of 
land between them, which policy proved to 
be more successful in the interests of peace. 

Soon after the acquisition of Louisiana by 
our Government, the latter adopted meas- 
ures for the exploration of the new terri- 
tor}^ having in view the conciliation of the 
numerous tribes of Indians by wliom it was 
possessed, and also the selection of proper 
sites for military posts and trading stations. 

The Army of the West, General Wilkin- 
son commanding, had its headquarters at 
St. Louis. From tiiis post Captains Lewis 
and Clarke, in 1805, were detailed with a 
sufficient force to explore the Missouri 
River to its source, and Lieutenant Zebulon 
M. Pike to ascend to the head of the Missis- 
sippi. August ;2.o the latter arrived within 
the present limits of Iowa, at the foot of the 
Des Moines Rapids, where he met William 
Ewing, who had just been appointed Indian 
Agent at this point, a French interpreter, 
four chiefs and fifteen Sac and Fox war- 
riors. At the head of the rapids, where 
Montrose now is, Pike held a council with 
the Indians, merely for the purpose of stat- 
ing to them that the President of the United 
States wished to inquire into the needs ol 
the red man, with a view of suggesting 
remedies. 

On the 23d he reached what is supposed 
from his description to be the site of Bur- 
lington, which place he designated for a 
post; but the station, probabl}' b}' some 
mistake, was afterward placed at Fort Madi- 
son. After accidentally separating from his 
men and losing his way, suffering at one 
time for six days for want of food, and after 
many other mishaps Lieutenant Pike over- 
took the remainder of the party at the point 
now occupied b}' Dubuque, who had gone 
on up the river hoping to overtake him. At 
that point Pike was cordially received by 



II IS TO FT OF IOWA. 



t2f 



Julieii Dubuque, a Frenchman who held a 
mining claim under a grant from Spain, but 
was not disposed to publish the wealth of 
his possessions. Having an old field-piece 
with him, however, he fired a salute in 
honor of the first visit of an agent from the 
United States to that part of the country, 
and Pike pursued his way up the river. 

At what was afterward Fort Snelling, 
Minnesota, Lieutenant Pike held a council 
with the Sioux September 23, and obtained 
from them a grant of 100,000 acres of land. 
January 8 following (1806) he arrived at a 
trading post on Lake De Sable, belonging 
to the Northwestern Fur Company, whose 
field of operations at that time included this 
State. Pike returned to St. Louis the fol- 
lowing spring, after making a successful 
expedition. 

Before this country could be opened for 
settlement by the whites, it was necessary 
that Indian title should be extinguished and 
the aboriginal owners removed. When the 
Government assumed control of the country 
by virtue of the Louisiana purchase, nearly 
the whole State was in possession of the 
Sacs and Foxes, at whose head stood the 
rising Black Hawk. November 3, 1804, a 
treaty was concluded with these tribes by 
which they ceded to the United States the 
Illinois side of the great river, in consider- 
ation of $2,234 worth of goods then de- 
Hvered, and an annuity of $1,000 to be paid 
in goods at cost ; but Black Hawk always 
maintained that the chiefs who entered into 
that compact acted without authority, and 
that therefore the treaty was not binding. 

The first fort erected on Iowa soil was at 
Fort Madison. A short time previously a 
military post was fixed at what is now 
Warsaw, Illinois, and named Fort Edwards. 
These enterprises caused mistrust among 
the Indians. Indeed, Fort Madison was 
located in violation of the treaty of 1804. 
The Indians sent delegations to the whites 
at these forts to learn what they were do- 



ing, and what they intended. On being 
" informed " that those structures were 
merely trading-posts, they were incredu- 
lous and became more and more suspicious. 
Black Hawk therefore led a party to the 
vicinity of Fort Madison and attempted its 
destruction, but a premature attack by him 
caused his failure. 

In 181 2, when war was declared between 
this country and Great Britain, Black Hawk 
and his band aUied themselves to the British, 
partly because thev were dazzled by their 
specious promises, but mostly, perhaps, be- 
cause they had been deceived by the Amer- 
icans. Black Hawk said plainly that the 
latter fact was the cause. A portion of the 
Sacs and Foxes, however, headed by Keo- 
kuk ("watchful fox"), could not be per- 
suaded into hostilities against the United 
States, being disposed to abide by the 
treaty of 1804. The Indians were there- 
fore divided into the "war" and the 
" peace " parties. Black Hawk says he 
was informed, after he had gone to the war, 
that his people, left on the west side of the 
river, would be defenseless against the 
United States forces in case they were at- 
tacked ; and, having all the old men, the 
women and the children on their hands to 
provide for, a council was held, and it was 
determined to have the latter go to St. 
Louis and place themselves under the 
" American" chief stationed there. Ac- 
cordingly they went down, and were re- 
ceived as the " friendl}' band " of Sacs and 
Foxes, and were provided for and sent up 
the Missouri River. 

On Black Hawk's return from the British 
army, he says that Keokuk was introduced 
to him as the war chief of the braves then 
in the village. On inquiry as to iiow he 
became chief, there were given him the 
particulars of his having killed a Sioux in 
battle, which fact placed him among the 
warriors, and of his having headed an ex- 
pedition in defense of their village at Peoria. 



I2S 



HISTORT OF IOWA. 



In person Keokuk was tall and of portly 
bearing, and in speech he was an orator. 
He did not master the English language, 
however, and his interpreters were never 
able to do him justice. He was a friend of 
our Government, and always endeavored 
to persuade the Indians that it was useless 
to attack a nation so powerful as that of 
the United States. 

The treaty of 1804 was renewed in 1816, 
which Black Hawk himself signed; but he 
afterward held that he was deceived, and 
that that treaty was not even yet binding. 
But there was no further serious trouble 
with the Indians until the noted " Black 
Hawk war" of 1832, all of which took place 
in Illinois and Wisconsin, with the expected 
result — the defeat and capture of the great 
chief, and the final, effectual and permanent 
repulsion of all hostile Indians to the west 
of the great Mississippi. Black Hawk died 
October 3, 1838, at his home in this State, 
and was buried there ; but his remains were 
afterward placed in the museum of the His- 
torical Society, where they were accident- 
ally destroyed by fire. 

More or less affecting the territory now 
included within the State of Iowa, fifteen 
treaties with the Indians have been made, 
an outline of which is here given. In 1804, 
when the whites agreed not to settle west 
of the Mississippi on Indian lands. In 1815, 
with the Sioux, ratif3'ing peace with Great 
Britain and the United States ; with the 
Sacs, a treaty of a similar nature, and also 
ratifying that of 1804, the Indians agreeing 
hot to join their brethren who, under Black 
Hawk, had aided the British ; with the 
Foxes, ratifying the treaty of 1804, the In- 
dians agreeing to deliver up all their 
prisoners ; and with the lowas, a treaty of 
friendship. In 1816, with the Sacs of Rock 
River, ratifying the treaty of 1804. In 1824, 
with the Sacs and Foxes, the latter relin- 
quishing all their lands in Missouri ; and 
that portion of the southeast corner of 



Iowa known as the " half-breed tract " was 
set off to the half-breeds. In 1825, placing 
a boundary line between the Sacs and Foxes 
on the south and the Sioux on the north. 
In 1830, when that line was widened to 
forty miles. Also, in the same year, with 
several tribes, who ceded a large portion of 
their possessions in the western part of the 
State. In 1832, with the Winnebagoes, ex- 
changing lands with them and providing a 
school, farm, etc., for them. Also, in the 
same year, the "Black Hawk purchase" 
was made, of about 6,000,000 acres, along 
the west side of the Mississippi from the 
southern line of the State to the mouth of 
the Iowa River. In 1836, with the Sacs and 
Foxes, ceding Keokuk's reserve to the 
United States. In 1S37, with the same, 
when another slice of territory, comprising 
1,250000 acres, joining west of the forego- 
ing tract, was obtained. Also, in the same 
3'ear, when these Indians gave up all their 
lands allowed them under former treaties; 
and finally, in 1842, when they relinquished 
their title to all their lands west of the 
Mississippi. 

Before the whole of Iowa fell into the 
hands of the United States Government 
sundry white settlers had, under the Spanish 
and French Governments, obtained and oc- 
cupied several important claims within our 
boundaries, which it may be well to notice 
in brief. September 22, 1788, Julien Du- 
buque, before mentioned, obtained a lease 
of lands from the Fox Indians, at the point 
now occupied by the city named after iiini. 
This tract contained valuable lead ore, and 
Dubuque followed mining. His claims, 
however, as well as those to whom he after- 
ward conveyed title, were litigated for 
many years, with the final result of dis- 
appointing the purchasers. In 1799 Louis 
Honori obtained a tract of land about three 
miles square where Montrose is now sit- 
uated, and his title, standing through all 
the treaties and being finally confirmed by 



His TORT OF WW A. 



I2g 



the Supreme Court of the United States, is 
the oldest legal title held by a white man 
in the State of Iowa. A tract of 5,860 acres 
in Clayton County was granted by the 
Lieutenant-Governor of Upper Louisiana 
in 1795 to Basil Girard, whose title was 
made valid some time after the preceding 
case was settled. 

Other early settlers were : Mr. Johnson, 
an agent of the American Fur Company, 
who had a trading-post below Burlington. 
Le Moliere, a French trader, had, in 1820, 
a station at what is now Sandusky, in Lee 
County, si.\ miles above Keokuk. During 
the same year Dr. Samuel C. Muir, a sur- 
geon of the United States army, built a 
cabin where the city of Keokuk now stands. 
His marriage and subsequent life were so 
romantic that we give the following briet 
sketch : 

While stationed at a military post on the 
Upper Mississippi, the post was visited by 
a beautiful Indian maiden — whose native 
name unfortunately has not been preserved 
— who, in her dreams, had seen a white 
brave unmoor his canoe, paddle it across 
the river and come directly to her lodge. 
She felt assured,- according to the super- 
stitious belief of her race, that in her dreams 
she had seen her future husband, and had 
come to the fort to find him. Meeting Dr. 
Muir she instantly recognized him as the 
hero of her dream, which, with childlike 
innocence and simplicity, she related to 
him. Her dream was, indeed, prophetic. 
Charmed with Sophia's beauty, innocence 
and devotion, the Doctor honorably mar- 
ried her, but after a while the sneers and 
gibes of his brother officers — less honorable 
than he, perhaps — made him feel ashamed 
of his dark-skinned wife, and when his regi- 
ment was ordered down the river to Belle- 
fontaine, it is said that he embraced the 
opportunity to rid himself of her, and left 
her, never expecting to see her again, and 
little dreaming that she would have the 



courage to follow him. But, with her in- 
fant child, this intrepid wife and mother 
started alone in her canoe, and after many 
days of weary labor and a lonely journey of 
900 miles, she at last reached him. She 
afterward remarked, when speaking of this 
toilsome journey down the river in search 
of her husband, " When I got there I was 
all perished away — so thin !" The Doctor, 
touched by such unexampled devotion, 
took her to his heart, and ever after until 
his death treated her with marked respect. 
She always presided at his table with grace 
and dignity, but never abandoned her na- 
tive style of dress. In i8i9-'2o he was 
stationed at Fort Edward, now Warsaw, 
but the senseless ridicule of some of his 
brother officers on account of his Indian 
wife induced him to resign his commission. 
He then built a cabin as above stated, 
where Keokuk is now situated, and made 
a claim to some land. This claim he leased 
to Otis Reynolds and John Culver, of St. 
Louis, and went to La Pointe (afterward 
Galena), where he practiced his profession 
for ten 3'ears, wiien he returned to Keokuk. 
His Indian wife bore to him four children — 
Louise, James, Mary and Sophia. Dr. 
Muir died suddenly (jf cholera in 1832, but 
left his property in such a condition that it 
was soon wasted in vexatious litigation, and 
his brave and faithful wife, left friendless 
and penniless, became discouraged, and, 
with her two younger children, disap- 
peared. It is said she returned to her peo- 
ple on the Upper Missouri. 

The gentleman who had leased Dr. 
Muir's claim at Keokuk subsequently em- 
ployed as their agent Moses Stillwell, who 
arrived with his family in 1828, and took 
possession. His brothers-in-law, Amos and 
Valencourt Van Ansdal, came with him 
and settled near. Mr. Stillwell's daughter 
Margaret (afterward Mrs. Ford) was born 
in 183 1, at the foot of the rapids, called by 
the Indians Puckashetuck. She was prob- 



i30 



histoRY OF /orP'A. 



ably the first white American child born in 
Iowa. 

In 1829 Dr. Isaac Gallaud made a settle- 
ment on the Lower Rapids, at what is now 
Nashville. The same year James S. Lang- 
worth}', who had been engaged in lead- 
mining at Galena since 1824, commenced 
lead-mining in the vicinity of Dubuque. A 
few others afterward came to that point as 
miners, and they soon found it necessary to 
hold a council and adopt some regulations 
for their government and protection. They 
met in 1830 on the bank of the river, by the 
side of an old cottonwood drift log, at what 
is now the Jones Street Levee in Dubuque, 
and elected a committee, consisting of J. L. 
Langworthy, H. F. Lander, James Mc- 
Phetres, Samuel Scales and E. M. Wren, 
who drafted a set of rules, which were 
adopted by this, the first " Legislature" of 
Iowa. They elected Dr. Jarote as their 
officer to choose arbitrators for the settle- 
ment of difficulties that might arise. These 
settlers, however, were intruders upon In- 
dian territory, and were driven off in 1832 
by our Government, Colonel Zachary Tay- 
lor commanding the troops. The Indians 
returned and were encouraged to operate 
the rich mines opened by the late white 
occupants. 

But in June of the same year the troops 
were ordered to the east side of the Missis- 
sippi to assist in the annihilation of the 
very Indians whose rights they had been 
protecting on the west side ! 

Immediately after the close of the Black 
Hawk war and the negotiations of the treat}' 
in September, 1S32, by which the Sacs and 
Foxes ceded the tract known as the " Black 
Hawk Purchase," the settlers, supposmg 
tiiat now they had a right to re-enter the 
territory, returned and took possession of 
their claims, built cabins, erected furnaces 
and prepared large quantities of lead for 
market. But the prospects of the hardy 
and enterprising settlers and miners were 



again ruthlessly interfered with by the 
Government, on the ground that the treaty 
with the Indians would not go into force 
until June i, 1833, although they had with- 
drawn from the vicinity of the settlement. 
Colonel Taylor was again ordered by the 
War Department to remove the miners, 
and in January, 1833, troops were again 
sent from Prairie du Chien to Dubuque for 
that purpose. This was a serious and per- 
haps unnecessary hardship imposed upon 
the miners. They were compelled to aban- 
don their cabins and homes in mid-winter. 
This, too, was only out of respect for forms; 
for the purchase had been made, and the 
Indians had retired. After the lapse of 
fifty years, no very satisfactory reason for 
this rigorous action of the Government can 
be given. But the orders had been given, 
and there was no alternative but to obey. 
Many of the settlers re-crossed the river, 
and did not return ; a few, however, re- 
moved to an island near the east bank of 
the river, built rude cabins of poles, in 
which to store their lead until spring, when 
they could Hoat the fruits of their labor to 
St. Louis for sale, and where they could re- 
main until the treaty went into force, when 
thev could return. Among these were the 
Langworthy brothers, who had on hand 
about 300,000 pounds of lead. 

No sooner had the miners left than Lieu- 
tenant Covington, who had been placed in 
command at Dubuque by Colonel Taylor, 
ordered some of the cabins of the settlers to 
be torn down, and wagons and other prop- 
erty to be destroyed. This wanton and 
inexcusable action on the part of a subordi- 
nate, clothed with a little brief authority, 
was sternly rebuked by Colonel Taylor, and 
Covington was superseded by Lieutenant 
George Wilson, who pursued a just and 
friendly course with the pioneers, that were 
only waiting for the time when they could 
repossess their claims. 

The treaty went formally into effect June, 



Hist OR i- OF row A. 



131 



1833, the troops were withdrawn, and the 
Langworthy brothers and a few others at 
once returned and resumed possession of 
their homes and claims. From this time 
must date the first permanent settlement of 
this portion of Iowa. John P. Sheldon was 
appointed superintendent of the mines by 
the Government, and a system of permits 
to miners and licenses to smelters was 
adopted, similar to that which had been 
in operation at Galena since 1825, under 
Lieutenant Martin Thomas and Captain 
Thomas C. Legate. Substantially the primi- 
tive law enacted by the miners assembled 
around that old Cottonwood drift log in 
1830, was adopted and enforced by the 
United States Government, except that 
miners were required to sell their mineral 
to licensed smelters, and the smelter was 
required to give bonds for the payment of 
6 per cent, of all lead manufactured to the 
Government 

About 500 people arrived in the mining 
district in 1833, after the Indian title was 
fully extinguished, of whom 150 were from 
Galena. In the same )'ear Mr. Langworthy 
assisted in building the first school- house in 
Iowa, and thus was formed the nucleus of 
the populous and thriving city of Dubuque. 
Mr. Langworthy lived to see the naked 
prairie on which he first settled become the 
site of a city of 15,000 inhabitants, the small 
school-house which he aided in construct- 
ing replaced by three substantial edifices, 
wherein 2,000 children were being trained, 
churches erected in every part of the city, 
and railroads connecting the wilderness 
which he first explored with all the eastern 
world. He died suddenly on the 13th of 
March, 1865, while on a trip over the Du- 
buque & Southern Railroad, at Monticello, 
and the evening train brought the news of 
his death and his remains. 

Lucius H. Langworthy, his brother, was 
one of the most worthy, gifted and influ- 
ential of the old settlers of this section of 
11 



Iowa. He died greatly lamented by many 
friends, in June, 1865. 

The name Dubuque was given to the 
settlement by the miners, at a meeting held 
in 1834. 

Soon after the close of the Black Hawk 
war in 1832, Zachariah Hawkins, Benjamin 
Jennings, Aaron White, Augustine Horton, 
Samuel Gooch, Daniel Thompson and Peter 
Williams made claims at Fort Madison. In 
1833 General John H. Knapp and Colonel 
Nathaniel Knapp purchased these claims, 
and in the summer of 1835 they laid out the 
town of " Fort Madison." Lots were ex- 
posed for sale early in 1836. The town was 
subsequently re-surveyed and platted by 
the United States Government. The popu- 
lation rapidly increased, and in less than 
two years the beautiful location was cov- 
ered by a flourishing town, containing 
nearly 600 inhabitants, with a large pro- 
portion of enterprising merchants, mechan- 
ics and manufacturers. 

In the fall of 1832 Simpson S. White 
erected a cabin on the site of Burlington, 
seventy-nine miles below Rock Island. 
During the war parties had looked long- 
ingly upon the " Flint Hills" from the op- 
posite side of the river, and White was 
soon followed by others. David Tothers 
made a claim on the prairie about three 
miles back from the river, at a place since 
kntnvn as the farm of Judge Morgan. The 
following winter the settlers were driven 
off by the military from Rock Island, as 
intruders upon the righfs of the Indians. 
White's cabin was burned by the soldiers. 
He returned to Illinois, where he remained 
during the winter, and in the following 
summer, as soon as the Indian title was ex- 
tinguished, returned and rebuilt his cabin. 
White was joined by his brother-in-law, 
Doolittle, and they laid out the town of 
Burlington in 1834, on a beautiful area of 
sloping eminences and gentle declivities, 
enclosed within a natural amphitheater 



132 



HISTORY OF IOWA. 



formed by the surrounding hills, which 
were crowned with luxuriant forests and 
presented the most picturesque scenery. 
The same autumn witnessed the openmg of 
the first dry -goods stores by Dr. VV. R. Ross 
and Major Jeremiah Smith, each well sup- 
plied with Western merchandise. Such 
was the beginning of Burlington, which in 
less than four years became the seat of 
government for the Territory of Wisconsin, 
and in three years more contained a popu- 
lation of 1,400 persons. 

Immediately after the treaty with the 
Sacs and Foxes, in September, 1832, Colonel 
George Davenport made the first claim on 
the site of the present thriving city of 
Davenport. As early as 1827, Colonel 
Davenport had established a flat-boat ferry, 
which ran between the island and the main 
shore of Iowa, by which he carried on a 
trade with the Indians west of the Missis- 
sippi. In 1833 Captain Benjamin W. Clark 
moved from Illinois, and laid the founda- 
tion of the town of Buffalo, in Scott County, 
which was the first actual settlement within 
the limits of that county. 

The first settlers of Davenport were An- 
toine Le Claire, Colonel George Davenport, 
Major Thomas Smith, Major William Gor- 
don, Philip Hambough, Alexander W. Mc- 
Gregor, Levi S. Colton, Captain James May 
and others. 

A settlement was made in Clayton Count}' 
in the spring of 1832, on Turkey River, by 
Robert Hatfield and William W. Wayman, 
No further settlement was made in this part 
of the State until 1836. 

The first settlers of Muscatine County 
were Benjamin Nye, John Vanater and G. 
W. Kasey, all of whom came in 1834. E. 
E. Fay, William St. John. N. Fullington, 
H. Reece, Jonas Pettibone, R. P. Lowe, 
Stephen Whicher, Abijah Whitney, J. E. 
Fletcher, W. D. Abernethy and Alexis 
Smith were also earl}' settlers of Musca- 
tine. 



As early as 1824 a French trader named 
Hart had established a trading-post, and 
built a cabin on the bluffs above the large 
spring now known as " Mynster Spring," 
within the limits of the present city of 
Council Bluffs, and had probably been there 
some time, as the post was known to the 
emplo3'es of the American Fur Company 
as "La Cote de Hart," or " Hart's Bluff." 
In 1827 an agent of the American Fur 
Company, Francis Guittar, with others, 
encamped in the timber at the foot of the 
bluffs, about on the present location of 
Broadwa}', and afterward settled there. In 
1839 ^ block house was built on the bluff in 
the east part of the city. The Pottawat- 
omie Indians occupied this part of the 
State until i846-'7, when thej' relinquished 
the territor}- and removed to Kansas. Billy 
Caldwell was then principal chief. There 
were no white settlers in that part of the 
State except Indian traders, until the arri- 
val of the Mormons under the lead of Brig- 
ham Young. These people on their way 
westward halted for the winter of i846-'7, 
on the west bank of the Missouri River, 
about five miles above Omaha, at a place 
now called Florence. Some of them had 
reached the eastern bank of the river the 
spring before in season to plant a crop. In 
the spring of 1847 Brigham Young and a 
portion of the colony pursued their journey 
to Salt Lake, but a large portion of them 
returned to the Iowa side and settled mainly 
within the present limits of Pottawatomie 
County. The principal settlement of this 
strange community was at a place first 
called " Miller's Hollow," on Indian Creek, 
and afterward named Kanesville, in honor 
of Colonel Thomas L. Kane, of Pennsyl- 
vania, who visited them soon afterward. 
The Mormon settlement extended over 
the county and into neighboring counties, 
wherever timber and water furnished de- 
sirable locations. Orson Hyde, priest, law- 
yer and editor, was installed as president 



HiSToar OF IOWA. 



133 



of the Quorum of Twelve, and all that part 
of the State remained under Mormon con- 
trol for several years. In 1847 the}' raised 
a battalion numbering 500 men for the 
Mexican war. In 1848 Hyde started a 
paper called the Frontier Guardian, at 
Kanesville. In 1849, after many of the 
faithful had left to join Brigham Young at 
Salt Lake, the Mormons in this section of 
Iowa numbered 6,552, and in 1850,7,828; 
but they were not all within the limits of 
Pottawatomie County. This county was 
organized in 1848, all the first officials be- 
ing Mormons. In 1852 the order was pro- 
mulgated that all the true believers should 
gather together at Salt Lake. Gentiles 
flocked in, and in a few years nearly all 
the first settlers were gone. 

May 9, 1843, Captain James Allen, with 
a small detachment of troops on board the 
steamer lone, arrived at the site of the 
present capital of the State, Des Moines. 
This was the first steamer to ascend the Des 
Moines River to this point. The troops 
and stores were landed at what is now the 
foot of Court avenue, and the Captain re- 
turned in the steamer to Fort Sanford to 
arrange for bringing up more soldiers and 
supplies. In due time they too arrived, 
and a fort was built near the mouth of Rac- 
coon Fork, at its confluence with the Des 
Moines, and named " Fort Des Moines." 
Soon after the arrival of the troops, a trad- 
ing-post was established on the east side of 
the river by two noted Indian traders 
named Ewing, from Ohio. Among the 
first settlers in this part of Iowa were Ben- 
jamin Bryant, J. B. Scott, James Drake 
(gunsmith), John Sturtevant, Robert Kin- 
zie, Alexander Turner, Peter Newcomer 
and others. 

PIONEER LIFE. 

Most of the early settlers of Iowa came 
from older States, as Pennsylvania, New 
York and Ohio, where their prospects for 



even a competenc}' were very poor. They 
found those States good — to emigrate from. 
Their entire stock of furniture, implements 
and family necessities were easily stored 

, in one wagon, and sometimes a cart was 
their only vehicle. 

After arriving and selecting a suitable 
location, the next thing to do was to build 
a log cabin, a description of which may be 
interesting to many of our younger readers, 
as in some sections these old-time struct- 
ures are no more to be seen. Trees of 
uniform size were chosen and cut into loss 
of the desired length, generally twelve to 
fifteen feet, and hauled to the spot selected 
for the future dwelling. On an appointed 
day the few neighbors who were available 
would assemble and have a " house-raising." 

I Each end of every log was saddled and 
notched so that they would lie as close down 
as possible; the next day the proprietor, 
would proceed to "chink" and "daub" 
the cabin, to keep out the rain, wind and 
cold. The house had to be re-daubed ev- 
ery fall, as the rains of the intervening time 
would wash out a great part of the mortar. 
The usual height of the house was seven or 
eight feet. The gables were formed by 
shortening the logs gradually at each end 
of the building near the top. The roof was 
made by laying very straight small logs or 
stout poles suitable distances apart, and on 
these were laid the clapboards, somewhat 
like shingling, generally about two and a 
half feet to the weather. These clapboards 
were fastened to their place by " weight- 
poles " corresponding in place with the 
joists just described, and these again were 
held in their place by " runs " or " knees " 
which were chunks of wood about eighteen 
or twent)' inches long fitted between them 
near the ends. Clapboards were made 
from the nicest oaks in the vicinit}', by 
chopping or sawing them into four-foot 
blocks and riving these with a frow, which 
was a simple blade fi.xed at right angles to 



>34 



HISTORY OF IOWA. 



its handles. This was driven into the 
blocks of wood by a mallet. As the frow 
was wrenched down through the wood, 
the latter was turned alternately over from 
side to side, one end being held by a forked 
piece of timber. 

The chimney to the Western pioneer's 
cabin was made by leaving in the original 
building a large open place in one wall, or 
by cutting one after the structure was up, 
and by building on the outside, from the 
ground up, a stone column, or a column of 
sticks and mud, the sticks being laid up 
cob house fashion. The fire-place thus made 
was often large enough to receive fire-wood 
six to eight feet long. Sometimes this 
wood, especially the " back-log," would be 
nearly as large as a saw-log. The more 
rapidly the pioneer could burn up the wood 
in his vicinity the sooner he had his little 
farm cleared and ready for cultivation. 
For a window, a piece about two feet long 
was cut out of one of the wall logs, and the 
hole closed, sometimes by glass but gener- 
ally with greased paper. Even greased deer- 
hide was sometimes used. A doorway was 
cut through one of the walls if a saw was to 
be had; otherwise the door would be left 
by shortened logs in the original building. 
The door was made by pinning clapboards 
to two or three wood bars, and was hung 
upon wooden hinges. A wooden latch, 
with catch, then finished the door, and the 
latch was raised by any one on the outside 
by pulhng a leather string. For security 
at night this latch-string was drawn in, but 
for friends and neighbors, and even stran- 
gers, the " latch-string was always hanging 
out," as a welcome. In the interior over 
the fire-place would be a shelf called " the 
mantel," on which stood a candlestick or 
lamp, some cooking and table ware, possi- 
bly an old clock, and other articles; in the 
fire-place would be the crane, sometimes of 
iron, sometimes of wood; on it the pots were 
hung for cooking; over the door, in forked 



cleats, hung the ever-trustful rifie and pow- 
der-horu; in one corner stood the larger bed 
for the " old folks," and under it the 
trundle-bed for the children; in another 
stood the old-fashioned spinning-wheel, 
with a smaller one by its side; in another the 
heavy table, the only table, of course, there 
was in the house; in the remaining was a 
rude cupboard holding the tableware, 
which consisted of a few cups and saucers, 
and blue-edged plates, standing singly on 
their edges against the back, to make the 
display of table-furniture more conspicu- 
ous; while around the room were scattered 
a few splint-bottom or Windsor chairs, and 
two or three stools. 

These simple cabins were inhabited by a 
kind and true-hearted people. They were 
strangers to mock modesty, and the traveler 
seeking lodging for the night, or desirous 
of spending a few days in the community, 
if willing to accept the rude offering, was 
always welcome, although how they were 
disposed of at night the reader might not 
easily imagine; for, as described, a single 
room was made to answer for kitchen, 
dining-room, sitting-room, bed-room and 
parlor, and man)- families consisted of six 
or eight members. 

The bed was very often made by fixing a 
post in the floor about six feet from one 
wall and four feet from the adjoining wall, 
and fastening a stick to this post about 
two feet above the floor, on each of two 
sides, so that the other end of each of the 
two sticks could be fastened in the oppo- 
site wall; clapboards were laid across these, 
and thus the bed was made complete. 
Guests were given this bed, while the fam- 
ily disposed of themselves in another cor- 
ner of the room or in the loft. When 
several guests were on hand at once they 
were sometimes kept over night in the fol- 
lowing manner: When bedtime came the 
men were requested to step out of doors 
while the women spread out a broad bed 



HIS/ OR r OF IOWA. 



135 



upon the mid floor, and put themselves 
to bed in the center; the signal was given, 
and the men came in and each husband took 
his place in bed next his own wife, and 
single men outside beyond them again. 
They were generall}' so crowded that they 
had to lie "spoon" fashion, and whenever 
anyone wished to turn over he would say 
" spoon," and the whole company of sleep- 
ers would turn over at once. This was the 
only way they could all keep in bed. 

To witness the various processes of cook- 
ing in those days would alike surprise and 
amuse those who have grown up since 
cooking stoves and ranges came into use. 
Kettles were hung over the large fire, sus- 
pended with pot-hooks, iron or wooden, 
on the crane, or on poles, one end of which 
would rest upon a chain. The long-hand- 
led frying pan was used for cooking meat. 
It was either held over the blaze by hand 
or set down upon coals drawn out upon 
the hearth. This pan was also used for 
baking pancakes, also call flapjacks, batter- 
cakes, etc. A better article for this, how- 
ever, was the cast-iron spider, or Dutch 
skillet. The best thing for baking bread 
in those days, and possibly even in these 
latter days, was the flat-bottomed bake 
kettle, of greater depth, with closely fitting 
cast-iron cover, and commonly known as the 
Dutch oven. With coals over and under it, 
bread and biscuits would be quickly and 
nicely baked. Turkey and spare-ribs were 
sometimes roasted before the fire, sus- 
pended by a string, a dish being placed 
underneath to catch the drippings. 

Hominy and samp were very much used. 
The hominy, however, was generally hulled 
corn — boiled corn from which the hull or 
bran had been taken by hot lye, hence 
sometimes called' lye hominy. True hom- 
inj and samp were made of pounded corn. 
A popular method of making this, as well 
as real meal for bread, was to cut out or 
burn a large hole in the top of a huge 



stump, in the shape of a mortar, and pound- 
ing the corn in this by a maul or beetle 
suspended by a swing pole like a well- 
sweep. This and the wellsweep consisted 
of a pole twenty to thirty feet long fixed in 
an upright fork so that it could be worked 
" teeter " fashion. It was a rapid and sim- 
ple way of drawing water. When the samp 
was sufficiently pounded it was taken 
out, the bran floated off, and the delicious 
grain boiled like rice. 

The chief articles of diet in an early day 
were corn bread, hominy or samp, venison, 
pork, honey, pumpkin (dried pumpkin for 
more than half the year), turkey, prairie 
chicken, squirrel and some other game, 
with a few additional vegetables a portion 
of the year. Wheat bread, tea, coffee and 
fruit were luxuries not to be indulged in 
except on special occasions, as when visit- 
ors were present. 

Besides cooking in the manner described, 
the women had many other arduous duties 
to perform, one of the chief of which was 
spinning. The big wheel was used for 
spinning yarn and the little wheel for spin- 
ning flax. These stringed instruments fur- 
nished the principal music for the family, 
and were operated by our mothers and 
grandmothers with great skill, attained 
without pecuniary expense, and with far 
less practice than is necessary for the girls 
of our period to acquire a skillful use of 
their costly and elegant instruments. But 
those wheels, indispensable a few years ago, 
are all now superseded by the mighty fac- 
tories which overspread the country, fur- 
nishing cloth of all kinds at an expense ten 
times less than would be incurred now by 
the old system. 

The traveler always found a welcome at 
the pioneer's cabin. It was never full. 
Although there might be already a guest 
for every puncheon, there was still " room 
for one more," and a wider circle would be 
made for the new-comer at the big fire. If 



136 



HISTORY OF IOWA. 



the stranger was in search of land, he was 
doubly welcome, and his host would vol- 
unteer to show him all the " first rate claims 
in this neck of the woods," going with him 
for da3's, showing the corners and advan- 
tages of every " Congress tract " within a 
dozen miles of his own cabin. 

To his neighbors the pioneer was equally 
liberal. If a deer was killed, the choicest 
bits were sent to his nearest neighbor, a 
half-dozen miles away perhaps. When a 
pig was butchered, the same custom pre- 
vailed. If a new-comer came in too late 
for " cropping," the neighbors would sup- 
ply his table with just the same luxuries 
they themselves enjoyed, and in as liberal 
quantity, until a crop could be raised. 
When a new-comer had located his claim, 
the neighbors for miles around would 
assemble at the site of the proposed cabin 
and aid himin " gittm " it up. One party 
with axes would cut down the trees and 
hew the logs; another with teams would 
haul the logs to the ground; another party 
would "raise" the cabin; while several 
of the old men would rive the clap-boards 
for the roof. By night the little forest 
domicile would be up and ready for a 
" house-warming," which was the dedica- 
tory occupation of the house, when music 
and dancing and festivity would be enjoyed 
at full height. The ne.xt day the new-comer 
would be as well situated as his neighbors. 

An instance of primitive hospitable man- 
ners will be in place here. A traveling 
Methodist preacher arrived in a distant 
neighborhood to fill an appointment. The 
house where services were to be held did not 
belong to a church member, but no matter 
for thai. Boards were collected from all 
quarters with which to make temporary 
seats, one of the neighbors volunteering to 
lead off in the work, while the man of the 
house, with the faithful rifle on his shoulder, 
sallied fortii in quest of meat, for this truly 
was a " ground hog " case, the preacher 



coming and no meat in the house. The 
host ceased not to chase until he found the 
meat, in the shape of a deer; returning he 
sent a boy out after it, with directions on 
what " pint " to find it. After services, 
which had been Hstened to with rapt atten- 
tion by all the audience, mine host said to 
his wife, " Old woman, I reckon this 'ere 
preacher is pretty hungry and you must 
git him a bite to eat." " What shall I get 
him?" asked the wife, who had not seen 
the deer, " thar's nuthen in the house to 
eat." " Why, look thar," returned he, 
" thar's a deer, and thar's plenty of corn in 
the field; you git some corn and grate it 
while I skin the deer, and we'll have a 
good supper for him." It is needless to add 
that venison and corn bread made a sup- 
per fit for any pioneer preacher, and was 
thankfully eaten. 

Fires set out by Indians or settlers some- 
times purposely and sometimes permitted 
through carelessness, would visit the prai- 
rie every autumn, and sometimes the for- 
ests, either m autumn or spring, and settlers 
could not always succeed in defending 
themselves against the destroying element. 
Many interesting incidents are related. 
Often a fire was started to bewilder game, 
or to bare a piece of ground for the early 
grazing of stock the ensuing spring, and it 
would get away under a wind and soon 
be beyond control. Violent winds would 
often arise and drive the flames with such 
rapidity that riders on the fleetest steeds 
could scarcely escape. On the approach 
of a prairie fire the farmer would immedi- 
ately set about " cutting off supplies" for 
the devouring enemy by a " back fire." 
Thus by starting a small fire near the bare 
ground about his premises, and keeping it 
under control next his property, he would 
burn off a strip around him and prevent the 
attack of the on-coming flames. A few 
furrows or a ditch around the farm were 
in some degrees a protection. 



HISTORV OF IOWA. 



An original prairie of tall and exuberant 
grass on fire, especially at night, was a mag- 
nificent spectacle, enjoyed only by the 
pioneer. Here is an instance where the 
frontiersman, proverbially deprived of the 
sights and pleasures of an old community, 
is privileged far beyond the people of the 
present day in this country. One could 
scarcely tire of beholding the scene, as its 
awe-inspiring features seemed constantly to 
increase, and the whole panorama unceas- 
ingly changed like the dissolving views of 
a magic lantern, or like the aurora borealis. 
Language cannot convey, words cannot 
express, the faintest idea of the splendor 
and grandeur of such a conflagration at 
night. It was as if the pale queen of night, 
disdaining to take her accustomed place in 
the heavens, had dispatched myriads upon 
myriads of messengers to light their torches 
at the altar of the setting sun until all had 
flashed into one long and continuous blaze. 
One instance has been described as follows: 

" Soon the fires began to kindle wider 
and rise higher from the long grass; the 
gentle breeze increased to stronger currents, 
and soon formed the small, flickering blaze 
into fierce torrent flames, which curled up 
and leaped along in resistless splendor; and 
like quickly raising the dark curtain from 
the luminous stage, the scenes before me 
were suddenly changed, as if by a magi- 
cian's wand, into one boundless amphithea- 
ter, blazing from earth to heaven and 
sweeping the horizon round, — columns of 
lurid flames sportively mounting up to the 
zenith, and dark clouds of crimson smoke 
curling away and aloft till they nearly ob- 
scured stars and moon, while the rushing, 
crashing sounds, like roaring cataracts, 
mingled with distant thunders, were almost 
deafening; danger, death, glared all around; 
it screamed for victims; yet, notwithstand- 
ing the imminent peril of prairie fires, one 
is loth, irresolute, almost unable to with- 
draw or seek refuge. 



LOUISIANA TERRITORY. 

As before mentioned, although De Soto, 
a Spaniard, first took possession of the Mis- 
sissippi Valley for his Government, Spain 
did not establish her title to it by following 
up the proclamation with immediate settle- 
ments, and the country fell into the hands 
of France, by whose agent it was named 
" Louisiana." 

By the treaty of Utrecht, France ceded 
to England her possessions in Hudson's 
Bay, Newfoundland and Nova Scotia, but 
retained Canada and Louisiana. In 1711 
this province was placed in the hands of a 
governor-general, with headquarters at 
Mobile, for the purpose of applying a new 
policy for the settlement and development 
of the country. The very next year ano- 
ther change was made, placing all this ter- 
ritory in the hands of Anthony Crozat, a 
wealthy merchant of Paris, but this scheme 
also failed, as Spain continued to obstruct 
the efforts of anj^ Frenchman to establish 
trade, by closing the ports against him. In 
1717 John Law appeared on the scene with 
his famous " Mississippi Company," as the 
Louisiana branch of the Bank of France : 
and as his roseate scheme promised to do 
much in raising crippled France upon a 
surer footing, extended powers and privi- 
leges were granted him. He was to be 
practically a viceroy, and the life of his 
charter was fixed at twenty -five years. But 
in 1720, when the " Mississippi bubble " was 
at the height ot its splendor, it suddenly 
collapsed, leaving the mother country in a 
far worse condition than before. 

Heretofore Louisiana had been a sub- 
ordinate dependence, under the jurisdiction 
of the Governor-General of Canada. Early 
in 1723 the province of Louisiana was 
erected into an independent Government, 
and it was divided into nine districts, for 
civil and military purposes. 

Characteristic of human nature, the peo- 
ple were mo^e excited with prospects 0/ 



13* 



HISTORY OF IOWA. 



finding enormous wealth ready at hand, if 
they should continue to scour the country, 
which they did in places as far west as the 
Rocky Mountains, to the neglect of their 
asfricultural and domestic interests. A habit 
of roaming became fixed. At the same time 
their exposed condition was a constant 
temptation to Indian rapine, and the Nat- 
chez tribe in 1723 made a general assault 
upon the whites. At first they were re- 
pulsed, but about five years afterward, 
aided by the Chickasaws and others, they 
fell upon the French village of St. Catha- 
rine and massacred the whole male popu- 
lation. Two soldiers, who happened to be 
in the woods, alone escaped to New Or- 
leans, to bear the news. The colonies on 
the Yazoo and the Washita suffered the 
same fate. Maddened by these outrages, 
the whites turned upon the Natchez and in 
the course of three years exterminated 
them. They were probably the most in- 
telligent tribe of Indians north of Mexico. 

During the fifteen years from 1717 to 
1732 the province increased in population 
from 700 to 5,000, and in prosperity to a 
wonderful degree. It remained under royal 
governors until 1764, the end of the French 
dominion. Most of this time the Indians 
were troublesome, and in 1754 began the 
long "French and Indian war" with Eng- 
land, which resulted in favor of the latter, 
tiiat Government obtaining all of New 
France, Canada, and the eastern half of 
Louisiana. This province did not suffer 
by being the scene of battle, but did suffer 
a erreat deal from a flood of irredeemable 
paper mone}'. In the meantime the western 
portion, or residue, of this province was 
secretly promised to Spain ; but before 
either of the foreign powers had opportu- 
nity to rejoice long in their western posses- 
sions, a new power on earth, the United 
States, took independent possession of all 
the country except Louisiana and Florida, 
wh;ch it has maintained ever since. During 



the seventy years of French control the 
province of Louisiana increased in popula- 
tion from a few destitute fishermen to a 
flourishing colony of 13,540. 

St. Louis, Missouri, was started in 1764. 

Don O'Reilly, the new Governor of Loui- 
siana in 1764, ruled with a despotic hand, 
yet for the general advantage of the peo- 
ple. His successor, Don Antonio Maria 
Bucarelly, was mild, and he was succeeded 
January i, 1777, by Don Bernard de GaL 
vez, who was the last Governor. He sym- 
pathized with American independence. The 
British, with 140 troops and 1,400 Indians, 
invaded Upper Louisiana from the north 
by way of the Straits of Mackinaw, and in- 
vested St. Louis, Missouri, in 17S0, but 
were driven off. Wiien the Indians saw 
that they were led to tight " Americans" as 
well as Spaniards, they found that they had 
been deceived, and withdrew from the 
British army, and thus General George R. 
Clark, in behalf of the Americans, easily 
defended St. Louis, and also all the new 
settlements in this western country. 

After the Revolutionary war the country 
began again to prosper. Governor Galvez, 
by a census, ascertained that Louisiana had 
in 1785 a population of about 33,000, exclu- 
sive of Indians. 

In the summer of the latter year Don 
Estavan Miro became Governor /ro tcin.oi 
the Spanish possessions in this country, and 
was afterward confirmed as such by the 
king. During his administration a vain 
attempt was made by the Catholics to 
establish the inquisition at New Orleans. 
He was succeeded in 1792 by Baron de 
Carondelet, and during his term the Spanish 
colonies grew so rapidly that their Govern- 
ment became jealous of the United States 
and souofht to exclude all interference from 
them in domestic affairs ; but all efforts in 
this direction were ended in 1795 by the 
treaty of Madrid, which, after some delay 
and trouble, was fully carried out in 1798. 



HISTORY OF IOWA. 



139 



Under the leadership of Livingston and 
Monroe, the United States Government, 
after various propositions had been dis- 
cussed by the respective powers, succeeded 
in effecting, in 1803, a purchase of the whole 
of Louisiana from France for $11,250,000, 
and all this country west of the great river 
consisted of the "Territory of Orleans" 
(now the State of Louisiana) and the " Dis- 
trict of Louisiana " (now the States of Ar- 
kansas, Missouri and Iowa, and westward 
indefinitely). The latter was annexed to the 
Territory of Indiana for one year, and in 
1805 it was erected into a separate Terri- 
tory, of the second class, the legislative 
power being vested in the Governor and 
judges. Before the close of the year it was 
made a Territory' of the first class, under 
the name of the " Territory of Louisiana," 
the Government being administered by the 
Governor and judges. The first Governor 
was James Wilkinson, and he was succeeded 
near the close of 1806 by Colonel Meri- 
weather Lewis, the seat of Government be- 
ing at St. Louis; and during his adminis- 
tration the Territory was divided into six 
judicial districts or large counties — St. 
Charles, St. Louis, St. Genevieve, Cape 
Girardeau, New Madrid and Arkansas. In 
18 10 the population of Louisiana Territory 
was 21,000, five-sevenths of whom were in 
Arkansas. 

In 1812 the State of Louisiana was ad- 
mitted into the Union, and then it was 
deemed expedient to change the name of 
the Territory. It was accordingly given 
the name of " Missouri Territory," which it 
retained until the admission of the State of 
Missouri in 1821. 

IOWA TERRITORY. 

Although the " Northwestern Territory" 
— carved out of Virginia and now divided 
into the States of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, 
Michigan and Wisconsin — never included 
iowa, this State was in 1834 incorporated 

IS 



into the " Territory of Michigan," and thus 
became subject to the ordinance of 1787; 
and two years later it was made a part of 
" Wisconsin Territory," and two years still 
later, in 1838, the "Territory of Iowa" 
was formed independently, with sixteen 
counties and a population of 23,000. 

In 1833, at Dubuque, a postoffice was 
established, and some time prior to 1834 
one or two justices of the peace had been 
appointed. In 1834 the Territorial Legis- 
lature of Michigan created two counties 
west of the Mississippi — Dubuque and Des 
Moines — separated by a line drawn west- 
ward from the foot of Rock Island. These 
counties were partially organized. John 
King was appointed " Chief Justice" of Du- 
buque County, and Isaac Leffler, of Bur- 
lington, of Des Moines County. Two 
associate justices in each county were ap- 
pointed by the Governor. In October, 
1835, General George W. Jones, of Du- 
buque, was elected a delegate to Congress. 
April 20, 1836, through the efforts of Gen- 
eral Jones, Congress passed a bill creating 
the Territory of Wisconsin, which went 
into operation July 4, that year. Iowa was 
then included in that Territory, of which 
General Henry Dodge was appointed Gov- 
ernor. The census of 1836 showed a popu- 
lation in Iowa of 10,531, of which 6,257 
were in Des Moines County and 4,274 in 
Dubuque County. 

Ths first Legislature assembled at Bel- 
mont, Wisconsin, October 25, 1836; the 
second at Burlington, Iowa, November 9, 
1837 ; and the third, also at the latter place, 
June I, 1838. 

As early as 1837 the people of Iowa be- 
gan to petition Congress for a separate 
Territorial organization, which was granted 
June 12 following. Ex-Governor Lucas, of 
Ohio, was appointed by President Van Bu- 
ren to be the first Governor of the new 
Territory. Immediately upon his arrival 
he issued a proclamation for the election of 



I40 



HISTORY OF IOWA. 



members of the first Territorial Legislature, 
to take place September lo. The following 
were elected : 

Council. — Jesse B. Brown, J. Keith, E. 
A. M. Swazey, Arthur Ingram, Robert 
Ralston, George Hepner, Jesse J. Payne, 
D. B. Hughes, James M. Clark, Charles 
Whittlesey, Jonathan W. Parker, Warner 
Lewis, Stephen Hempstead. 

House. — Wm. Patterson, Hawkins Tay- 
lor, Calvin J. Price, James Brierly, James 
Hall, Gideon S. Bailey, Samuel Parker, 
James W. Grimes, George Temple, Van B. 
Delashmutt, Thomas Blair, George W. 
Beeler, Wm. G. Coop, Wm. H. Wallace, 
Asbury B. Porter, John Frierson, Wm. L. 
Toole, Levi Thornton, S. C. Hastings, 
Robert G. Roberts, Laurel Summers, 
Jabez A. Burchard, Jr., Chauncey Swan, 
Andrew Bankson, Thomas Cox and Har- 
din Nowlin. 

At the session of the above Legislature 
Wm. W. Chapman was elected delegate 
to Congress. As the latter body had given 
the Governor unlimited veto power, and 
as Governor Lucas was disposed to exer- 
cise it arbitrarily, the independent " Hawk- 
eyes " grew impatient under his administra- 
tion, and, after having a storm\' session for 
a time, they had Congress to limit the veto 
power. Great excitement also prevailed, 
both in the Legislature and among the 
people, concerning the question of the loca- 
tion of the seat of Government for the 
State. As they knew nothing concerning 
the great future development and extent of 
the State, they had no correct idea where 
the geographical center would or should 
be. The Black Hawk purchase, which was 
that strip of land next the Mississippi, in 
the southeastern part of the State, was the 
full extent and horizon of their idea of the 
new commonwealth. Hence they thought 
first only of Burlington or Mount Pleasant 
as the capital. Indeed, at that time, the 
Inaians had possession of the rest of Iowa. 



But a few of the more shrewd foresaw 
that a more central location would soon be 
further to the north at least, if not west, 
and a point in Johnson County was ulti- 
matel}- decided upon. 

Commissioners, appointed by the Gov- 
ernor, selected the exact site, laid out a sec- 
tion of land into a town, sokl lots and 
proceeded to erect the public buildings. 
The capitol was commenced in 1840 and 
Iowa City became thenceforward the capi- 
tal of the State. The fourth Legislative 
Assembly met at this place December 6, 
1S41, but not in the new capitol building, 
as it was not yet ready. Being somewhat 
difficult to raise the necessary funds, the 
building was not completed for several 
years. The early Territorial Legislatures 
of Iowa laid the foundation for a very just 
and liberal Government, far in advance of 
what had ever been done before by any 
State. 

About this time a conflict arose between 
this Territory and Missouii concerning the 
boundary line between them. There was 
a difference of a strip eight or ten miles 
wide, extending from the Mississippi to the 
Missouri rivers, which each claimed. Mis- 
souri officers, attempting to collect taxes 
within the disputed territcjr}', were arrested 
and confined in jail by Iowa sheriffs, and 
the respective Governors called out the 
militia, preparing for bloodshed. About 
1,200 Iowa men enlisted, and 500 were act- 
ually armed and encamped in Van Buren 
County, ready to defend their Territory, 
when three prominent and able men were 
sent to Missouri as envoys plenipotentiar)', 
to effect, if possible, a peaceable adjustment 
of the difficulty. Upon their arrival, they 
found that the county commissioners of 
Clark County, Missouri, had rescinded their 
order for the collection of the taxes, and that 
Governor Boggs had dispatched messen- 
gers to the Governor of Iowa proposing to 
submit an agreed case to the Supreme 



HISTORY OP low A. 



I4t 



Court o( the United States for the settle- 
ment of the boundary question. This prop- 
osition was declined; but afterward, upon 
petition of Iowa and Missouri, Congress 
authorized a suit to settle the controvers)'. 
The suit was duly instituted, and resulted 
in the decision that Iowa had only asserted 
" the truth of history," and she knew where 
the rapids of the Des Moines River were 
located. Thus ended the Missouri war. 
" There was much good sense," sa3'S Hon. 
C. C. Nourse, " in the basis upon which 
peace was secured, to-wit: ' If Missourians 
did not know where the rapids of the river 
Des Moines were located, that was no suffi- 
cient reason for killing them off with powder 
and lead; and if we did know a little more of 
history and geography than they did we 
ought not to be shot for our learning. We 
commend our mutual forbearance to older 
and greater people.' " Under an order 
from the Supreme Court of the United 
States commissioners surveyed and estab- 
lished the boundary. The expenses of the 
war, on the part of Iowa, were never paid, 
either by the United States or the Territo- 
rial Government. 

STATE ORGANIZATION AND SUBSEQUENT 
HISTORY. . 

The population having become, by the 
year 1844, sufficient to justify the formation 
of a State Government, the Territorial Leg- 
islature of Iowa passed an act, approved 
February 12, that year, submitting to the 
people the question of the formation of a 
State Constitution and providing for the 
election of delegates to a convention to be 
called together for that purpose. The 
people voted upon this at their township 
elections in the following April, giving the 
measure a large majority. The elected 
delegates assembled in convention at Iowa 
City, October 7, 1844, and completed their 
work by November i. Hon. Shepherd 
Leffler, the President of this convention. 



was instructed to transact a certified copy 
of the proposed Constitution to the Dele- 
gate in Congress, to be submitted by him- 
to that body at the earliest practicable day. 
It also provided that it should be submitted, 
together with any conditions or changes 
that might be made by Congress, to the 
people of the Territory, for their approval 
or rejection, at the township election in 
April, 1845. 

The Constitution, as thus prepared, fi.xed 
the boundaries of the State very differently 
from what were finally agreed upon. 

May 4, 1846, a second convention met at 
Iowa City, and on the i8th of the same 
month another Constitution, prescribing the 
boundaries as they now are, was adopted. 
This was accepted by the people, August 
3, by a vote of 9,492 to 9,036. The new 
Constitution was approved by Congress, 
and Iowa was admitted as a sovereigfn 
State in the American Union, December 
28, 1846. The people of the State, antici- 
pating favorable action by Congress, held 
an election for State officers October 26 
which resulted in Ansel Briggs being de- 
clared Governor; Elisha Cutler, Jr., Secre- 
tary of State; Joseph T. Fales, Auditor; 
Morgan Reno, Treasurer; and members of 
the Senate and House of Representatives. 

The act of Congress which admitted 
Iowa gave her the i6th section of every 
township of land in the State, or its equiv- 
alent, for the support of schools; also 
seventy-two sections of land for the pur- 
pose of a university; also five sections of 
land for the completion of her public build- 
ings; also the salt springs within her limits, 
not exceeding twelve in number, with sec- 
tions of land adjoining each; also, in con- 
sideration that her public lands should be 
exempt from taxation by the State, she 
gave to the State five per cent, of the net 
proceeds of the sale of public lands within 
the State. Thus provided for as a bride 
with her marriage portion, Iowa com- 



142 



HISTORY OF IOWA. 



menced " housekeeping " upon her own 
account. 

A majority of the Constitutional Conven- 
tion of 1846 were of the Democratic party; 
and the instrument contains some of the 
peculiar tenets of the party at that day. 
All banks of issue were prohibited within 
the State. The State was prohibited from 
becoming a stockholder in any corporation 
for pecuniary profit, and the General As- 
sembly could only provide for private cor 
porations by general statutes. The Consti 
tution also limited the State's indebtedness 
to $100,000. It required the General As- 
sembl)- to provide public schools through- 
out the State for at least three months in 
the year. Six months' previous residence 
of any white male citizen of the United 
States constituted him an elector. 

At the time of organization as a State, 
Iowa had a population of 1 16,65 1, ^s appears 
by the census of 1847. There were twenty- 
seven organized counties in the State, and 
the settlements were rapidly pushing to- 
ward the Missouri River. 

The first General Assembly was com- 
posed of nineteen Senators and forty Rep- 
resentatives. It assembled at Iowa City, 
November 30,1846, about a month before 
the State was admitted into the Union. 

The most important business transacted 
was the passage of a bill authorizing a loan 
of $50,000 for means to run the State Gov- 
ernment and pay the expenses of the Con- 
stitutional conventions. The great excite- 
ment of the session, however, was the 
attempt to choose United States Senators. 
The Whigs had a majority of two in the 
House, and the Democrats a majority of 
one in the Senate. After repeated attempts 
to control these majorities for caucus nom- 
inees and frequent sessions of a joint con- 
vention for purposes of an election, the 
attempt was abandoned. A school law was 
passed at this session for the organization 
of public schools in the State. 



At the first session also arose the ques- 
tion of the re-location of the capital. The 
western boundary of the State, as now 
determined, left Iowa City too far toward 
the eastern and southern boundary of the 
State; this was conceded. Congress had 
appropriated five sections of land for the 
erection of public buildings, and toward the 
close of the session a bill was introduced 
providing for the re-location of the seat of 
Government, involving to some extent the 
location of the State University, which had 
already been discussed. This bill gave rise 
to much discussion and parliamentary ma- 
neuvering, almost purely sectional in its 
character. It provided for the appointment 
of three commissioners, who were author- 
ized to make a location as near the geo- 
graphical center of the State as a healthy 
and eligible site could be obtained; to select 
the five sections of land donated by Con- 
gress; to survey and plat into town lots not 
exceeding one section of the land so se- 
lected, etc. Soon after, by " An act to 
locate and establish a State University," 
r.pproved February 25, 1847, the unfinished 
public buildings at Iowa City, together 
with ten acres of land on which they were 
situated, were granted for the use of the 
University, reserving their use, however, 
by the General Assembly and the State 
officers, until other provisions were made 
by law. 

When the report of the commissioners, 
showing their financial operations, had 
been read in the House of Representa- 
tives, at the next session, and while it was 
under consideration, an indignant member, 
afterward known as the eccentric Judge 
McFarland, moved to refer the report to a 
select committee of five, with instructions 
to report " how much of said city of Mon- 
roe was under water, and how much was 
burned." The report was referred with- 
out the instructions, but Monroe City never 
became the seat of Government. By an 



HISTORT OF IOWA. 



143 



act approved January 15, 1849, the law by 
which the location had been made was re- 
pealed and the new town was vacated, the 
money paid by purchasers of lots being re- 
funded to them. This, of course, retained 
the seat of Government at Iowa City, and 
precluded for the time the occupation of 
the building and grounds by the University. 

After the adjournment of the first Gen- 
eral Assembly, the Governor appointed 
Joseph Williams, Chief Justice, and George 
Green and John F. Kinney, Judges of the 
Supreme Court. They were afterward 
elected by the second General Assembly, 
and constituted the Supreme Court until 
1855, with the exception that KiPiney re- 
signed in Januar)', 1854, and J. C. Hall, of 
Burlington, was appointed in his place. 

At this session Charles Mason, William 
G. Woodward and Stephen Hempstead 
were appointed commissioners to prepare a 
code of laws for the State. Their work 
was finished in 1850 and was adopted by 
the General Assembly. This " code " con- 
tained among other provisions a code of 
civil practice, superseding the old common- 
law forms of actions and writs, and it was 
admirable for its simplicity and method. It 
remained in force until 1863, when it was 
superseded by the more complicated and 
metaphysical system of the revision of that 
year. 

The first Representatives in Congress 
were S. Clinton Hastings, of Muscatine, 
and Shepherd Leflfler, of Des Moines 
County. The second General Assembly 
elected to the United States Senate Au- 
gustus Ctesar Dodge and George W. Jones. 
The State government, after the first ses- 
sion, was under the control of Democratic 
administrations till 1855. The electoral vote 
of the State was cast for Lewis Cass in 1848, 
and for Franklin Pierce in 1852. The popu- 
lar vote shows that the Free-Soil element 
of the State during this period very nearly 
held the balance of power, and that up to 



1854 it acted in the State elections to some 
extent with the Democratic party. In 1858 
Lewis Cass received 12,093 votes, Zachary 
Taylor 11,034, and Martin Van Buren, the 
Free-Soil candidate, 1,226 votes, being 167 
less than a majority for Cass. In 1852 
Pierce received 17,762 votes, Scott 15,855, 
and Hale, Free-Soil, 1,606, being for Pierce 
301 votes more than a majority. 

The question of the permanent location 
of the seat of government was not settled, 
and in 185 1 bills were introduced for the 
removal of the capital to PcUa and to Fort 
Des Moines. The latter appeared to have 
the support of the majority, but was finally 
lost in the House on the question of order- 
ing it to its third reading. 

At the next session, in 1853, ■^ bill was 
introduced in the Senate for the removal of 
the seat of government to Fort Des Moines, 
and on first vote was just barely defeated. 
At the next session, however, the effort was 
more successful, and January 15, 1855, a 
bill re-locating the capital within two miles 
of the Raccoon Fork of the Des Moines, 
and for the appointment of commissioners, 
was approved by Governor Grimes. The 
site was selected in 1856, in accordance 
with the provisions of this act, the land 
being donated to the State by citizens and 
property-holders of Des Moines. An asso- 
ciation of citizens erected a building for a 
temporar}- capitol, and leased it to the State 
at a nominal rent. 

The passage by Congress of the act or- 
ganizing the Territories of Kansas and Ne- 
braska, and the provision it contained abro- 
gating that portion of the Missouri bill that 
prohibited slavery and involuntary servi- 
tude north of 36° 30' was the beginning of 
a political revolution in the Northern States, 
and in none was it more marked than in the 
State of Iowa. Iowa was the " first free 
child born of the Missouri Compromise," 
and has always resented the destruction ol 
her foster parent. 



144 



tiisioRr OF IOWA. 



The year 1 856 marked a new era in the his- 
tory of Iowa. In 1854 the Chicago & Rock 
Island Railroad had been completed to the 
cast bank of the Mississippi River, opposite 
Davenport. In the same year the corner- 
stone of a railroad bridge that was to be the 
first to span the " Father of Waters," was 
laid with appropriate ceremonies at this 
point. St. Lonis had resolved that the 
enterprise was unconstitutional, and by 
writs of injunction made an unsuccessful 
effort to prevent its completion. Twenty 
years later in her history, St. Louis re- 
pented her folly, and made atonement for 
her sin by imitating Iowa's e.Kample. Jan- 
uary I, 1856, this railroad was completed to 
Iowa City. In the meantime, two other 
railroads had reached the east bank of the 
Mississippi — one opposite Burlington, and 
one opposite Dubuque — and these were be- 
ing extended into the interior of the State. 
Indeed, four other lines of railroads had 
been projected across the State from the 
Mississippi to the Missouri, having eastern 
connections. 

May 15, 1856, Congress passed an act 
granting to the State, to aid in the con- 
struction of railroads, the public lands in 
alternate sections, six miles on either side 
of the proposed lines. ' An extra session of 
the General Assembly was called in July of 
this year, that disposed of the grant to the 
several companies that proposed to com- 
plete these enterprises. The population of 
Iowa was now 500,000. Public attention 
had been called to the necessity of a rail- 
road across the continent. The position of 
Iowa, in the very heart and center of the 
republic, on the route of this great high- 
way of the continent, began to attract atten- 
tion. Cities and towns sprang up through 
the State as if by magic. Capital began to 
pour into the State, and had it been em- 
ployed in developing the vast coal measures 
and establishing manufactories, or if it had 
been expended in improving the lands, and 



in building houses and barns, it would have 
been well. But all were in haste to get 
rich, and the spirit of speculation ruled the 
hour. 

In the meantime, every effort was made 
to help the speedy completion of the rail- 
roads. Nearly every county and city on 
the Mississippi, and man}- in the interior, 
voted large corporate subscriptions to the 
stock of the railroad companies, and issued 
their negotiable bonds for the amount. 
Thus enormous county and city debts were 
incurred, the payment of which these mu- 
nicipalities tried to avoid, upon the plea 
that they had exceeded the constitutional 
limitation of their powers. The Supreme 
Court of the United States held these bonds 
to be valid, and the courts by mandamus 
compelled the city and county authorities 
to levy taxes to pay the judgments re- 
covered upon them. These debts are not 
all paid, even to this day ; but the worst is 
over, and the incubus is in the course of 
ultimate extinction. The most valuable 
lessons are those learned in the school of 
experience, and accordingly the corpora- 
tions of Iowa have ever since been noted 
for economy. 

In 1856 the popular vote was as follows: 
Fremont, 43,954; Buchanan, 36,170, and 
Fillmore, 9,180. This was 1,296 less than a 
majority for Fremont. The following year 
an election was held, after an exciting cam- 
paign, for State officers, resulting in a ma- 
jority of 1,406 for Ralph P. Lowe, the Re- 
publican nominee. The Legislature was 
largely Republican in both branches. 

One of the most injurious results to the 
State, arising from the spirit of speculation 
prevalent in 1856, was the purchase and 
entry of great bodies of Government land 
within the State by non-residents. This 
land was held for speculation and placed 
beyond the reach of actual settlers for many 
years. From no other one cause has Iowa 
suffered so much as from the short-sighted 



HISTORY OF IOWA. 



M5 



policy of the Federal Government in selling 
lands within her borders. The money 
thus obtained by the Federal Government 
has been comparatively inconsiderable. 
The value of this magnificent public do- 
main to the United States was not in the 
few thousands of dollars she might exact 
from the hardy settlers, or that she might 
obtain from the speculator who hoped to 
profit by the settlers' labors in improving 
the country. Statesmen should have taken 
a broader and more comprehensive view of 
national economy, and a view more in har- 
mony with the divine economy that had 
piepared these vast fertile plains of the 
West for the " homes of men and the seats 
of empire." It was here that new States 
were to be builded up, that should be the 
future strength of the nation against foreign 
invasion or home revolt. A single regi- 
ment of Iowa soldiers during the dark days 
of the Rebellion was worth more to the 
nation than all the money she ever exacted 
from the toil and sweat of Iowa's early 
settlers. Could the statesmen of forty 
years ago have looked forward to this day, 
when Iowa pays her $1,000,000 annually 
into the treasury of the nation for the ex- 
tinction of the national debt, they would 
have realized that the founding of new 
States was a greater enterprise than the re- 
tailing of public lands. 

In January, 1857, another Constitutional 
Convention assembled at Iowa City, which 
framed the present State Constitution. One 
of the most pressing demands for this con- 
vention grew out of the prohibition of 
banks under the old Constitution. The 
practical result of this prohibition was to 
flood the State with every species of " wild- 
cat" currency. 

The new Constitution made ample pro- 
visions for home hanks under the super- 
vision of our own laws. The limitation of 
the State debt was enlarged to $250,000, 
and the corporate indebtedness of the cities 



and counties was also limited to 5 per cent, 
upon the valuation of their taxable property. 
The judges of the Supreme Court were to 
be elected by the popular vote. The per- 
manent seat of government was fixed at 
Des Moines, and the State University lo- 
cated at Iowa City. The qualifications of 
electors remained the same as under the old 
Constitution, but the schedule provided for 
a vote of the people upon a separate propo- 
sition to strike the word " white" out of the 
suffrage clause, which, had it prevailed, 
would have resulted in conferring the right 
of suffrage without distinction of color. 
Since the early organization of Iowa there 
had been upon the statute book a law pro- 
viding that no negro, mulatto nor Indian 
should be a competent witness in any suit 
or proceeding to which a white man was a 
party. The General Assembly of i856-"7 
repealed this law, and the new Constitution 
contained a clause forbidding such disquali- 
fication in the future. It also provided for 
the education of " all youth of the State " 
through a system of common schools. This 
Constitution was adopted at the ensuing 
election by a vote of 40,311 to 38,681. 

October 19, 1857, Governor Grimes issued 
a proclamation declaring the city of Des 
Moines to be the capital of the State of Iowa. 
The removal of the archives and offices was 
commenced at once and continued through 
the fall. It was an undertaking of no 
small magnitude; there was not a mile of 
railroad to facilitate the work, and the 
season was unusually disagreeable. Rain, 
snow and o^her accompaniments increased 
the difficulties; and it was not until Decem- 
ber that the last of the effects, — the safe of 
the State Treasurer, loaded on two large 
" bob sleds " drawn by ten yokes of oxen, 
— was deposited in the new capitol. It is 
not imprudent now to remark that during 
this passage over hills and prairies, across 
rivers, through bottom lands and timber, 
the safes belonging to the several depart- 



t46 



Ht STORY OF IOWA. 



merits contained large sums of money, 
mostly individual funds, however. Thus 
Iowa City ceased to be the capital of the 
State, after four Territorial Legislatures, 
six State Legislatures and three Constitu- 
tional Conventions had held their sessions 
there. By the exchange, the old capitol at 
Iowa City became the seat of the university, 
and, except the rooms occupied by the 
United States District Court, passed under 
the immediate and direct control of the 
trustees of that institution. Des Moines 
was now the permanent seat of govern- 
ment, made so by the fundamental law of 
the State, and January ii, 1858, the Sev- 
enth General Assembl}' convened at the 
new capitol. The citizens' association, 
which built this temporary building, bor- 
rowed the money of James D. Eads, Super- 
intendent of Public Instruction, and leased 
it to the State. In 1864 the State pur- 
chased the building. At the session of the 
General Assembly in 1858, James W. 
Grimes was elected United States Senator 
as successor to George W. Jones. 

During the years i858-'6o, the Sioux 
Indians became troublesome in the north- 
western part of the State. They made fre- 
quent raids for the purpose of plunder, and 
on several occasions murdered whole fami- 
lies of settlers. In 1861 several companies 
of militia were ordered to that portion of 
the State, to hunt down and expel the 
thieves. No battles were fought. The 
Indians fled as soon as they ascertained 
that systematic measures had been adopted 
for their punishment. 

PATRIOTISM. 

The Presidential campaign of i860 was 
the most remarkable and exciting of all in 
the history of Iowa. The fact that civil 
war might be inaugurated and was threat- 
ened, in case Mr. Lincoln was elected, was 
well understood and duly considered. The 
people of Iowa indulged in no feeling of 



hatred or ill-will toward the people of any 
State or section of the Union. There was, 
however, on the part of the majority, a 
cool determination to consider and decide 
upon our national relations to this institu- 
tion of slavery, uninfluenced by any threat 
of violence or civil war. The popular vote 
of Iowa gave Mr. Lincoln 70,409; Stephen 
A. Douglas, 5 5,011; Breckenridge, 1,048. 

The General Assembly of the State 01 
Iowa, as earl)- as 1851, had by joint resolu- 
tion declared that the State of Iowa was 
" bound to maintain the union of these 
States by all the means in her power." The 
same year the State furnished a block of 
marble for the Washington monument at the 
national capital, and by order of the Gen- 
eral Assembly there was inscribed upon its 
enduring surface the following: " Iowa: 
Her affections, like the rivers of her borders, 
flow to an inseparable Union." The time 
was now approaching in her history when 
these declarations of attachment and fidelity 
to the nation were to be put to a practical 
test. 

The declaration of Mr. Buchanan's last 
annual message, that the nation possessed 
no constitutional power to coerce a seced- 
ing State, was received by a great majority 
of our citizens with humiliation and dis- 
trust. Anxiousl}' they awaited the expiring 
hours of his administration, and looked tc 
the incoming President as to an expected 
deliverer that should rescue the nation 
from the hands of traitors, and the control 
of those whose non-resistance invited her 
destruction. The firing upon the national 
flag at Sumter aroused a burning indigna- 
tion throughout the loyal States of the re- 
public, and nowhere was it more intense 
than in Iowa; and when the proclamation 
of the President was published, April 15, 
1861, calling for 75,000 citizen soldiers to 
" maintain the honor, the integrity, and 
the existence of our national Union, and 
the perpetuity of popular government," 



MISTORT OF row A. 



HI 



the good people of Iowa were more 
than willing to respond to the call. Party 
lines gave way, and for a while, at least, 
party spirit was hushed, and the cause of 
our common country was supreme in the 
affections of the people. Peculiarly fort- 
unate were the citizens of Iowa at this 
crisis, in having a truly representative 
man, Samuel J. Kirkwood, as executive 
of the State. 

Within thirty days after the date of the 
President's call for troops, the first Iowa 
regiment was mustered into the service of 
the United States, a second regiment was 
in camp ready for the service, and the 
General Assembly of the State was con- 
vened in special session, and had by joint 
resolution solemnly pledged every resource 
of men and money to the national cause. 

The Constitution of Iowa limited the 
State debt to $250,000, except debts con- 
tracted to " repel invasion, suppress insur- 
rection, or defend the State in war." The 
General Assembly authorized a loan of 
$800,000 for a war and defense fund, to be 
expended in organizing, arming, equipping 
and subsisting the militia of the State to 
meet the present and future requisitions of 
the President. Those in power looked to 
the spirit rather than to the letter of the 
Constitution, and acted upon the theory 
that to preserve the nation was to pre- 
serve the State, and that to prevent in- 
vasion was the most effectual means of 
repelling it. A few, however, in both 
branches of the General Assembly were 
more careful of the letter of the Constitu- 
tion. Three votes in the Senate and sev- 
enteen in the House were cast against 
the loan bill. These bonds were at 7 per 
cent, interest. Only $300,000 were ever 
issued, and they were purchased and held 
chiefly by our own citizens. At this crisis 
James W. Grimes and James Harlan were 
in the United States Senate, and General 
Samuel R. Curtis and General Vandeverin 

13 



the House of Representatives. During the 
first year of the war, Iowa furnished sixteen 
regiments of infantry, six of cavalry and 
three batteries, — in all, 22,000 soldiers. 
Iowa had no refuse population to enlist as 
" food for powder." Her cities contained 
none of that element found about the pur- 
lieus of vice in the great centers of popu- 
lation. Her contribution to the armies of 
the republic was a genuine offering of 
manhood and patriotism. From her fields, 
her workshops, her counting-houses, her 
offices, and the halls of her schools and 
colleges, she contributed the best muscle, 
sinew and brain of an industrious, enter- 
prising and educated people. The first 
regiment of Iowa soldiers fought the bat- 
tle of Wilson's Creek after their term ot 
enlistment had expired, and after they were 
entitled to a discharge. They were citi- 
zen soldiers, each of whom had a persona.' 
interest in the struggle. It was to them no 
question of enlistment, of bount}' or of pay. 
When the gallant General Lyon placed 
himself at their head, and told them that 
the honor of Iowa and of the nation was in 
their hands, he addressed men who knew 
what the appeal meant, and to whom such 
an appeal was never made in vain. 

At the fall election of 1861, party spirit 
had revived; and the contest for the control 
of the State administration was warm and 
earnest. Dissensions arose in both parties 
but the election resulted in a majority of 
16,600 votes for Kirkwood, who was thus 
retained as Governor of Iowa. In 1863 
the Republicans elected their candidate 
for Governor, William M. Stone, by a ma- 
jority of 29,000. 

Meanwhile the General Assembly had 
passed a law authorizing the " soldiers' 
vote," that is, citizens of the State in the 
volunteer military service of the United 
States, whether within or without the limits 
of the State, were authorized to open a poll 
on the day of the election, and to make re- 



MS 



HISTORY OP IOWA. 



turn of their votes to the proper civil au- 
thorities. In the Presidental contest of 
1864 the popular vote at home was as 
follows: Lincoln, 72,122; McClellan, 47,- 
703. The soldier vote returned was: Lin- 
coln, 16,844; McClellan, 1,883. 

The General Assembly did all in its 
power to encourage enlistment and to pro- 
tect the soldiers in the field and their fami- 
lies at home. Statutes were enacted sus- 
pending all suits against soldiers in the 
service, and all writs of execution or attach- 
ment against their property; and county 
boards of supervisors were authorized to 
vote bounties for enlistments, and pecuni- 
ary aid to the families of those in the serv- 
ice. The spirits of our people rose and 
fell, according to the success of the Union 
armies. One day the bells rung out with 
joy for the surrender of Vicksburg, and 
again the air seemed full of heaviness be- 
cause of our defeats on the Peninsula; but 
through all these dark and trying days, the 
faith of the great majority never wavered. 

The Emancipation Proclamation of the 
President was to them an inspiration of a 
new hope. 

In the Adjutant's department at Des 
Moines are preserved the shot-riddled col- 
ors and standards of Iowa's regiments. 
Upon them, by special authority, were 
inscribed from time to time during the war 
the names of the battle-fields upon which 
these regiments gained distinction. These 
names constitute the geographical nomen- 
clature of two-thirds of the territory lately 
in rebellion. From the Des Moines River 
to the Gulf, from the Mississippi to the 
Atlantic, in the Mountains of West Virginia 
and in the valley of the Shenandoah, the 
Iowa soldier made his presence known and 
felt, and maintained the honor of the State, 
and the cause of the nation. They were 
with Lyon at Wilson's Creek; with Tuttle 
at Donelson. They fought with Sigcl and 
with Curtis at Pea Ridge; with Crocker 



at Champion Hills; with Reid at Shiloh. 
They were with Grant at the surrender of 
Vicksburg. They fought above the clouds 
with Hooker at Lookout Mountain. They 
were with Sherman in his march to the sea, 
and were ready for battle when Johnston 
surrendered. They were with Sheridan in 
the valley of the Shenandoah, and were in 
the veteran ranks of the nation's deliverers 
that stacked their arms in the national cap- 
itol at the close of the war. 

The State furnished to the armies of the 
republic, during the war, over 70,000 men, 
and 20,000 of these perished in battle or 
from diseases contracted in the service. 

We append here a brief notice of each 
regiment : 

The First Regiment was organized under 
the President's first call for three-months 
volunteers, with John Francis Bates, of Du- 
buque, as Colonel. It comprised various 
independent military companies that had 
been organized before the war, who ten- 
dered their services even before the break- 
ing out of hostilities. They were mustered 
in May 14, and first saw service under 
General Lyon in Missouri. 

Second Infantry; Samuel R. Curtis, of 
Keokuk, Colonel. This was the first three- 
years regiment, and made a most distin- 
guished record throughout the South, go- 
ing with Sherman to the sea, returning 
through the Carolinas, etc. After the 
battle at Fort Donelson, the unenthusiastic 
General Halleck pronounced this regiment 
" the bravest of the brave." 

Third Infantry ; Nelson G. Williams, of 
Dubuque County, Colonel. Veteranized 
in 1864, but before the new ofificers received 
their commissions the regiment fought itself 
out of existence at the battle of Atlanta ! 

Fourth Infantry ; G. M. Dodge, of Coun- 
cil Bluffs, Colonel. Engaged in the prin- 
cipal battles of the South. 

Fifth Infantry; William H. VVorthington, 
of Keokuk, Colonel; 180 veteranized in 



H/SlO/ir OF IOWA. 



149 



1864 and were transferred to the Fifth 
Cavalry. 

Sixth Infantry ; John A. McDowell, of 
Keokuk, Colonel. Engaged faithfully in 
many of the prominent battles. 

Seventh Infantry ; J. G. Lauman, of Bur- 
lington, Colonel. It lost 227 at the single 
battle of Belmont. 

Eighth Infantry ; Frederick Steele, of the 
regular army, Colonel. Most of this com- 
mand suffered in rebel prisons for eight 
months. Was on duty in Alabama nearly 
a year after the collapse of the Rebellion. 

Ninth Infantry ; William Vandever, of 
Dubuque, Colonel. Was in almost every 
Southern State, traveling altogether 10,000 
miles ; marched more than 4,000 miles ! 

Tenth Infantry ; Nicholas Persczel, of 
Davenport, Colonel. Fought mainly in 
Mississippi ; losing half its number at the 
battle of Champion Hills alone! 

Eleventh Infantry ; A. M. Hare, of Mus- 
catine, Colonel. Served mainly in the in- 
terior of the South, doing as valiant service 
as any other regiment. 

Twelfth Infantry ; J. J. Wood, of Maquo- 
keta, Colonel. In rebel prisons eight 
months. Veteranized January 4, 1864, a 
larger proportion of the men re-enlisting 
than from any other Iowa regiment. Served 
for several months after the close of the 
war. 

Thirteenth Infantry; M. M. Crocker, of 
Des Moines, Colonel. Fought in the South- 
ern interior and made the famous round 
with Sherman to the sea, being the first to 
enter Columbia, South Carolina, where se- 
cession had its rise. 

Fourtee^nth Infantry; William T. Shaw, 
of Anamosa, Colonel. Nearly all captured 
at Shiloh, but were released after a few 
months. Engaged in some of the severest 
contests. 

Fifteenth Infantry; Hugh T. Reid, of 
Keokuk, Colonel. Served three and a half 
years in the heart of the Rebellion. 



Sixteenth Infantry ; Alex. Chambers, of 
the regular army. Colonel. Bravely served 
throughout the South. 

Seventeenth Infantry; John W. Rankin, 
of Keokuk, Colonel. Served in the in- 
terior of the South. 

Eighteenth Infantry ; John Edwards, of 
Chariton, Colonel. Much of its time was 
spent in garrison duty. 

Nineteenth Infantry ; Benjamin Crabb, 
of Washington, Colonel. Served mainly in 
Mississippi. Were prisoners of war about 
ten months. 

Twentieth Infantry, comprismg five com- 
panies each from Scott and Linn counties, 
who vied with each other in patriotism; 
William M. Dye, of Marion, Colonel. En- 
gaged mainly on the Gulf coast. 

Twenty-first Infantry ; ex-Governor Sam- 
uel Merrill, Colonel. Distinguished in val- 
iant service throughout the South. See 
Twenty-third Regiment. 

Twenty-second Infantry ; William M. 
Stone, of Knoxville, since Governor of the 
State, was Colonel. Did excellent service, 
all the way from Mississippi to old Virginia. 

Twenty-third Infantry ; William Dewey, 
of Fremont County, Colonel. Its services 
were mainly in Mississippi. At Black River 
but a few minutes were required in carry- 
ing the rebel works, but those few minutes 
were fought with fearful loss to the troops. 
The Twenty-first also participated in this 
daring assault, and immediately after the 
victory was gained General Lawler passed 
down the line and joyfully seized every man 
by the hand, so great was his emotion. 

Twenty-fourth Infantry ; the " Iowa 
Temperance Regiment," was raised by 
Eber C. Byam, of Linn County. Engaged 
mainly in the Lower Mississippi Valley. 

Twent3'-fifth Infantry ; George A. Stone, 
of Mt. Pleasant, Colonel. " To the sea." 

Twenty-sixth Infantry ; Milo Smith, of 
Clinton, Colonel. Took part in many great 
battles. 



I50 



HIS TOR r OF IOWA. 



Twenty-seventh Infantry ; James I. Gil- 
bert, of Lansing, Colonel. On duty all the 
way from Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico. 

Twenty-eighth Infantr}' ; William E. 
Miller, of Iowa City, Colonel. Service, in 
the region of the Lower Mississippi. 

Twenty-ninth Infantry ; Thomas H. Ben- 
ton, Jr., of Council Bluffs, Colonel. Sta- 
tioned in Arkansas. 

Thirtieth Infantry; Charles B. Abbott, 
of Louisa County, Colonel. In the thickest 
of the war, coming home loaded with 
honors. 

Thirt3'-first Infantry ; William Smyth, of 
Marion, Colonel. Returned from its many 
hard-fought battles in the interior of the 
South with only 370 men out of 1,000 en- 
listed. 

Thirty-second Infantry; John Scott, of 
Nevada, Colonel. Engaged in a number of 
battles. 

Thirty-third Infantry ; Samuel A. Rice, 
a popular politician of Central Iowa, Colo- 
nel. Served from Arkansas to Alabama. 

Tliirty-fourth Infantr}-; George W.Clark, 
of Indianola, Colonel. Traveled 15,000 
miles in its service ! 

Thirty-fifth Infantry ; S. G. Hill, of Mus- 
catine, Colonel. Served bravely in a dozen 
battles, and traveled 10,000 miles. 

Thirty-sixth Infantry ; Charles W. Kitt- 
redge, of Ottumwa, Colonel. Suffered a 
great deal from sickness— small-pox, measles, 
malaria, etc. 

Thirty-seventh Infantry, the " Gray- 
Beard Regiment," being composed of men 
over forty-five years of age, and was the 
only one of its kind in the war. Garrison 
and post duty. 

Thirty-eighth Infantry; D. H. Hughes, 
of Decorah, Colonel. Most unfortunate of 
all in respect of sickness, 300 dying during 
the first two years. 

Thirty-ninth Infantry ; H. J. B. Cum- 
mings, of Wintcrset, Colonel. One of the 
most distinguished regiments in the field. 



Fortieth Infantry ; John A. Garrett, ol 
Newton, Colonel. 

Forty-first Infantry was not completed, 
and the three companies raised for it were 
attached to the Seventh Cavalry. 

There were no regiments numbered 
Forty-second or Forty-third. 

Forty-fourth Infantry for 100 days; 
Stephen H. Henderson, Colonel. Garrison 
duty in Tennessee. 

Forty-fifth Infantry, lor 100 days; A. H. 
Bereman, of Mt. Pleasant, Colonel. Garri- 
son duty in Tennessee. 

Forty-sixth Infantry, for iooda3's; D. B. 
Henderson, of Clermont, Colonel. Garri- 
son duty in Tennessee. 

Forty-seventh Infantr}^ for 100 days ; 
James P. Sanford, of Oskaloosa, Colonel. 
Stationed at the sickly place of Helena, 
Arkansas. 

Forty-eighth Infantry (battalion), for 100 
days ; O. H. P. Scott, of Farmington, Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel. Guarded prisoners on Rock 
Island. 

First Cavalry ; Fitz Henry Warren, of 
Burlington, Colonel. Served for three 
years, mainly along the Lower Mississippi. 

Second Cavalry ; W. L. Elliott, a Cap- 
tain in the Third Cavalry of the regular 
army, Colonel. Fought faithfully in many- 
important battles in Tennessee and Missis- 
sippi. 

Third Cavalry ; Cyrus Bussej', of Broom- 
field, Colonel. Distinguished in war. 

Fourth Cavalry ; A. B. Porter, of Mt. 
Pleasant, Colonel. Participated \\'5th zeal 
and judgment in the hottest of battles in 
Tennessee and Mississippi. 

Fifth Cavalry, only in part an Iowa regi- 
ment; William W. Lowe, of th'e regular 
army. Colonel. Distinguished in the hotly 
contested battles of Tennessee and vicinity. 

Sixth Cavalry ; D. S. Wilson, of Du- 
buque, Colonel. Served against the In- 
dians. 

Seventh Cavalry ; S. W. Summers, of 



HISTORr OF IOWA. 



Ottumwa, Colonel. Served against the 
Indians. 

Eighth Cavalry ; Joseph B. Dorr, of Du- 
buque, Colonel. Served faithfully in guard- 
ing Sherman's communications, etc. 

Ninth Cavalry; M. M. Trumbull, of 
Cedar Falls, Colonel. Scouting, guard and 
garrison duties in Arkansas. 

First Battery of Light Artillery; C. H. 
Fletcher, of Burlington, Captain. Served 
in Arkansas and Tennessee. 

Second Battery ; Nelson I. Spoor, of 
Council Bluffs, Captain. Engaged at Farm- 
ington, Corinth and other places. 

Third Battery ; M. M. Hayden, of Du- 
buque, Captain. Engaged at Pea Ridge, 
and in other important battles. 

Fourth Battery ; on duty most of the 
time in Louisiana. 

Iowa Regiment of Colored Troops ; John 
G. Hudson, of Missouri, Colonel. Garrison 
duty at St. Louis and elsewhere. 

Northern Border Brigade ; James A. 
Sawyer, of Sioux City, Colonel. Protected 
the Northwestern frontier. 

Southern Border Brigade ; protected the 
southern border of the State. 

The following promotions were made by 
the United States Government from Iowa 
regiments : To the rank of Major-General 
— Samuel R.Curtis, Frederick Steele, Frank 
J. Herron and Grenville INI. Dodge ; to that 
of Brigadier-General — Jacob G. Lauman, 
James M. Tuttle, W. L. Elliott, Fitz Henry 
Warren, Charles L. Matthies, William Van- 
dever, M. M. Crocker, Hugh T. Reid, 
Samuel A. Rice, John M. Corse, Cyrus 
Bussey, Edward Hatch, Elliott W. Rice, 
William W. Belknap, John Edwards, James 
A. Williamson, James I. Gilbert and Thomas 
J. McKean ; Corse, Hatch, Belknap, Elliott 
and Vandever were brevetted Major- 
Generals ; brevetted Brigadiei^-Generals — 
William T. Clark, Edward F. Winslow, S. 
G. Hill, Thomas H. Benton, S. S. Glasgow, 
Clark R. Weaver, Francis M. Drake, 



George A. Stone, Datus E. Coon, George 
W. Clark, Herman H. Heath, J. M. Hed- 
rick and W. W. Lowe. 

IOWA SINCE THE WAR. 

The two principal events of political in- 
terest in this State since the war have been 
the popular contests concerning woman 
suffrage and the liquor traffic. In the 
popular elections the people gave a ma- 
j(5rity against the former measure, but in 
favor of prohibiting the sale or manufact- 
ure of intoxicating liquors. 

A list of State officers to date is given on 
a subsequent page. The last vote for 
Governor, October 9, 1883, stood as fol- 
lows: For Buren R. Sherman, Republican, 
164,141 ; L. G. Kinne, Democrat, 140,032, 
and James B. Weaver, National Green- 
back, 23,093. 

STATE INSTITUTIONS. 

The present capitol building is a beauti- 
ful specimen of modern architecture. Its 
dimensions are, in general, 246 x 364 feet, 
with a dome and spire extending up to a 
height of 275 feet. In 1870 the General 
Assembly made an appropriation, and pro- 
vided for the appointment of a board of com- 
missioners to commence the work of build- 
ing. They were duly appointed and pro- 
ceeded to work, laying the corner-stone with 
appropriate ceremonies, November 2 3, 1 87 1. 
The structure is not yet completed. When 
finished it will have cost about $3,500,000. 

The State University, at Iowa City, was 
established therein 1858, immediately after 
the removal of the capital to Des Moines. 
As had already been planned, it occupied 
the old capitol building. As early as Janu- 
ary, 1849, two branches of tne university 
were established — one at Fairfield and one 
at Dubuque. At Fairfield, the board of 
directors organized and erected a building 
at a cost of $2,500. This was nearly de- 
stroyed by a hurricane the following year. 



152 



HISTORY OF IOWA. 



but was rebuilt more substantially by the 
citizens of Fairfield. This branch never 
received any aid from the State, and Janu- 
arj' 24, 1853, at the request of the board, 
the General Assembly terminated its rela- 
tion to the State. The branch at Dubuque 
had only a nominal existence 

By act of Congress, approved July 20, 
1840, two entire townships of land were 
set apart in this State for the support of a 
university. The Legislature of this State 
placed the management of this institution 
in the hands of a board of fifteen trustees, 
five to be chosen (by the Legislature) every 
two years, the superintendent of public 
instruction to be president of the board. 
This board was also to appoint seven trus- 
tees for each of the three normal schools, to 
be simultaneously established — one each 
at Andrew, Oskaloosa and Mt. Pleasant. 
One was never started at the last-named 
place, and after a feeble existence for a 
short time the other two were discontin- 
ued. The university itself was closed dur- 
ing i859-'6o, for want of funds. 

The law department was established in 
June, 1868, and soon afterward the Iowa 
Law School at Des Moines, which had been 
in successful operation for three years, was 
transferred to Iowa City and merged in the 
department. The medical department was 
established in 1869; and in 1874 a chair of 
military instruction was added. 

Since April 11, 1870, the government of 
the university has been in the hands of a 
board of regents. The present faculty 
comprises forty-two professors, and the 
attendance 560 students. 

The State Normal School is located at 
Cedar Falls, and was opened in 1876. It 
has now a faculty of nine members, with an 
attendance of 301 pupils. 

The State Agricultural College is located 
at Ames, in Story County, being established 
bv the legislative act of March 23, 1858. 
in 1862 Congress granted to Iowa 240,000 



acres of land for the endowment of schools 
of agriculture and the mechanic arts. The 
main building was completed in 1868, and 
the institution opened the following year. 
Tuition is free to pupils from the State 
over sixteen years of age. The college 
farm comprises 860 acres, of which a major 
portion is in cultivation. Professors, twen- 
ty-two; scholars, 319. 

The Deaf and Dumb Institute was estab- 
lished in 1855, at Iowa City, but was after- 
ward removed to Council Bluffs, to a tract 
of ninety acres of land two miles south of 
that city. In October, 1870, the main build- 
ing and one wing were completed and 
occupied. In February, 1877, ^^'^ destroyed 
the main building and east wing, and dur- 
ing the summer following a tornado par- 
tially demolished the west wing. It is at 
present (1885) manned with fifteen teachers, 
and attended by 292 pupils. 

The College for the Blind has been at Vin- 
ton since 1862. Prof. Samuel Bacon, himself 
blind, a fine scholar, who had founded the 
Institution for the Blind, at Jacksonville, 
Illinois, commenced as early as 1852 a school 
of instruction at Keokuk. The next year 
the institution was adopted by the State 
and moved to Iowa City, with Prof. Bacon 
as principal. It was moved thence, in 1862, 
to Vinton. The building was erected and 
the college manned at vast expenditure of 
money. It is said that $282,000 were ex- 
pended upon the building alone, and that it 
required an outlay of $5,000 a year to heat 
it, while it had accommodations for 130 in- 
mates. At present, however, they have 
accommodations for more pupils, with an 
attendance of 132. There are eleven teach- 
ers. The annual legislative appropriation 
is $8,000, besides $128 per year for each 
pupil. 

The first Iowa Hospital for the Insane 
was established by an act of the Legislature 
approved January 24, 1855. Itislocated at 
Mt. Pleasant, where the building was com- 



HISTORY OF IOWA. 



153 



pleted in 1861, at a cost of $258,555. Within 
the first three months 100 patients were ad- 
mitted, and before the close of October, 
1877, an aggregate of 3,684 had been ad- 
mitted. In April, 1876, a portion of the 
building was destroyed by fire. At this in- 
stitution there are now ninety-four superin- 
tendents and assistants, in charge of 472 
patients. 

Another Hospital for the Insane, at Inde- 
pendence, was opened May i, 1873, in a 
building which cost $88,114. The present 
number of inmates is 580, in the care of 1 1 1 
superintendents and employes. 

The Soldiers' Orphans' Home is located at 
Davenport. It was origmated by Mrs. Annie 
Wittenmeyer, during the late war, who 
called a convention for the purpose at Mus- 
catine, September 7, 1863, and uly 13 fol- 
lowing the institution was opened m a brick 
building at Lawrence, Van Buren County. 
It was sustained by voluntary contributions 
until 1866, when the State took charge of 
it. The Legislature provided at first for 
three " homes." The one in Cedar Falls 
was organized in 1865, an old hotel build- 
ing being fitted up for it, and by the follow- 
ing January there were ninety-six inmates. 
In October, 1869, the Home was removed 
to a large brick building about two miles 
west of Cedar Falls, and was ver^^ prosper- 
ous for several years ; but in 1876 the Leg- 
islature devoted this building to the State 
Normal School, and the buildings and 
grounds of the Soldiers' Orphans' Home 
at Glenwood, Mills County, to an institution 
for the support of feeble-minded children, 
and also provided for the removal of the 
soldiers' orphans at the Glenwood and 
Cedar Falls homes to the institution at 
Davenport. The latter has now in charge 
169 orphans. 

The Asylum for Feeble-Minded Children 
referred to above, is at Glenwood, estab- 
lished by the Legislature in March, 1876. 
The institution was opened September i. 



following, with a few pupils ; but now the 
attendance is 215, in the care of four teach- 
ers. This asylum is managed by three trus- 
tees, one of whom must be a resident of that 
county. Mills. 

The first penitentiary was established in 
1 84 1, near Fort Madison, its present loca- 
tion. The cost of the original building was 
$55,934, and its "capacity was sufficient for 
138 convicts. At present there are at this 
prison 364 convicts, in charge of forty-three 
employes. 

The penitentiary at Anamosa was estab- 
lished in i872-'3. It now has 239 convicts 
and thirty-four employes. 

The boys' reform school waspermanentl_»' 
located at Eldora, Hardin County, in 1872. 
For the three years previous it was kept at 
the building of the Iowa Manual Labor In- 
stitute at Salem, Henry County. Only 
boys between seven and sixteen years of 
age are admitted. Credit of time for good 
conduct is given, so that occasionally one 
is discharged before he is of age. There 
are now (1885) 201 pupils here. 

The "girls' department" is at Mitchell- 
ville, similarly managed. Inmates, eighty- 
three. 

The State Historical Society is in part 
supported by the State, the Governor ap- 
pointing nine of the eighteen curators. 
This society was provided for in connection 
with the University, by legislative act of 
January 28, 1857, ^"d it has published a 
series of valuable collections, and a large 
number ,of finely engraved portraits of 
prominent and early settlers. 

The State Agricultural Society is con- 
ducted under the auspices of the State, and 
is one of the greatest promoters of the 
welfare of the people among all the State 
organizations. It holds an annual fair at 
Des Moines, and its proceedings are also 
published annually, at the expense of the 
State. 

The Fish-Hatching House has been sue- 



'54 



HIS TORT OF IOWA. 



cessfully carrying on its good work since 
its establishment in 1874, near Anamosa. 
Three fish commissioners are appointed, 
one for each of the three districts into which 
the State is for the purpose divided. 

The State Board of Health, established 
in 1880, has an advisory supervision, and to 
a limited extent also a police supervision, 
over the health of the people.^especially 
with reference to the abatement of those 
nuisances that are most calculated to pro- 
mulgate dangerous and contagious diseases. 
Their publications, which are made at the 
expense of the State, should be studied by 
every citizen 

EDUCATIONAL. 

The germ of the free public school sys- 
tem of Iowa, which now ranks second to 
none in the United States, was planted by 
the first settlers, and in no other public 
measure have the people ever since taken 
so deep an interest. They have expanded 
and improved their original system until 
now it is justly considered one of the most 
complete, comprehensive and liberal in the 
country. 

Nor is this to be wondered at when it is 
remembered that humble log school-houses 
were built almost as soon as the log cabins 
of the earliest settlers were occupied, and 
school teachers were among the first im- 
migrants to Iowa. Schools, therefore, the 
people have had everywhere from the start, 
and the school-houses, in their character and 
accommodations, have kept fully abreast 
with the times. 

The first school-house within the limits 
of Iowa was a log cabin at Dubuque, built by 
J. L. Langworthy and a few other miners, 
in the autumn of 1833. When it was com- 
pleted George Cabbage was employed as 
teacher during the winter of i833-'4, thirty- 
five pupils attending his school. Barrett 
Whittemore taught the ne.xt school term, 
v/ith twenty-five pupils in attendance. Mrs. 
Ctvroline Dexter commenced teaching in 



Dubuque in March, 1836. She was the first 
female teacher there, and probably the first 
in Iowa. In 1839 Thomas H. Benton, Jr., 
afterward for ten years Superintendent of 
Public Instruction, opened an English and 
classical school in Dubuque. The first tax 
for the support of schools at Dubuque was 
levied in 1840. 

At Burlington a commodious log school- 
house, built in 1834, was among the first 
buildings erected. A Mr. Johnson taught 
the first school in the winter of i834-'5. 

In Muscatine County, the first school was 
taught by George Bumgardner, in the 
spring of 1837. In 1839 a log school-house 
was erected in Muscatine, which served for 
a long time as school-house, church and 
public hall. 

The first school in Davenport was taught 
in 1838. In Fairfield, Miss Clarissa Sawyer, 
James F. Chambers and Mrs. Reed taught 
school in 1839. 

Johnson County was an entire wilderness 
when Iowa City was located as the capital 
of the Territory of Iowa, in ^lay, 1839. 
The first sale of lots took place August 18, 
1839, ^"d before January i, 1840, about 
twenty families had settled within the limits 
of the town. During the same year Jesse 
Berry opened a school in a small frame 
building he had erected on what is now 
College street. 

In Monroe County, thj first settlement 
was made in 1843, by Mr. John R. Gray, 
about two miles from the present site of 
Eddy ville ; and in the summer of 1844 a log 
school-house was built by Gray, William 
V. Beedle, C. Renfro, Joseph McMuUen 
and Willoughby Randolph, and the first 
school was opened by Miss Urania Adams. 
The building was occupied for school pur- 
poses for nearly ten years. 

About a year after the first cabin was 
built at Oskaloosa, a log school-house was 
built, in which school was opened by Sam- 
uel W. Caldwell, in 1S44. 



HISTORY OF IOWA. 



155 



At Fort Des Moines, now the capital of 
the State, the first school was taught by 
Lewis Whitten, Clerk of the District Court, 
in the winter of 1846-*-, in one of the rooms 
on '• Coon Row," built for barracks. 

The first school in Pottawattamie County 
was opened by George Green, a Mormon, 
at Council Point, prior to 1849 ! 'I'ld until 
about 1854 nearly all the teachers in that 
vicinity were Mormons. 

The first school in Dccorah was taught in 
1855, by Cyrus C. Carpenter, since Gov 
ernor of the State. In Crawford County the 
first school-house was built in Mason's 
Grove, in 1856, and Morris McHenry first 
occupied it as teacher. 

During the first twenty years of the his- 
tory of Iowa, the log school-house pre- 
vailed, and in 1861 there were 893 of these 
primitive structures in use for school pur- 
poses in the State. Since that time they 
have been gradually disappearing. In 1865 
there were 796; in 1870, 336; and in 1875, 
121. 

In 1846, the year of Iowa's admission as 
a State, there were 20,000 scholars out of 
100,000 inhabitants. About 400 school dis- 
tricts had been organized. In 1850 there 
were 1,200, and in 1857 the number had in- 
creased to 3,265. 

In March, 1858, upon the recommenda- 
tion of Hon. M. L. Fisher, then Superin- 
tendent of Public Instruction, the seventh 
General Assembly enacted that "each civil 
township is declared a school district," and 
provided that these should be divided into 
sub-districts. This law went into force 
March 20, 1858, and reduced the number of 
school districts from about 3,500 to less than 
900. This change of school organization 
resulted in a very material reduction of the 
expenditures for the compensation of dis- 
trict secretaries and treasurers. An effort 
was made for several years, from 1867 to 
1872, to abolish the sub-district system. 

Mr. Kissell, Superintendent, recommended 
14 



this in his report of January i, 1872, and 
Governor Merrill forcibly endorsed his 
views in his annual message. But the 
Legislature of that year provided for the 
formation of independent districts from the 
sub-districts of district townships. 

The system of graded schools was in- 
augurated in 1849, and new schools, in 
which more than one teacher is employed, 
are universally giaded. 

Teachers' institutes were organized early 
in the history of the State. The first offi- 
cial mention of them occurs in the annual 
report of Hon. Thomas H. Benton, Jr., 
made December 2, 1850, who said: "An 
institution of this character was organized 
a few years ago, composed of the teachers 
of the mineral regions of Illinois, Wisconsin 
and Iowa. An association of teachers has 
also been formed in the county of Henry, 
and an effort was made in October last to 
organize a regular institute in the county 
of Jones." 

No legislation, however, was held until 
March, 1858, when an act was passed au- 
thorizing the holding of teachers' institutes 
for periods not less than six working days, 
whenever not less than thirty teachers 
should desire. The superintendent was 
authorized to expend not exceeding $100 
for any one institute, to be paid out by the 
county superintendent, as the institute may 
direct, for teachers and lecturers, and $1,- 
000 was appropriated to defray the expenses 
of these institutes. Mr. Fisher at once 
pushed the matter of holding institutes, and 
December 6, 1858, he reported to the Board 
of Education that institutes had been ap- 
pointed in twenty counties within the pre- 
ceding six months, and more would have 
been held but the appropriation had been 
exhausted. At the first session of the Board 
of Education, commencing December 6, 
1858, a code of school laws was enacted, 
which retained the existing provisions for 
teachers' institutes. In March, i860, the 



156 



HISTORY OF IOWA. 



General Assembly amended the act of the 
board by appropriating " a sum not ex- 
ceeding $50 annually for one such institute, 
held as provided by law in each county." 
In 1865 the superintendent, Mr. Faville, re- 
ported that " the provision made by the 
State for the benefit of teachers' institutes 
has never been so fully appreciated, both 
by the people and the teachers, as during 
the last two years." Under this law an in- 
stitute is held annually in each county, 
under the direction of the county superin- 
tendent. 

By an act approved March 19, 1874, nor- 
mal institutes were established in each 
county, to be held annually by the county 
superintendent. This was regarded as a 
very decided step in advance by Mr. Aber- 
nethy, and in 1876 the General Assembly 
established the first permanent State Nor- 
mal School at Cedar Falls, Black Hawk 
Count}', appropriating the building and 
property of the Soldiers' Orphans Home 
at that place for that purpose. This school 
is now "in the full tide of successful ex- 
periment." 

Funds for the support of the public 
schools are derived in several ways. The 
sixteenth section of every congressional 
township was set apart by the General 
Government for school purposes, being 
one thirty-sixth part of all the lands of the 
State. The minimum price of these lands 
was fixed at $1.25 \>e\- acre. Congress also 
made an additional donation to the State of 
500,000 acres, and an appropriation of 5 
per cent, on all the sales of public lands to 
the school fund. The State gives to this 
fund the proceeds (jf the sales of all lands 
which escheat to it; the proceeds of all 
fines for the violation of the liquor and 
criminal laws. The money derived from 
these sources constitutes the permanent 
school fund of the State, which cannot be 
diverted to any other purpose. The pen- 
alties collected by the courts for fines and 



forfeitures go to the school fund in v'nc, 
counties where collected. The proceeds 
of the sale of lands and the 5 per cent, fund 
go into the State Treasur)', and the State 
distributes these proceeds to the several 
counties according to their request. 

In 1844 there were in the State 4,339 
school districts, containing 11,244 schools, 
and employing 21,776 teachers. The aver- 
age monthly pay of male teachers was 
$32.50, and of female teachers $27.25. There 
were 594,730 persons of school age, of whom 
431,513 were enrolled in the public schools. 
The average cost of tuition for each pupil 
per month was $1.62. The expenditures 
for all school purposes was $5,129,819.49. 
The permanent school fund is now $3,547,- 
123.82, on which the income for 1881 was 
$234,622.40. 

Besides the State University, Agricult.- 
ural College and Normal School, described 
on preceding pages, ample provision for 
higher education has been made by the 
different ix-ligious denominatic^ns, assisted 
by local and individual beneficence. There 
are, exclusive of State institutions, twenty- 
three universities and colleges, and one 
hundred and eleven academies and other 
private schools for the higher branches. 
All these are in active operation, and most 
of them stand high. 

Amity College, located at College 
Springs, Page Count}', has eight instructors 
and two hundred and forty-five students. 

Burlington University, eight instructors 
and forty-three pupils. 

Callanan College, at Des Moines, has 
eighteen in the faculty and one hundred 
and twenty students enrolled. 

Central University, at Pella, Marion 
County, is under the auspices of the Baptist 
church, and has eleven in the faculty and 
one hundred and two students. 

Coe College, at Cedar Rapids, has a 
faculty of ten, and an attendance of one 
hundred and ninet3'-nine. 



MiSTORT OP IOWA. 



isi 



Cornell College, Methodist Episcopal, at 
Mt. Vernon, Linn County, has eighteen 
members of the faculty and four hundred 
and seventy-nine scholars. This is a strong 
institution. 

Drake University, at Des Moines, has 
thirty instructors and three hundred and 
twent)'-tive pupils. 

Griswold College, at Davenport, is under 
the control of the Episcopal church, and 
has seven instructors and seventy-five stu- 
dents. 

Iowa College, at Grinnell, is permanently- 
endowed. Has fourteen instructors and 
three hundred and eighty-four students. 

Iowa Wesleyan University (Methodist 
Episcopal), at Mt. Pleasant, has six mem- 
bers of the faculty and one hundred and 
seventy-five students. 

Luther College, at Decorah, Winneshiek 
County, has a faculty of ten, and one hun- 
dred and sixty-five pupils. 

Oskaloosa College has a faculty of five, 
and one hundred and thirty-five students. 

Penn College, at Oskaloosa, has a faculty 
of five members, and one hundred and forty 
pupils in attendance. 

Simpson Centenary College, at Indianola, 
Warren County (Methodist Episcopal), has 
a faculty of seven and an attendance of two 
hundi'ed. 

Tabor College, at Tabor, Fremont 
County, modeled after the Oberlin (Ohio) 
College, has twelve members in the facultv 
and an attendance of two hundred and ten 
scholars. 

University of Des Moines has five in- 
structors and fifty pupils. 

Upper Iowa University (Msthodist Epis- 
copal), located at Fayette, in Fayette 
County, has eleven instructors and three 
hundred and fifty students. 

Whittier College, at Salem, Henry 
County, is under the auspices of the 
Friends. There are two instructors and 
sixty pupils. 



STATISTICAL. 

When Wisconsin Territory was organ- 
ized in 1S36, the entire population of that 
portion of the Territory now embraced in 
the State of Iowa was 10,531. The Terri- 
tory then embraced two counties, Dubuque 
and Des Moines, erected by the Territory 
of Michigan in 1834. Since then the 
counties have increased to ninety-nine, and 
the population in 1880 was 1,624,463. The 
following table will show the population at 
different periods since the erection of Iowa 
Territory : 



Year. Population 

183S 22,589 

1840 43. "5 

1844 75,i';"-! 

IS46 97,588 

1 847 1 16,65 ' 

1849 , 152,988 

1850 '9',98 

1851 204.774 

i8,2 230,713 

1854 326,013 

1856 519.055 



Year Population 

'859 638,775 

i860 674,913 

1863 701,732 

1 8(15 . 750,699 

I S67 gojojo 

1869 1040819 

1870 ■.i9'.727 

■873 '.-'51.333 

1S75 I 366,000 

i8Sb 1,624463 



The most populous county is Dubuque — - 
42,997. Polk County has 42,395, and Scott, 
41,270. Not only in population, but in 
everything contributing to the growth and 
greatness of a State, has Iowa made rapid 
progress. In a little more than thirty-five 
years its wild but beautiful prairies have 
advanced from the home of the savage to a 
highly civilized commonwealth. 

The first railroad across the State was 
completed to Council Bluffs in January, 
1 87 1. The completion of three others scon 
followed. In 1854 there was not a mile of 
railroad in Iowa. Within the succeeding 
twenty years, 3,765 miles were built and 
put in successful operation. 

The present value of buildings for our 
State institutions is as follows : 



Sta e Capitol $2,500,000 

Slate University. 400,000 
Agricultural Col. 

and Farm .... 
Inst, for the iilind 
Institution for the 

Deaf and Dumb 



300,000 
1 50,000 



225,000 



Institutions for the 

Insane $1 

Orphans' H me.. 
Penitentiaries. . .. 
Normal School. . 
Reform School . . 



,149,000 
62,000 

408,000 
50,000 
90,000 



isS 



Hi STORY OF low A. 



The State has never levied more than 
two and one-half mills on the dollar for 
State tax, and this is at present the consti- 
tutional limit. 

Iowa has no State debt. Whatever obli- 
gations have been incurred in the past have 
been promptly met and fully paid. Man}' 
of the counties are in debt, but only four of 
them to an amount exceeding $100,000 each. 
The bonded debt of the counties amounts 
in the aggregate to $2,592,222, and the float- 
ing debt, $153,456; total, $2,745,678. 

In the language of Judge C. C. Nourse, 
We feel compelled to say : " The great ulti- 
mate fact that America would demonstrate 
is, the existence of a people capable of at- 
taining and preserving a superior civiliza- 
tion, with a government self-imposed, self- 
administered and self-perpetuated. In this 
age of wonderful progress, America can 
exhibit nothing to the world of mankind 
more wonderful or more glorious than her 
new States — young empires, born of her 
own enterprise and tutored at her own 
political hearth-stone. Well may she say 
to the monarchies of the Old World, who 
look for evidence of her regal grandeur 
and state, ' Behold, these are my jewels !' 
and may she never blush to add, ' This one 
in the center of the diadem is Iowa!' " 

PHYSICAL FEATURES. 

Iowa, in the highly figurative and ex- 
pressive language of the aborigines, is said 
to signify " The Beautiful Land," and was 
applied by them to this magnificent section 
of the country between the two great rivers. 

The general shape of the State is that of 
a rectangle, the northern and southern 
boundaries being due east and west lines, 
and its eastern and western boundaries de- 
termined by southerly flowing rivers— the 
Mississippi on the east and the Missouri 
and the Big Sioux on the west. The width 
of the State from north to south is over 200 
miles, being from the parallel of 43° 30' to 



that of 40° 36', or merely three degrees; 
but this does not include the small angle at 
the southeast corner. The length of the 
State from east to west is about 265 miles. 
The area is 55,044 square miles, nearl)' all 
of which is readily tillable and highl}' fer- 
tile. 

The State lies wholly within, and com- 
prises a part of a vast plain, and there is no 
mountainous or even hilly country within 
its borders, excepting the bluffs of the large' 
rivers. The highest point is near Spiri( 
Lake, and is but 1,200 feet above the lowest, 
which is in the southeast corner, and is 444 
feet above the level of the Gulf of Mexico. 
The average descent per mile between these 
two points is four feet, and that from Spirit 
Lake to the northeast corner of the State, 
at low-water mark of the Mississippi, is five 
feet five inches. 

It has been estimated that about seven- 
eighths of Iowa was prairie when the white 
race first settled here. It seems to be a set- 
tled point in science that the amuial fires of 
the Indians, prevented this western country 
from becoifiing heavily timbered. 

GEOLOGV. 

Geologists divide the soil of Iowa into 
three general divisions, which not only 
possess different physical characters, but 
also differ in the mode of their origin. 
These are drift, bluff and alluvial and be- 
long respectively to the deposits bearing 
the same names. The drift occupies a 
much larger part of the surface of the State 
than both the others. The bluff has the 
next greatest area of surface. 

All soil is disintegrated rock. The drift 
deposit of Iowa was derived to a consider- 
able extent from the rocks of Minnesota; 
but the greater part was derived from its 
own rocks, much of which has been trans- 
ported but a short distance. In Northern 
and Northwestern Iowa the drift contains 
more sand and gravel than elsewhere. In 



tt I Story op lotvA. 



t59 



Southern Iowa the soil is frequently stiff 
and clayey. The bluff soil is found only in 
the western part of the State, and adjacent 
to Missouri River. Although it contains 
less than i per cent, of clay in its com- 
position, it is in no respect inferior to the 
best drift soil. The alluvial soil is that of 
the flood plains of the river valleys, or bot- 
tom lands. That which is periodically 
flooded b}' the rivers is of little value for 
agricultural purposes ; but a large part of 
it is entirel}' above the reach of the highest 
flood, and is verj' productive. 

The stratified rocks of Iowa range from 
the Azoic to the Mesozoic, inclusive ; but 
the greater portion of the surface of the 
State is occupied by those of the Paljeozoic 
age. The table below will show each of 
these formations in their order : 



o 



■o <: 
a o 
"■ 3 
MS" 
— 3 



O 



o 

D. 



H 02:3: 

n - pS 
3 n ores ^ 

- ^ " o 

3 



C/3 

C 



n 

o 



n 



cf Tj r c/j H o 2 2? 2: 

- '^ ^ ^-( 3 

- - - o 



O 3 g2 ^ 

T B crq -.. 

N 3 3 (/)3 

:;• a 5 p ft 

ft 2; — 3 ■' 

■ § = S§ 

re f-" o re 



re , 



ft .^ cfc : 
3 c « . 
'^ ^ '2 ' 

Pft M- 
3 » -h 
ft c/; 5 
'{{ zr n 

o w ~ 

2 « 9 

ft X 3 



3 W 



3^ 

CI 3: 

^ 3 
3-Cfq 

s * 

K 



t ." o -!-" -• > ? ir 
o i 

C o "1 

3 £ 

ft ft 



5;? - 

B:f» 3 
ft "* w 

^ s w 



O O H. 



3 K. 



1 Q tn 00 O ^^ COV1 0--I\OVO*^ O O O 

1 o o o o o c o o (-" ov o ^^ 000 



O C O 



51 

o c 

£/) en 



The Sioux quartzite, in the azoic system, 
is found exposed in natural ledges only 
upon a few acres in the extreme northwest 
corner of the State, upon the banks of the 
Big Sioux River, for which reason the 
specific name of Sioux quartzite has been 
given them. It is an intensely hard rock, 
breaks in splintery fracture, and of a color 
varying, in different localities, from a light 
to deep red. The process of metamorphism 
has been so complete throughout the whole 
formation that the rock is almost ever}^- 
where of uniform texture. The dip is four 
or five degrees to the northward, and the 
trend of the outcrop is eastward and west- 
ward. 

The Potsdam sandstone formation is ex- 
posed only in a small portion of the north- 
eastern part of the State. It is only to be 
seen in the bases of the bluffs and steep 
valley sides which border the river there. 
It is nearly valueless for economic purposes. 
No fossils have been discovered in this for- 
mation in Iowa. 

The Lower Magnesian limestone has but 
little greater geographical extent in Iowa 
than the Potsdam sandstone. It lacks a 
uniformity of texture and stratification, ow- 
ing to which it is not generally valuable for 
building purposes. 

The St. Peter's sandstone formation is 
remarkabl}' uniform in thickness through- 
out its known geographical extent, and it 
occupies a large portion of the northern 
half of Allamakee County; immediately be- 
neath the drift. 

With the exception of the Trenton lime- 
stone, all the limestones of both Upper and 
Lower Silurian age in Iowa are magnesian 
limestone. This formation occupies large 
portions of Winneshiek and Allamakee 
counties, and a small part of Clayton. The 
greater part of it is useless for economic 
purposes ; but there are some compact, 
even layers that furnish fine material for 
window caps and sills. 



t6<3 



tilSTORT OF IOWA. 



The Galena limestone is the upper for- 
mation of the Trenton Group. It is 150 
miles long- and seldom exceeds twelve miles 
in width. It exhibits its greatest develop- 
ment in Dubuque County. It is nearly a 
pure dolomite with a slight admixture of 
sillcious matter ; good blocks for dressing 
are sometimes found near the top of the 
bed, although it is usually unfit for such a 
purpose. This formation is the source of 
the lead ore of the Dubuque lead mines. 
The lead region proper is confined to an 
area of about fifteen miles square in the 
vicinity of Dubuque. The ore occurs in 
vertical fissures, which traverse the rock at 
regular intervals from east to west ; some 
is found in those which have a north and 
south direction. This ore is mostly that 
known as galena, or sulphuret of lead, very 
small quantities onl}- of the carbonate being 
found with it. 

The surface occupied by the Maquoketa 
shales is more than 100 miles in length, but 
issingularly long and narrow, seldom reach- 
ing more than a mile or two in width. The 
most northern exposure yet recognized is 
in the western part of Winneshiek County, 
while the most southerly is in Jackson 
County, in the bluffs of the Mississippi. 
The formation is largely composed of bluish 
and brownish shales, sometimes slightly 
arenaceous, sometimes calcareous, which 
weather into a tenacious clay upon the sur- 
face, and the soil derived from it is usually 
stiff and claye3\ 

The area occupied by the Niagara lime- 
stone is forty and fifty miles in width and 
nearly 160 miles long from north to south. 
This formation is entirely a magnesian lime- 
stone, with a considerable portion of sili- 
cious matter, in some places, in the form of 
chert or coarse flint. A large part of it 
probably affords the best and greatest 
amount of quarry rock in the State. The 
quarries at Anainosa, Le Claire and Farley 
are all opened in this formation 



The area of surface occupied b)' the 
Hamilton limestone and shales, is as great 
as those by all the formations of both Upper 
and Lower Silurian age in the State. Its 
length is nearly 200 miles, and width from 
forty to fifty. Portions of it are valuable 
for economic purposes ; and, having a large 
geographical extent in the State, is a very 
important formation. Its value for the pro- 
duction of h3-draulic lime has been demon- 
strated at Waverly, Bremer Count3^ The 
heavier and more uniform magnesian beds 
furnish material for bridge piei-s and other 
material requiring strength and durability. 
A coral occurs near Iowa City, known as 
" Iowa City marble" and " bird's-eye mar- 
ble." 

Of the three groups of formations that 
constitute the carboniferous, viz., the sub- 
carboniferous, coal measures and Permian, 
only the first two are found in Iowa. 

The Subcarboniferous group occupies a 
very large area of surface. Its eastern 
border passes from the northeastern part of 
Winnebago County, with considerable di- 
rectness in a southeasterly direction to the 
northern part of Washington Count)'. It 
then makes a broad and direct bend nearly 
eastward, striking the Mississippi at Mus- 
catine. The southern and western bound- 
aries are to a considerable extent the same 
as that which separates it from the real 
field. From the southern part of Poca- 
hontas County it passes southeast to Fort 
Dodge, thence to Webster City, thence to 
a point three or four miles northeast of EI- 
dora, in Hardin County, thence southward 
to the middle of the north line of Jasper 
Count)', thence southeastward to Sigour- 
ney, in Keokuk County, thence to the north- 
eastern corner of Jefferson County, thence 
sweeping a few miles eastward to the south- 
east corner of Van Buren County. Its arc 
is about 250 miles long and from twenty to 
fifty miles wide. 

The most southerl}- exposure of the Kin- 



HISTORY OF IOWA. 



t6i 



derhook beds is in Des Moines County, 
near the moutii of Skunk River. The most 
northerly now known is in the eastern part 
of Pocahontas County, more than 200 miles 
distant. The principal exposures of this 
formation are along the bluffs which border 
the Mississippi and Skunk rivers, where 
they form the eastern and northern bound- 
ary of Des Moines Count}* ; along English 
River, in Washington Count}- ; along the 
Iowa River, in Tama, Marshall, Hamlin 
and Franklin counties, and along the Des 
Moines River, in Humboldt County. This 
formation has a considerable econofriic 
value, particularly in the northern portion 
of the region it occupies. In Pocahontas 
and Humboldt counties it is invaluable, as 
no other stone except a few boulders are 
found here. At Iowa Falls the lower 
division is very good for building purposes. 
In Marshall County all the limestone to be 
obtained comes from this formation, and 
the quarries near Le Grand are very valu- 
able. At this point some of the layers are 
finely veined with peroxide of iron, and ai'e 
wrought into both useful and ornamental 
objects. In Tama County the oolitic mem- 
ber is well exposed, where it is manufact- 
ured into lime. Upon exposure to atmos- 
phere and frost it crumbles to pieces ; 
consequently it is not valuable for building 
purposes. 

The Burlington limestone is carried down 
by the southerly dip of the Iowa rocks, so 
that it is seen for the last time in this State 
in the valley of Skunk River, near the 
southern boundary of Des Moines Count)' ; 
it has been recognized in the northern part 
of Washington County, which is the most 
northerly point that it has been found ; but 
it probably exists as far north as Marshall 
County. Much valuable material is afforded 
by this formation for economic purposes. 
The upper division furnishes excellent com- 
mon quarry rock. Geologists are attracted 
by the great abundance and variety of its 



fossils — crinoids — now known to be more 
than 300. 

The Keokuk limestone formation is to be 
seen only in four counties : Lee, Van Buren, 
Henry and Des Moines. In some localities 
the upper silicious portion is known as the 
Geode bed ; it is not recognizable in the 
northern portion of the formation, nor in 
connection with it where it is exposed, 
about eighty miles below Keokuk. The 
geodes of the Geode bed are more or less 
masses of silex, usually hollow and lined 
with crystals of quartz ; the outer crust is 
rough and unsightly, but the crystals which 
stud the interior are often very beautiful ; 
they vaiy in size from the size of a walnut 
to a foot in diameter. This formation is of 
great economic value. Large quantities 
of its stone have been used in the finest 
structures in the State, among which are 
the postoffices at Dubuque and Des Moines. 
The principal quarries are along the banks 
of the Mississippi, from Keokuk to Nauvoo. 

The St. Louis limestone is the uppermost 
of the subcarboniferous group in Iowa. It 
occupies a small superficial area, consisting 
of long, narrow strips, yet its extent is very 
great. It is first seen resting on the Geode 
division of the Keokuk limestone, near Keo- 
kuk ; proceeding northward, it forms a 
narrow border along the edge of the coal 
fields in Lee, Des Moines, Henry, Jeffer- 
son, Washington, Keokuk and Mahaska 
counties ; it is then lost sight of until it 
appears again in the banks of Boone River, 
where it again passes out of view under the 
Coal Measures, until it is next seen in the 
banks of the Des Moines, near Fort Dodge. 
As it exists in Iowa, it consists of three 
tolerably distinct sub-divisions : The mag- 
nesian, arenaceous and calcareous. The 
upper division furnishes excellent material 
for quicklime, and when quarries are well 
opened, as in the northwestern part of Van 
Buren County, large blocks are obtained. 
The sandstone, or middle division, is of 



162 



HISTORY OF IOWA. 



little value. The lower, or magnesian di- 
vision, furnishes a valuable and durable 
stone, exposures of which are found on Lick 
Creek, in Van Buren County, and on Long 
Creek, seven miles west of Burlington. 

The Coal Measure group is properly 
divided into three formations, viz.: The 
Lower, Middle and Upper Coal Measures, 
each having a vertical thickness of about 
200 feet. The Lower Coal Measures exist 
eastward and northward of the Des Moines 
River, and also occupy a large area west- 
ward and southward of that river, but their 
southerly dip passes them below the Middle 
Coal Measures at no great distance from 
the river. This formation possesses greater 
economic value than any other in the whole 
State. The clay that underlies almost every 
bed of coal furnishes a large amount of ma- 
terial for potter's use. The sandstone of 
these measures is usually soft and unfit, but 
in some places, as in Red Rock in Marion 
County, blocks of large dimensions are ob- 
tained, which make good building material, 
samples of which can be seen in the State 
Arsenal, at Des Moines. 

The Upper Coal Measures occupy a 
very large area, comprising thirteen whole 
counties, in the southwestern part of the 
State. By its northern and eastern bound- 
aries it adjoins the area occupied bv the 
Middle Coal Measures. 

The next strata in the geological series 
are of the Cretaceous age. They are found 
in the western half of the State, and do not 
dip, as do all the other formations upon 
which they rest, to the southward and west- 
ward, but have a general dip of their own 
to the north of westward, which, however, 
is very slight. Although the actual e.x- 
posures of cretaceous rocks are few in Iowa, 
there is reason to believe thct nearly all the 
^vestern half of the State was originally 
occupied by them ; but they have been 
removed by denudation, which has taken 
place at two separate periods. 



The Nishnabotany sandstone has the most 
easterly and southerly extent of the cre- 
taceous deposits of Iowa, reaching the 
southeastern part of Guthrie County and 
the southern part of Montgomery County. 
To the northward, it passes beneath the 
Woodbury sandstones and shales, the latter 
passing beneath the chalky beds. This 
sandstone is, with few exceptions, valueless 
for economic purposes. 

The chalky beds rest upon the Wood- 
bury sandstone and shales. Thev have not 
been observed in Iowa except in the bluffs 
which border the Big Sioux River in Wood- 
bury and Plymouth counties. They are 
composed almost entirely of calcareous ma- 
terial, the upper portion of which is exten- 
sively used for lime. No building material 
can be obtained from these beds, and the 
only value they possess, except lime, are 
the marls, which at some time may be use- 
ful on the soil of the adjacent region. 

Extensive beds of peat exist in Northern 
Middle Iowa, which, it is estimated, contain 
the following areas: Cerro Gordo County, 
1,500 acres; Worth, 2,000; Winnebago, 2,- 
000; Hancock, 1,500; Wright, 500; Kos- 
suth, 700; Dickinson, 80. Several other 
counties contain peat beds, but the peat is 
inferior to that in the northern part of the 
State. The beds are of an average depth 
of four feet. It is estimated that each acre 
of these beds will furnish 250 tons of drv 
fuel for each foot in depth. At present 
this peat is not utilized ; but owing to its 
great distance from the coal fields and the 
absence of timber, the time is coming when 
its value will be fully realized. 

The only sulphate of the alkaline earths 
of any economic value is gypsum, and it 
may be found in the vicinity of Fort Dodge 
in Webster County. The deposit occupies 
a nearly central position in the county, the 
Des Moines River running nearly centrally 
through it, along the valley sides of which 
the gypsum is seen in the form of ordinary 



History of iowa. 



163 



rock cliff and ledges, and also occurring 
abundantly in similar positions along both 
sides of the valleys of the smaller streams 
and of the numerous ravines coming into 
the river valley. The most northerly known 
limit of the deposit is at a point near the 
mouth of Lizard Creek, a tributary of the 
Des Moines River and almost adjoining the 
town of Fort Dodge. The most southerly 
point at which it has been exposed is about 
six miles, by way of the river, from the 
northerly point mentioned. The width of 
the area is tmknown, as the gypsum be- 
comes lost beneath the overlying drift, as 
one goes up the ravines and minor valleys. 

On either side of the creeks and ravines 
which come into the valley of the Des 
Moines River, the gypsum is seen jutting 
out from beneath the drift in the lorm of 
ledges and bold quarry fronts, having al- 
most the exact appearance of ordinary lime- 
stone exposures, so horizontal and regular 
its lines of stratification, and so similar in 
color is it to some varieties of that rock. 
The principal quarries now opened are on 
Two Mile Creek, a couple of miles below 
Fort Dodge. 

Epsomite, or native Epsom salts, having 
been discovered near Burlington, all the 
sulphates of alkaline earths of natural origin 
have been recognized in Iowa, all except 
the sulphate of lime being in very small 
quantity. 

Sulphate of lime in the various forms of 
fibrous gypsum, selenite and small, amor- 
phous masses, has also been discovered in 
various formations in different parts of the 
State, including the Coal Measure shales 
near Fort Dodge, where it exists in small 
quantities, quite independently of the great 
gypsum of deposit there. The quantity of 
gypsum in these minor deposits is always 
too small to be of any practical value, 
usually occurring in shales and shaly clays, 
associated with strata that contain more or 
less sulphuret of iron. Gypsum has thus 

15 



been detected in the Coal Measures, the St. 
Louis limestone, the Cretaceous strata, and 
also in the dead caves of Dubuque. 

Sulphate of strontia is found at Fort 
Dodge. ^ 

CLIMATE. 

The greatest objection to the climate of 
this State is the prevalence of wind, which 
is somewhat greater than in the States south 
and east, but not so great as farther west. 
The air is purer than either east or south, 
as indicated by the bluer sky and conse- 
quent deeper green vegetation, and is 
therefore more bracing. B3' way of con- 
trast, Northern Illinois has a whiter sky 
and a consequent more yellowish green 
vegetation. 

The prevailing direction of the wind is 
from the west. 

Thunder-storms are somewhat more vio- 
lent here than east or south, but not so 
furious as toward the Rocky Mountains. 
The greatest rainfall is in the southeastern 
part of the State, and the least in the north- 
western portion. The increase of timber 
growth is increasing the amount of rain, as 
well as distributing it more evenly through- 
out the year. As elsewhere in the North- 
western States, easterly winds bring rain 
and snow, while westerly ones clear the sky. 
While the highest temperature occurs here 
in August, the month of July averages the 
hottest, and January the coldest. The mean 
temperature of April and October nearly 
corresponds to the mean temperature of 
the year, as well as to the seasons of spring 
and fall, while that of summer and winter 
is best represented by .A.ugust and Decem- 
ber. Indian summer is delightful and well 
prolonged. Untimely frosts sometimes oc- 
cur, but seldom severely enough to do 
great injury. The wheat crop being a 
staple product of this State, and not injured 
at all by frost, this great resource of the 
State continues intact. 



i64 



tl/S TORY OF lO WA. 



CENSUS OF IOWA. 



COUNTIES. 



Adair ,. 

Adams 

Allamakee.. . 

Appanoose . . 

Audubon. . . . 

Benton 

Black Havvk. 

Boone 

Bremer 

Buchanan . . . 

Buena Vista.. 

Butler 

Calhoun 

Carroll 

Cass 

Cedar 

Cerro Gordo. 

Cherokee. . . . 

Chickasaw. . . 

Clarke 

Clay 

Clayton 

Clinton 

Crawford .. . . 

Dallas 

Davis 

Decatur 

Delaware 

Des Moines.. , 

Dickinson. . . . 

Dubuque , 

Emmett 

Fa\ ette 

Floyd , 

Franklin 

Fremont 

Greene 

Grundy 

Guthiie 

Hamilton 

Hancock 

Hardin 

Harrison 

Henry 

Howard 

Humboldt. . . . 

Ida... 

Iowa 

Jackson 

Jasper 

Jefferson 

Johnson 

Jones 

Keokuk 

Kossuth 

Lee 

Linn . 

Louisa 

Lucas 

Lyon 

Madison 

Mahaska 

Marion 

Marsliall 

Mills... . 



1S50 



i860. 



777 
3,131 



672 
735 



517 



3,94 1 



709 



3>S73 

2,S2, 



8.S4 
7,264 

965 

1,759 

12,988 



10,841 
■"825 



1,244 



8,70; 



S22 
7,210 
1,280 
9,904 
4,472 
3,007 
4,822 



1 8,86 
.5.444 
4,939 

47' 



J. 179 

5989 

5,482 

338 



984 

1,533 

12,237 

ii,93> 

454 
8,496 

8,244 
4,232 
4,9 '5 
7,906 

57 

3,724 

147 

2S1 

1,612 

12,949 

940 

58 

4.33'i 

5,427 

5 

20,728 

18,938 

383 

5,244 

13,764 

8,077 

11,024 

19,61 1 

\6o 

31,164 

loq 

'2,073 

3,744 

1,309 

5,074 

■',374 

793 

3,058 

1,699 

'79 

5,440 

3.621 

18,701 

3,168 

332 

43 
8,029 

18,493 
9,883 
15,038 
'7,573 
13,306 

13,27 
416 

29,232 
18,947 
'0,370 

5,766 

7,.3.39 
14,816 
16 813 
6,015 
4,481 



1870. 



3,982 

4,614 

17,868 

16,456 

1,212 

22,454 
2 1 ,706 

14,584 

12,5 

17,034 
I, .585 
9,95 1 
1,602 

2,45' 
5,464 

19.731 
4,722 
',967 

10, i8cj 

8,735 

1-5- 

27.77 

35,35 

2,530 

12,019 

15.565 

I2,OlS 

■7,432 

27,2,56 

■,389 

38,969 

1,392 

'6,973 
10,768 
4,7-.8 
11,174 
4,627 
6,399 
7.06 
6,051; 

999 
■3.684 

8,93' 

21,463 

6,282 

2,596 

22b 

16,664 

22,619 

22,116 

■7,839 
24,898 

'9.73I 
■9 434 
3,351 
37,210 
28,852 

2,877 

10,388 

221 

■3,884 
22,508 
24.436 
'7,576 
8,718 



iSSo! 



11,199 

11,188 

19.791 
16,636 

7.448 
24,888 

23913 
20,838 
14,081 
'8,547 

7,537 
14,293 

5 595 
12,35' 
■6.943 
1S937 
1 i,4bl 

8,240 

■4,534 
11,512 

4,248 
2!:,,S29 
36,764 
12,4 '3 
■ 8,746 
16,468 
'5,336 
17,952 
33,099 

1,901 

42,997 

1,550 

22,258 

14,677 
10,248 

17,653 
12,725 
12,639 
14,863 
11,252 

3.453 
17,808 
16,649 
20,826 
10,837 

6,34' 

4.382 

'9,221 

23,77^ 
25,962 
'7.47S 

25,429 
21,052 
21,259 

6,179 
34,859 
37,235 
'3.'46 
14,,' 30 

1,968 

17,225 
25,201 
2i;,iii 
23,752 
'4,'35 



COUNTIES. 

» 


1850. 


i860. 


1870. 


1880. 


Mitchell 

Monona 

Monroe 


"2884 
5,73^ 

55' 

4,513 
7,828 

615 
' 5,986 

8 

204 

12,270 

8,471 
961 

4.957 
340 

■"546 


3.409 

832 

8,612 

■,256 

■6,444 
8 

4.4^9 

132 
148 

103 
11,625 

4.968 

5,668 

2,923 

246 

25,959 

818 

10 

4,051 

5.285 

3,590 

2,012 

17,081 

14,5 '8 

10,281 

14,235 

6,409 

2,504 

1 68 

■3,942 

1,119 

756 

653 


9,582 

3,654 

12,724 

^5.934 

'715 

9.975 
1.336 
2,199 

1,446 

27,857 
16,893 

'5,58i 

5,691 

1,411 

38,.S09 

2,.549 

570 

1 1 ,65 1 

16,131 

6,989 

5,986 

17,672 

22,346 

'7,980 

18,952 

11,287 

10,484 

1,562 

23,570 

6,172 

2,892 

2,392 


14,361 
9,055 
i3,7'9 
15,895 
23,168 

4,15s 


Montgomery 

Muscatine 

O'Brien 


Page 


19,667 

4,131 

8,567 

3,7 '3 

42..39S 

39,846 

■8,936 

12,085 

8,77-f 
41,270 


Palo Alto 

Plymouth 

Pocahonlas 

Polk 

Pottawattamie 

Poweshiek 


Sac 

Scott 

Shelby 


,,. .' 


5,426 
16,966 
2i,,58s 

15,635 
14,980 
1 7,042 

25.282 

■9.578 

2o,37S 
16,127 

15,950 

4,917 

23.937 

■4,997 

7.953 

5.062 


Storv 

Tam'a 




Union 

Van Buren 

Wapello 


Warren 


Washington 

Wayne 


Webster 

Winnebago 

Winneshiek 

Woodbury 

Worth 


Wright 

Total 


192,214 


674,913 1,191,792 


1,624,463 



TERRITORIAL OFFICERS. 

Governors. — Robert Lucas, i838-'4i; John 
Chamber, 1841-45; James Clark, 1S45. 

Secrcturies. — Wm. B. Conway, 1 838, died 
1839; James Clark, 1839-41; O. H. W. 
Stull, 1841-43; Samuel J. Burr, 1843-45; 
Jesse Williams, 1845. 

Atiditors. — Jesse Williams, i840-'43; Will- 
iam L. Gilbert, 1843-45; Robert M. Secrest, 

1845- 

Treasurers- — Thornton Baylie, i839-'40; 
Morgan Reno, 1840. 

Judges — Charles Mason, Chief Justice. 
1838; Joseph Williams, 1838; Thomas S. 
Wilson, 1838. 

Presidents of Council. — Jesse B. Brown, 
1838-49; Stephen Hempstead, 1839-40; M. 
Bainridge, 1840-41; J. W. Parker, i84i-'42; 
John D. Elbert, 1842-43; Thomas Cox, 



HI STOUT OF IOWA. 



165 



i843-'44; S. Clinton Hasting, 1845; Stephen 
Hempstead, i845-'46. 

Speakers of tlic House. — William H. Wal- 
lace, i838-'39; Edward Johnson, 1839-40; 
Thomas Cox, i840-'3i ; Warner Lewis, 
i84i-'42; James M. Morgan, 1842-43; James 
P. Carleton, 1843-44; James M. Morgan, 
1845 ; George W. McLeary, 1845-46. 

STATE OFFICERS. 

Governors. — Ansel Briggs, i846-'50 ; 
Stephen Hempstead, i850-'54; James W. 
Grimes, i854-'58; Ralph P. Lowe, 1858- 
'60; Samuel J. Kirkwood, i86o-'64; Will- 
iam M. Stone, 1864-68; Samuel Morrill, 
i868-'72; Cyrus C. Carpenter, i872-'76; 
Samuel J. Kirkwood, i876-'77; J- G. New- 
bold, 1877-78; John H. Gear, 1878-82; 
Buren R. Sherman, i882-'86; William Lar- 
rabee, 1886. 

Lieutenant-Governors. — Oran Faville, 1858- 
'60; Nicholas J. Rusch, i86o-'62; John R. 
Needham, i862-'64; Enoch W. Eastman, 
i864-'66; Benjamin F. Gue, i866-'68; John 
Scott, i868-'7o; M. M. Walden, i870-'72 ; 
H. C. Bulls, 1872-74; Joseph Dysart, 
i874-'76; Joshua G. Newbold, i876-'78; 
Frank T. Campbell, i878-'82; Orlando H. 
Manning, 1882-85 ; John A. T. Hull, 1886. 

This office was created by the new con- 
stitution Sept. 3, 1857. 

Secretaries of State. — Elisha Cutter, Jr., 
1846-48; Joseph H. Bonney, i848-'5o; 
George W. McCleary, i85o-'56; Elijah 
Sells, i856-'63; James Wright, iS63-'67 ; 
Ed. Wright, i867-'73 ; Josiah T. Young, 
i873-'79 ; J- A- T. Hull, 1879-85 ; Franklin 
D. Jackson, 1885. 

Auditors of State. — Joseph T. Fales, 
i846-'50; William Pattee, i850-'54; Andrew 
J. Stevens, i854-'55 ; John Pattee, i855-'59 ; 
Jonathan W. Cattell, iS59-'65 ; John A. 
Elliott, i865-'7i ; John Russell, i87i-'75 ; 
Buren R. Sherman, 1875-81; Wm. V. 
Lucas, 1881 ; John L. Brown, i882-'83 ; J. 
W. Cattell, acting, i885-'86. 



Treasurers of State. — Morgan Reno, 
i846-'5o; Israel Kister, i85o-'52 ; Martin L. 
Morris, i852-'59; John W. Jones, i859-'63 ; 
William H. Holmes, i863-'67; Samuel E. 
Rankin, i867-'73; William Christy, 1873- 
'77; George W. Bemis, i877-'8i ; Edwin 
H. Conger, i88i-'85 ; Voltaire Twombly, 
1885. 

Attorney-Generals. — David C. Cloud, 
1853-56; Samuel A. Rice, i856-'6o; Charles 
C. Nourse, i86o-'64; Isaac L. Allen, 1865- 
'66; Frederick E. Bissell, i866-'67; Henry 
O'Connor, i867-'72 ; Marcena E. Cutts, 
i872-'76; John F. Mcjunkin, i877-'8i ; 
Smith McPherson, 1881-85 ; A. J. Baker, 
1885. 

Adjutant-Generals. — Daniel S. Lee, 185 1- 
'55; George W. McCleary, 1855-57; Eli- 
jah Sells, 1857; Jesse Bowen, i857-'6i ; Na- 
thaniel Baker, i86i-'77; John H. Looby, 
i877-'78; W. L, Alexander, i878-'84. 

Registers of the State Land-Office. — Anson 
Hart, i855-'57 ; Theodore S. Parvin, 1857- 
'59; Amos B. Miller, i859-'62; Edwin 
Mitchell, 1862-63; Josiah A. Harvey, 
i863-'67; Cyrus C. Carpenter, i867-'7i ; 
Aaron Brown, i87i-'75 ; David Secor, 
i875-'79 ; J. K. Powers, i879-'82.* 

Superintendents of Public Instruction. — 
James Harlan, i847-'48; Thos. H. Benton, 
Jr., 1848-54; James D. Fads, i854-'57, 
Joseph C. Stone, 1857; Maturin L. Fisher, 
i857-'58; Oran Faville, iS64-'67 ; D.Frank- 
lin Wells, i867-'68 ; A. S. Kissell, i868-';2; 
Alonzo Abernethy, i872-'76; Carl W. 
Van Coelen, i876-'82; John W. Akers, 
1882-84. 

This office was created in 1S47 and abol- 
ished in 1858, and the duties then devolved 
upon the secretary of the Board of Educa- 
tion; it was re-created March 23, 1864. 

State Printers. — Garrett D. Palmer and 
George Paul, i849-'5i ; William H. Merritt, 
i85i-'53; William A. Hornish, 1853 ; Den- 

*Offlce abolished January 1, lo;jj, and I'utieB devoUcA 
on tlie Secretary of State 



1 66 



HISTORY OF IOWA. 



nis A. Mahoney and Joseph B. Dorr, 1853- 
'55 ; Peter Moriarty, i8S5-'57 ; John Tees- 
dale, i857-'6i ; Francis W. Palmer, 1861- 
t^; Frank M. Mills, i869-'7i ; G. W. Ed- 
wards, i87i-'73 ; Rich. P. Clarkson, 1873- 
'79; Frank T,!. Mills, i879-'8i ; Geo. E. 
Roberts, 1881. 

State Binders. — William M. Coles, 1855- 
•58 ; Frank M. Mills, i858-'67 ; James S. 
Carter, i867-'7i ; J.J. Smart, i87i-'75 ; H. 
A. Perkins, 1875-79; Matt. Parrott, 1879- 
'85; L. S. Merchant, 1885. 

Secretaries of Board of Education. — T. 
H. Benton, Jr., i859-'63 : Oran Faville, 
i863-'64. 

This office was abolished March 23, 1864. 

Presidents of the Senate. — -Thomas Baker, 
i846-'47; Thomas Hughes, i847-'48; John J. 
Selman, 1848-49; Enos Lowe, i849'5i ; 
Wm. E. Leffingvvell, i85i-'53; Maturn L. 
Fisher, i853-'55 ; Wm. W. Hamilton, 855- 

'57- 

Under the new Constitution the Lieuten- 
ant-Governor is President of the Senate. 

Speakers of the House. — Jesse B. Brown, 
1846-48; Smiley H. Bonham, i848-'5o; 
George Temple, i85o-'52; James Grant, 
i852-'54; Reuben Noble, 1 854-'56; Samuel 
McFarland, i856-'57; Stephen B. Sheledy, 
1857-59 ; John Edwards, i859-'6i ; Rush 
Clark, i86i-'63: Jacob Butler, i863-'65; Ed. 
Wright, i865-'67; John Russell, i867-'69; 
Aylett R. Cotton, i869-'7i ; James Wilson, 
1871-73; John H. Geer, i873-'77; John Y. 
Stone, 1877-79; Lore Alford, i88o-'8i ; G. 
R. Struble, 1882-83; Wm. P. Wolf, 1884; 
Albert Head, 1886. 

Chief Justices of the Supreme Court. — 
Charles Mason, 1847; Joseph Williams, 
1847-48; S. Clinton Hastings, i848-'49 ; 
Joseph Williams, i849-'55 ; George G. 
Wright, 1855-60; Ralph P. Lowe, i86o-'62; 
Caleb Baldwin, i862-'64; George G. 
Wright, i864-'66; Ralph P. Lowe, 1866- 
r>?, lobi? R Dii-'ja J 868 '70; Chester C. 



Cole, i87o-'7i ; James G. Day, i87i-*72; 
Joseph M. Beck, 1872-74; W. E Miller, 
i874-'76; Chester C. Cole, 1876; Wm. H. 
See vers, 1876-77 ; James G. Day, i877-'78; 
James H. Rothrock, 1878-83 and '84; 
Joseph M. Beck, i879-'8o and '85 ; Austin 
Adams, i88o-'8i and '86; Wm. H. Seevers, 
1882. 

Associate Justices. — Joseph Williams, held 
over from territorial government until a 
successor was appointed ; Thomas S. Wil- 
son, 1847; John F. Kinney, iS47-'54; George 
Greene, i847-'55; Jonathan C. Hall, 1854- 
'55 ; William G. Woodward, 1855 ; Norman 
W. Isbell, 1855-56; Lacon D.Stockton, 
i856-'6o; Caleb Baldwin, i86o-'64; Ralph 
P. Lowe, i860; George G. Wright, i860; 
John F. Dillon, i864-'7o; Chester C. Cole, 
1864-77; Joseph M. Beck, 1868; W. E. 
Miller, 1870; James G. Day, 1870. 

United States Senators. — Augustus C. 
Dodge, i848-'55 ; George W. Jones, 1848- 
'59; James Harlan, 1855-^65; James W. 
Grimes, i859-'69; Samuel J. Kirk wood, 
1866; James Harlan, 1 867-73 ; James B. 
Howell, 1870; George G. Wright, 1871- 
'JT, William B. Allison, 1873-79; Samuel 
J. Kirkwood, i877-'8i ;. Wm. B. Allison, 
i879-'85; James W. McDill, 1881 ; James 
F. Wilson, 1883. 

Present State Officers (1886). — Governor, 
William Larrabee ; Secretary of State, 
Frank D. Jackson ; Auditor of State, J. W. 
Cattell, acting ; Treasurer, Voltaire Twom- 
bly ; Superintendent Public Instruction; 
John W. Akers ; Printer, George E. Rob- 
erts; Binder, L. S. Merchant; Adjutant- 
General, W. L. Alexander- Librarian, Mrs. 
S. B. Maxwell. 

Supreme Court. — William H. Seevers, 
Chief Justice, Oskaloosa; James G. Day, 
Sidney, James H. Rothrock, Tipton, Joseph 
M. Beck, Fort Madison, Austin Adams, 
Dubuque, Judges; A. J. Baker, .Attorney- 
Genera'. 



*-3y!^>^^^. 



^m#T^ 



•^^«^i«^ 



♦^»t>: 






>^W^ 





Qoueri^ors o|^ |ou/a. 




^■^-;«>'U^ 



^^^^^^^i^^^f 






^l,.O^Hyi^<!A^^Ay) 



ROBERT LUCAS. 





'^^;r^ii>i><i^i&t>iii^iiia>iii^l^^l^ 




OBERT LUCAS, the first 
Governor of Iowa Ter- 
ritory, was the fourth 
son and ninth child of 
WiUiam and Susan- 
nah Lucas, and was 
born April i, 1781, 
in Jefferson Valley, 
Shepherdstown, Jefferson 
County, Virginia, a few miles 
from Harper's Ferry, where his 
ancestors settled before the Rev- 
olution. His father, who was 
descended from William Penn, 
was born January iS, 1743, and 
his mother, of Scotch extrac- 
tion, was born October S, 1745. 
They were married about the 
year 1760, and reared a family of six sons 
and six daughters. His father, who had 
served as a Captain in the Continental army 
during the Revolutionary war, and had 
distinguished himself at the battle of Bloody 
Run, emigrated with his family to Scioto 
County, Ohio, early in the present century. 
At the time of this removal Robert was 
a young man. He had obtained his educa- 
tion chiefly in Virginia, from an old Scotch 
schoolmaster named McMuUen, who taught 
him mathematics and surveying. The latter 
afforded him remunerative employment im- 
mediately upon his entrance into Ohio. 

He was married at Portsmouth, Ohio, 
April 3, 1 8 10, to Elizabeth Brown, who died 
October 18, 1812, leaving an infant daugh- 



ter, who afterward became Mrs. Minerva 
E. B. Sumner. March 7, 18 16, he formed 
a second matrimonial connection ; this time 
with Friendly A. Sumner, who bore to him 
four sons and three daughters. 

The first public office held by Robert 
Lucas was that of County Surveyor of Sci- 
oto County, the commission from Governor 
Edward Tiffin, of Ohio, appointing him such 
being dated December 26, 1803. Decem- 
ber 16, 1805, he was commissioned by 
Governor Tiffin justice of the peace for 
three years. His first military appointment 
was that of Lieutenant of militia, by virtue 
of which he was authorized to raise twenty 
men to assist in filling Ohio's quota of 500 
volunteers called for by the President in 
view of possible difficulties with the Spanish. 
He was subsequently promoted through 
all the military grades to Major Gen- 
eral of Ohio militia, which latter rank was 
conferred upon him in 1818. 

He was a Brigadier-General on the 
breaking out of the war of 1S12, and had 
much to do with raising troops. He was 
appointed a Captain in the regular army, 
but before his commission reached him he 
was already in active service, scouting, 
spying, carrying a musket in the ranks and 
in other useful capacities. After Hull s 
surrender he was paroled and returned to 
Ohio. He was in the course of time made 
a Lieutenant-Colonel, and then a Colonel, 
from which position he resigned. 

He served in numerous civil offices in 



GOVERNORS OF IOWA. 



Ohio, and at the time of his second marriage, 
in 1816, he was and had been for some time 
a member of the Ohio Legislature, serving 
successively for nineteen years in one or the 
other branch, and in the course of his leg- 
islative career presiding over first one 
and then the other branch. In 1820 and 
again in 1828, he was chosen one of the 
Presidential electors of Ohio. In May, 
1832, at Baltimore, Maryland, he presided 
over the first Democratic National Con- 
vention — that which nominated Andrew 
Jackson for his second term as President, 
and Martin Van Buren for Vice Presi- 
dent. In 1832 he was elected Governor 
of Ohio, and re-elected in 1834. He declined 
a third nomination for the same office. 

Under the act of Congress to divide tne 
Territory of Wisconsin and to establish the 
territorial government of Iowa, approved 
June 12, 1838, the subject of this sketch was 
appointed Governor of the new Territory, 
and he immediatel}' accepted the responsi- 
bilit}'. A journey from the interior of Ohio 
to the banks of the Upper Mississippi was 
then a matter of weeks ; so that, although 
Governor Lucas set out from his home on 
the 25th of July, delaying on his route 
a few days at Cincinnati, to arrange for the 
selection of the books for a territorial 
hbrary, it was not till nearly the middle of 
August that he reached Burlington, then 
the temporary seat of government. 

The first official act of Lucas as Gov- 
ernor of Iowa was to issue a proclamation 
dated August 13, 1838, dividing the Terri- 
tory into eight representative districts, ap- 
portioning the members of the Council and 
Mouse of Representatives among the nine- 
teen counties then composing the Terri- 
tory, and appointing the second Monday 
in September ensuing for the election of 
members of the Legislative Assembly and 
a delegate to Congress. His first message 
to the Legislature, after its organization, 
was dated November 12, 1838, and related 



chiefly to a code of laws for the new com- 
monwealth. He opposed imprisonment for 
debt, favored the death penalty for murder 
(executions to be in the presence of only 
the Sheriff and a suitable number of wit- 
nesses), and strenuously urged the organi- 
zation of a liberal system of common 
schools. The organization of the militia 
was also one of his pet measures. There 
was a broad difference between the views 
of a majority of this Legislative Assembly 
and the Governor, on many questions of 
public policy, as well as points of authority. 
This resulted in the sending to the Presi- 
dent of a memorial, dated January 12, 1839, 
signed by eight of the council and seven 
of the Representatives, praying the re- 
moval of Governor Lucas. In addition to 
this, a memorial for the Governor's re- 
moval was passed by both Houses, signed 
in due form by their presiding officers, and 
transmitted to the President. The charges 
made were met by a protest signed by 
eight Representatives, and as a result Gov- 
ernor Lucas was allowed to remain in office 
imtil the next change of administration. 

In 1839 and '40 occurred the well-known 
boundary dispute with Missouri, which 
was finally settled in favor of Iowa, by the 
Supreme Court of the United States. No- 
vember 5, 1839, Governor Lucas announced 
that the Territory had advanced in improve- 
ment, wealth and population (which latter 
was estimated at 50,000) without a parallel 
in history, and recommended the necessar}- 
legislation preparatory to the formation of 
a State government. This was overruled 
by the people, however. Among the latest 
of Governor Lucas's acts was a proclama- 
tion dated April 30, 1841, calling the Leg- 
islature to assemble, for the first time, at 
Iowa Cit}', the new capitol. 

March 25, 1841, he was succeeded by 
John Chambers. He lived a private life 
near Iowa City until his death, February 
7, 1853, at the age of seventy-one years. 



JOHN CHAMBERS. 





OHN CHAMBERS was 

the second Governor of 
Iowa Territory. He was 
born October 6, 1780, at 
Bromley Bridge, Somer- 
set Count)', New Jersey. 
His father, Rowland Cham- 
bers, was born in Pennsyl- 
vania, of Irish parentage. 
According to a tradition in 
the famil}', their remote 
ancestors were Scotch, and 
belonged to the clan Cam- 
eron. Having refused to 
join in the rebellion of 1645, 
they migrated to Ireland, 
where, by an act of Parliament, on their 
own petition, they took the name o: C im- 
bers. Rowland Chambers espoused with 
enthusiasm the cause of American inde- 
pendence, and was commissioned a Colonel 
of New Jersey militia. At the close of the 
war, reduced in circumstances, he immi- 
grated to Kentucky and settled in Wash- 
mgton, then the seat of Mason County. 
John, the youngest of seven children, was 
then fourteen years old. A few days after 
the family settled m their new home he 
found employment in a drj'-goods store, 
and the following spring was sent to 
Transylvania Seminary, at Lexington. He 
returned home in less than a year. In 1797 



he became deputy under Francis Taylor, 
Clerk of the District Court. His duties 
being light, he applied himself to the study 
of law. In the spring of 1800 he assumed 
all the duties of the office in which he had 
been employed, and in November following 
he was licensed to practice law. 

In 1803 Mr. Chambers, who had now 
entered upon a career of uninterrupted 
professional prosperity, was married to Miss 
Margaret Taylor, of Hagerstown, Mary- 
land. She lived but about three years, and 
in 1807 he married Miss Hannah Taylor, a 
sister of his first wife. Not long after he 
engaged in the manufacture of bale rope 
and bagging for the Southern market. In 
this he incurred heavy losses. 

In the campaign of 181 2 he served as 
aid-de-camp to General Harrison, with the 
rank of Major. In 181 5 Mr. Chambers was 
sent to the Legislature, and in 1828 he went 
to Congress to fill the unexpired term of 
General Thomas Metcalfe. In 1830 and 
183 1 he was again in the State Legislature. 
In 1832 he lost his wife. She was a lady of 
cultivated mind and elegant manners, and 
had made his home a happy and attractive 
one. The same year he was offered a seat 
on the bench of the Supreme Court of 
Kentucky, but this he declined. The same 
office was tendered him in 1835, but before 
the time for taking his seat, he was obliged 



GOVERNORS OF IOWA. 



to resign, out of consideration for his health. 
From 1835 to 1839 he was in Congress, 
making for himself a high reputation. 

Between 1815 and 1828 Mr. Chambers 
was, for several years, the commonwealth's 
attorney for the judicial district in which 
he lived. He was during that period at the 
zenith of his reputation as a lawyer and ad- 
vocate. He met the giants of the Ken- 
tucky bar in important civil and criminal 
trials. His well-known high sense of honor, 
and his contempt for professional chicanery, 
commanded the respect of his legal com- 
peers. His appearance and manner were 
dignified, his tone calm and impressive, 
and his language singularly direct and 
vigorous. 

He closed his congressional career in 
1839 with the purpose of resuming the 
practice of law, but his old friend General 
Harrison was nominated for the Presi- 
dency and induced him to aid in the 
personal canvass General Harrison made 
through the country. He was urged by 
President Harrison to accept some office 
requiring his residence in Washington, but 
this he declined, though he afterward ac- 
cepted the appointment of Governor of 
Iowa. He entered upon the duties of this 
office May 13, 1841. His success in his 
administration of the affairs of the Territory 
was well attested by the approbation of the 
people, and by the hearty commendation 
of those in authority at Washington, espe- 
cially for his management of Indian affairs. 
During his term of office he found it neces- 
sary on several occasions to suppress the 
feuds of the red men, which he did with 
such firmness and decision that quiet was 
promptly restored where war seemed im- 
minent. Governor Chambers was repeat- 
edly called on to treat with the Indian tribes 



for the purchase of their lands. In Octobet, 
1 84 1, he was commissioned jointly with 
Hon. T. H. Crawford, Commissioner of In- 
dian Affairs, and Governor Doty, of Wis- 
consin, to hold a treaty with the Sacs and 
Foxes, which, however, did not result in a 
purchase. In September, 1842, being ap- 
pointed sole Commissioner for the same 
purpose, he succeeded fully in carrying out 
the wishes of the Government. In 1843 he 
held a treaty with the Winnebagoes, but in 
this instance no resvilt was reached 

In 1844, his term of office having expired, 
he was re-appointed by President Tyler, 
but was removed in 1845 by President 
Polk. Shortly afterward, v/ith grcz,'-\y in- 
paired health, he returned to Kentucky, 
where, with skillful medical treatment and 
entire relief from official cares, he partially 
r-jcovered. During the few remaining years 
of his life Governor Chambers's recollec- 
tions of Iowa were of the most agreeable 
character. He spoke gratefully of the re- 
ception extended to him by her people, and 
often referred with great kindness to his 
neighbors in Des Moines Count}^ 

His infirm health forbade his engaging in 
any regular employment after his return to 
Kentucky, but in 1849, at the solicitation ot 
the Commissioner of Indian Aiiairs, he ne- 
gotiated jointly with Governor RamseV; of 
Minnesota, a successful treaty v.'ith the 
Sioux Indians for the purchase 01 lands. 
The latter years of Governor Chambers's 
life were spent mostly wieh his ci"...aren. 
whose affection and respect were the chief 
conditions of his happiness. During a visit 
to his daughter in Paris, Kentucky, he was 
taken sick at the house of his son-in-iaw. C. 
S. Brent, and after a iew weeks oreathed 
his last, September 21. 1852. in his seventv- 
second year. 



^AMES CLArMM. 



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jHE third and last Ter- 
ritorial Governor 
was James Clarke. 
Sometime in the 
autumn of the year 
1837, when the trees 
were in the " sear 
and yellow leaf," a printer 
boy of slender form and 
gentle appearance might 
have been seen crossing 
the laurel hills of his own 
State. Behind him rolled 
the waters of the " Blue 
Juniata," on the banks of 
which he had spent, in 
merry glee, his youthful 
days. He had heard and read of strange 
countries that lay far off toward the setting 
sun, through which broad rivers run, and 
spreading landscapes unfolded to human 
eyes the most rare and magnificent beauty. 
With his youthful gaze fixed upon that star 
which never sets, he set forth into the wilds 
of Wisconsin, a stranger in a strange land, 
an adventurer seeking his own fortune, de- 
pending upon his own exertions, with no 
recommendation save an honest face and 
genteel deportment. This young man was 
James Clarke, who afterward became the 
able, talented and popular Governor of 
Iowa. 

He remained in Wisconsin, working at 
his trade as a printer, until after the organi- 



zation of the Territory of Iowa, when he 
removed to Burlington, where the first 
Legislature of Iowa assembled. After the 
death of Mr. Conway he was appointed by 
President Van Buren, Secretary of the Ter- 
ritory, which office he filled with great 
credit to himself and satisfaction to the 
people. During the time he held this office 
he contributed by his kind, gentle and 
amiable manner to soften the feelings of 
hatred and distrust which at one time ex- 
isted between leading men of the Territory. 
Whoever had business at his office found 
him a kind, gentle, quiet, amiable man, al- 
ways ready and willing to do whatever was 
desired of him, regretting, at the same time, 
that he could do no more. During the 
time he was Secretary he performed a vast 
amount of labor, but notwithstanding the 
large amount of business he transacted, he 
still found time to write for the press, and 
contributed many valuable articles touch- 
ing the future greatness of Iowa. 

After he retired from the office of Secre- 
tary he again returned to the printing trade, 
and became the leading editor of the Bur- 
lington Gazette. To the columns of this 
paper he devoted his whole energies, and 
by so doing made it the leading Democratic 
paper of the Territory. In the early sum- 
mer of 1845 President Polk removed Mr. 
Chambers, and appointed Mr. Clarke to suc- 
ceed him as Governor of Iowa. Previous 
to his appointment he had been elected by 



176 



GOVERNORS OF IOWA. 



the people of his county a delegate to the 
first convention which assembled to form a 
Constitution for the State of Iowa. In this 
convention he distinguished himself both 
for his talent and personal demeanor, and 
contributed to the pages of that Constitu- 
tion some of the great elementary principles 
which lie at the foundation of human rights. 
And although that Constitution was de- 
feated, he still had the satisfaction of seeing 
their spirit and meaning transferred to 
another, and still continued as the funda- 
mental law of our State. 

The first Legislature after he received 
his appointment assembled at Iowa City, 
on the first Monda)^ of December, 1845. 
His message to the Legislature after its or- 
ganization is a model of style and clearness. 
He set forth the importance of an early ex- 
tinguishment of the Indian title to all the 
lands within the limits ot Iowa, and urged 
the Legislature to memorialize Congress to 
purchase a tract of land on the Upper Mis- 
sissippi for a future home for the Winne- 
bagoes, and thus induce them to part with 
their title to a large tract of country known 
as the " neutral ground," a recommendation 
which tlie General Government soon after 
acted upon and carried out. 

January 16, 1846, the Legislature passed 
once more an act for the purpose of elect- 
ino: delegates to frame a Constitution for 
the State of Iowa. This time the friends of 
a State government took it for granted 
that the people of the Territory wanted a 
Constitution, so the Legislature provided 
that at the April election following the 
passage of this act, the people of the Ter- 
ritory should elect delegates to a conven- 
tion. Accordingly, at the April election 
delegates were elected, and the convention, 
agreeable to said act, consisting of tliirt)-- 
two members instead of seventy as in the 
previous convention, met at Iowa City, on 
the first Monday of May, 1846, and after a 



session of eighteen days produced a Con- 
stitution which was immediately submitted, 
adopted, and made the organic law of the 
State of Iowa. After the result was known 
the Governor issued his proclamation for a 
general election to be held in November 
following, atwhich Ansel Briggs, of Jack- 
son County, was elected Governor of the 
State. 

This proclamation was the last public act 
of James Clarke, for as soon as the new 
Governor was qualified, he turned over to 
him all the archives of his office, and re- 
turned once more to the printing office. 
Again he scattered through Iowa his beau- 
tiful editorials through the columns of the 
Burlington Gazette, until the name and 
fame of Iowa became known throughout 
the length and breadth of the land. He 
appeared at the capitol at the first session 
of the State Legislature luider the new Con- 
stitution, delivered to that body an affecting 
and interesting farewell address, then stood 
back quietly during the whole of the ses- 
sion, and gazed with indignation upon his 
countenance at the dreadful strife, storms 
and bitterness which was manifested during 
the entire session. 

This was the last time that Mr. Clarke 
ever appeared at the Legislature. He died 
soon after, at Burlington, of the cholera. 
Thus closed the earthly career of a just and 
noble man, cut off in the prime of life and 
in the midst of an usefid career. He was 
married to a sister of General Dodge, and 
this fact being known at the time of his ap- 
pointment as Governor, drew upon the 
Dodges the title of the " royal family." But 
whatever might be said in this respect, the 
appointment could not have been bestowed 
upon a better man, or one more competent 
to fill it. His history is without a stain or 
reproach, and throughout his whole life no 
man ever imputed aught against his char- 
acter as a man and a citizen. 



'*^lfj^ 





Ansel MrIggs. 



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|HE first Governor of 
Iowa under its State 
organization, was 
Ansel Briggs, who, 
like his two imme- 
diate successors, was 
a son of that won- 
derful nursery of progress, 
New England. He was 
the son of Benjamin Ingley 
Briggs and Electa his wife, 
and was born in Vermont, 
February 3, 1806. His 
boyhood was spent in his 
native State, where, in the 
common schools, he re- 
ceived a fair education, 
improved by a term spent at the academy 
of Norwich. In his youth, about the year 
1830, with his parents, he removed to 
Cambridge, Guernsey Count}', Ohio, where 
he engaged in the work of establishing 
stage lines, and where, as a Whig, he com- 
peted with John Ferguson, a Jackson 
Democrat, for the oflfice of county audi- 
tor and was defeated. In his twenty- 
fourth year he married a wife, born the 
same day and year as himself, of whom he 
was soon bereft. Before leaving Ohio he 
married his second wife, Nancy M., daugh- 
ter of Major Dunlap, an officer of the war 
of 181 2. 



In 1836, removing from Ohio, he joined 
that hardy band, so honored here to-da}-, 
the pioneers of Iowa, and settled with his 
famil)' at Andrew, in Jackson County. 
Here he resumed his former business of 
opening stage lines, sometimes driving the 
stage himself, and entering into contracts 
with the postoffice department for carrying 
the United States mails weekly between 
Dubuque and Davenport, Dubuque and 
Iowa Cit)', and other routes. 

On coming to Iowa he affiliated with the 
Democrats, and on their ticket, in 1842, 
was elected a member of the Territorial 
House of Representatives from Jackson 
County, and subsequently sheriff of the 
same county. On the formation of the 
State government, he at once became a 
prominent candidate for Governor. His 
competitors for the Democratic nomination 
were Judge Jesse Williams and William 
Thompson. The question above all others 
dividing the parties in Iowa in that day was 
that of banks, favored by the Whigs, and op- 
posed by the Democrats. A short time be- 
fore the nominating convention met, Briggs, 
at a banquet, struck a responsive chord in 
the popular heart by offering the toast, " No 
banks but earth, and they well tilled," a 
sententious appeal to the pride of the pro- 
ducer and the prejudice of the partisan, 
which was at once caught up as a party 



t8o 



(iOV'EtiNOtiS Ot^ IO\VA. 



cry, and did more to secure its author the 
nomination for Governor than all else. 

The convention was held at Iowa City 
on Thursday, September 24, 1846, and as- 
sembled to nominate State officers and two 
Congressmen. It was called to order by 
F. D. Mills, of Des Moines County. Will- 
iam Thompson, of Henry County, presided, 
and J. T. Fales, of Dubuque, was Secretary. 
The vote for Governor in the convention 
stood : Briggs, sixty-two ; Jesse Williams, 
thirty-two ; and William Thompson, thirty- 
one. The two latter withdrew, and Brisfsfs 
was then chosen by acclamation. Elisha 
Cutler, Jr., of Van Buren County, was 
nominated for Secretary of State; Joseph 
T. Fales, of Linn, for Auditor, and Morgan 
Reno, of Johnson, for Treasurer. S. C. 
Hastings and Shepherd LefiRer were nomi- 
nated for Congress. The election was held 
October 28, 1846, the entire Democratic 
ticket being successful. Briggs received 
7,626 votes, and his competitor, Thomas 
McKnight, the Whig candidate, 7,379, giv- 
ing Briggs a majority of 247. 

The administration of Governor Brieres 
was generally placid. Although avoiding 
excitement and desirous of being in har- 
monious accord with his party, when oc- 
casion required he exhibited an independent 
firmness not easily shaken. One perplex- 
ing controversy bequeathed him by his 
predecessors was the Missouri boundary 
question, which had produced much dis- 
quiet, and even a resort to arms on the part 
of both Iowa and Missouri. 

After the expiration of his four-years 
term, Governor Briggs continued his resi- 
dence in Jackson County, where he engaged 
in commercial business, having sold out his 
mail contracts when he became Governor. 

By his second marriage he had eight 
children, all of whom died in infancy save 
two, and of these latter Ansel, Jr., died 
May 15, 1867, aged twenty-five years. 
John S. Briggs, the only survivor of the 



family, is the editor of the Idaho Herald^ 
published at Blackfoot, Idaho Territory. 
Mrs. Briggs died December 30, 1847, dur- 
ing her husband's term as Governor. She 
was an ardent Christian woman, adhering 
to the Presbyterian faith, and very domestic 
in her tastes. She was well educated and 
endowed by nature with such womanly 
tact and grace as to enable her to adorn the 
high estate her husband had attained. She 
dispensed (albeit in a log house, a form of 
architecture in vogue in Iowa in that day, 
as the mansion of the rich or the cabin of 
the poor) a bounteous hospitality to the 
stranger and a generous charity to the poor, 
in which gracious ministrations she was al- 
ways seconded by her benevolent husband. 

In 1870 Governor Briggs removed from 
Andrew to Council Bluffs. He had visited 
the western part of the State before rail- 
roads had penetrated there, and made the 
trip by carriage. On that occasion he en- 
rolled himself as one of the founders of the 
town of Florence, on the Nebraska side of 
the Missouri River, six miles above Coun- 
cil Bluffs, and which, for a time, disputed 
with Omaha the honor of being the chief 
town of Nebraska. 

He made a trip ^o Colorado during the 
mining excitement in i860. After return- 
ing and spending some time at home, he 
went to Montana in 1863, v/ith his son John, 
and a large party, remaining until 1865, 
when he came back. 

His last illness, ulceration of the stomach, 
was only five weeks in duration. He was 
able to be out three days before his death, 
which occurred at the residence of his son, 
John S. Briggs, in Omaha, May 5, 1881, at 
half past three in the morning. Governor 
Gear issued a proclamation the next day, 
reciting his services to the State, ordering 
half-hour guns to be fired and the national 
flag on the State capitol to be half-masted, 
during the da}' of the funeral. He was 
buried on Sunday si-.cceeding his death. 




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-^ife "•^STEPHEN HEfflPSTEfln.^li^- 



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jHIS gentleman, the 
second Governor of 
the State, was born 
at New London, 
Connecticut, Octo- 
ber I, i8i2, and 
lived in that State 
until the spring of 1828, 
wlien his father's family 
came West and settled on 
a farm a few miles from 
St. Louis, Missouri. Here 
he remained until 1830, 
when he entered as clerk 
in a commission house in 
Galena, Illinois, and dur- 
ing the Black Hawk war he 
was an officer in an artillery company or- 
ganized for the protection of that place. 

At the close of the war he entered as a 
student of the Illinois College at Jackson- 
ville, Illinois, remaining about two years, 
leaving to commence the study of law 
which he finished under Charles S. Hemp- 
stead, Esq., then a prominent lawyer at 
Galena. In 1836 he was admitted to prac- 
tice his profession in the courts of the Ter- 
ritory of Wisconsin, then embracing Iowa, 
and in the same year located in Dubuque, 
being the first lawyer who practiced in 
that place. At the organization of the 



Territorial Legislature in 1838 he was 
elected to represent the northern portion 
of the Territory in the Legislative Council, 
of which he was chairman of the committee 
on judiciary, one of the important com- 
mittees of the Council. At the second 
session of that body he was elected presi- 
dent thereof, was again elected a member 
of the Council in 1845, which was held in 
Iowa City, and was again president of the 
same. In 1844 he was elected one of the 
delegates to the first constitutional conven- 
tion of the State of Iowa, and was chair- 
man of the committee on incorporations. 
In 1848, in connection with Hon. Charles 
. Mason and W. G. Woodward, he was ap- 
pointed commissioner by the Legislature to 
revise the laws of the State of Iowa, and 
which revision, with a few amendments, 
was adopted as the code of Iowa in 1851. 
In 1850 he was elected Governor of the 
State of Iowa, receiving 13,486 votes, 
against 11,403 for James L. Thompson, 575 
for William P. Clarke, and 1 1 scattering. 

The vote was canvassed on the 4th of 
December, and a committee was appointed 
to inform the Governor elect that the two 
Houses of the Legislature were ready to re- 
ceive him in joint convention, in order that 
he might receive the oath prescribed by 
the Constitution. After receiving formaf 



i84 



GOVEnNORS OF tOWA. 



notification, Governor Hempstead, accom- 
panied by Governor Briggs, the judges of 
the Supreme Court and the officers of 
State, entered the hall of the House, and 
having been duly announced, the Governor 
elect delivered his inaugural message, after 
which the oath was administered by the 
chief justice of the Supreme Court. 

This session of the Legislature passed a 
number of important acts which were 
approved by Governor Hempstead, and 
formed fifty-two new counties, most of 
them having the same names and bound- 
aries to-day. These new counties were : 
Adair, Union, Adams, Cass, Montgomery, 
Mills, Pottawattomie, Bremer, Butler, 
Grundy, Hardin, Franklin, Wrigiit, Risley, 
Yell, Greene, Guthrie, Carroll, Fox, Sac, 
Crawford, Shelby, Harrison, Monona, Ida, 
Waukau, Humboldt, Pocahontas, Buena 
Vista, Fayette, Cherokee, Plymouth, Alla- 
makee, Chickasaw, Floyd, Cerro Gordo, 
Hancock, Kossuth, Palo Alto, Clay, O'- 
Brien, Sioux, Howard, Mitchell, Worth, 
Winnebago, Winneshiek, Bancroft, Em- 
mett, Dickinson, Osceola and Buncombe. 
The last-named county was so called under 
peculiar circumstances. The Legislature 
was composed of a large majority favoring 
stringent corporation laws, and the liability 
of individual stockholders for corporate 
debts. This sentiment, on account of the 
agitation of railroad enterprises then begin- 
ning, brought a large number of prominent 
men to the capital. To have an efTect upon 
the Legislature, they organized a " lobby 
legislature," in which these questions were 
ably discussed. They elected as Governor 
Verplank Van Antwerp, who delivered to 
this self-constituted body a lengthy mes- 
sage, in which he sharply criticised the 
regular general assembly. Some of the 
members of tlic latter were in the habit of 
making long and useless speeches, much to 
the hindrance of business. To these he 
especially referred, charging them with 



speaking " for buncombe," and recom- 
mended that as their lasting memorial, a 
county should be called by that name. 
This suggestion was readily seized upon 
by the Legislature, and the county of " Bun- 
combe" was created with few dissenting 
voices. By act of the General Assembly 
approved September ii, 1862, the name 
was changed to '' Lyon," in honor of Gen- 
eral Nathaniel Lyon, who was killed in the 
civil war. 

Governor Hempstead's message to the 
fourth General Assembly, December, 1852, 
stated, among other things, that the popu- 
lation of the State was by the federal cen- 
sus 192,214, and that the State census 
showed an increase for one year of 37,786. 
He also stated that the resources of the 
State for the coming two years would be 
sufficient to cancel all that part of the funded 
debt which was payable at its option. 

By 1854 the State had full}' recovered 
from the depression produced by the bad 
season of 1851, and in 1854 and 1855 the 
immigration from the East was unprece- 
dented. For miles and miles, day after day, 
the prairies of Illinois were lined with cattle 
and wagons, pushing on toward Iowa. At 
Peoria, one gentleman said that during a 
single month 1,743 wagons passed through 
that place, all for Iowa. The Burlington 
Telegraph said : " Twenty thousand immi- 
grants have passed through the city within 
the last thirty days, and they are still cross- 
ing the Mississippi at the rate of 600 a day." 

Governor Hempstead's term expired in 
the latter part of 1854, and he returned to 
Dubuque, where the following year he was 
elected county judge. This position he 
held twelve years, and in 1867 he retired on 
account of impaired health. He lived, how- 
ever, till February 16, 1883, when at his 
home in Dubuque he closed his record on 
earth. He was a useful and active man, 
and deserves a prominent place in the 
esteem of lowans. 




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yAMES W. GItJMES. 



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[IE third to fill the of- 
fice of Governor of 
Iowa, and whose 
name deserves a 
foremost rank 
among the men 
whose personal his- 
tory is interwoven insepar- 
ably with that of the State, 
was James Wilson Grimes. 
He was born in the town 
of Deering, Hillsborough 
County, New Hampshire, 
October 20, 1816. His 
parents — John Grimes, 
born August 11, 1772, and 
Elizabeth Wilson, born 
March ig, 1773 — were natives of the same 
town. Of a family of eight children born 
to them, James was the youngest. In 
early childhood he evinced a taste for 
learning, attending the district school and 
also studying Latin and Greek under the 
instruction of the village pastor. He 
completed his preparation for college 
at Hampton Academy, and entered Dart- 
mouth College in August, 1832, in the 
sixteenth year of his age. Upon leaving 
college in February, 1835, ^^ commenced 
reading law with James Walker, Esq., in 
Petersburgh, New Hampshire. 

Being young and adventurous, and wish- 
ing to carve a fortune for himself, he left 

17 



his native home in 1836 for the far West, 
landing in Burlington, then a new town in 
what was known as the " Black Hawk 
Purchase." Here he opened an office and 
soon established a reputation as a rising 
lawyer. In April, 1837, he was appointed 
city solicitor ; and entering upon the duties 
of that office he assisted in drawing up the 
first police laws of that town. In 1838 he 
was appointed justice of the peace, and be- 
came a law partner of William W. Chap- 
man, United States District Attorney for 
Wisconsin Territory. In the early part of 
the year 1841 he formed a partnership with 
Henr}' W. Starr, Esq., which continued 
twelve years. This firm stood at the head 
of the legal profession in Iowa. Mr. Grimes 
was widely known as a counselor of supe- 
rior knowledge of the law, and with a clear 
sense of truth and justice. He was chosen 
one of the representatives of Des Moines 
County in the first Legislative Assembly 
of the Territory of Iowa, which convened 
at Burlington, November 12, 1838; in the 
sixth, at Iowa City, December 4, 1843 '• ^^^^ 
in the fourth General Assembly of the 
State, at Iowa City, December 6, 1852. 
He early took front rank among the pub- 
lic men of Iowa. He was chairman of the 
judiciary committee in the House of Rep- 
resentatives of the first Legislative As- 
sembly of the Territory, and all laws for the 
new Territory passed through his hands. 



:S8 



aol^EJfjvo/fs OP ioWA. 



He was married at Burlington, Novem- 
ber 9, 1846, to Miss Elizabeth Sarah Neally. 

In February, 1854, Mr. Grimes was nom- 
inated by a convention of the Whig party 
for Governor of the State. It was the 
largest convention of that party ever held 
in Iowa, and the last. He was elected, and 
assumed the duties of the office in Decem- 
ber, 1854. Soon after his election it was 
proposed that he should be sent to the 
United States Senate, but he made it under- 
stood that he should fill the term of office 
for which he had been chosen, and he 
served his full term to the entire satisfac- 
tion and acceptance of all parties. He was 
a faithful leader in the political regenera- 
tion of the State. He introduced liberal 
measures to develop the resources of 
the State, and to promote the interests 
of all educational and humane establish- 
ments. Up to the time of. his election 
as Governor, Democracy reigned supreme 
in the Territory. The representatives in 
Congress were allies of the slave power. 
He, after being elected, gave his whole 
soul to the work, and it may truly be said 
that Governor Grimes made Iowa Repub- 
lican and allied it with the loyal States. 

January 14, 1858, he laid down his office, 
only to be placed in another and greater 
one; for on the 25th he was nominated 
by the Republican caucus for United 
States Senator. He took his seat in the 
Senate March 4, 1859, '^"'^ was placed upon 
the committee on naval affairs January 24, 
1 861, on which he remained during the 
remainder of his senatorial career, serving 
as chairman from December, 186^. 

Mr. Grimes voted for the Pacific Rail- 
road bill on June 20, 1862, and for estab- 
lishing the gauge of the road from the Mis- 
souri River to the Pacific Ocean, at four 
feet eight and a half inches, February 18, 
1863. 

January 16, 1864, Mr. Grimes was again 
chosen United States Senator from Iowa 



for si.\ years from March 4, 1865, receiving 
the votes of all but six of the members of 
the General Assembly in joint convention ; 
128 out of 134. His council was often 
sought in matters of great moment, and in 
cases of peculiar difficult}'. Always ready 
to promote the welfare of the State, he 
gave, unsolicited, land worth $6,000 to the 
Congregational college at Grinnell. It 
constitutes the " Grimes foundation," and 
" is to be applied to the establishment and 
maintenance in Iowa College, forever, of 
four scholarships, to be awarded by the 
trustees, on the recommendation of the fac- 
ulty, to the best scholars, and the most 
promising, in any department, who may 
need and seek such aid, and without any 
regard to the religious tenets or opinions 
entertained by an}- person seeking either 
of said scholarships." These terms were 
imposed by Mr. Grimes and assumed July 
I'o, 1865, by the trustees. He received 
the honorary degree of LL.D. in 1865 
from Dartmouth College, and also from 
Iowa College. He also aided in founding 
a public library in Burlington, donating 
$5,000, which was expended in the purchase 
of costly books, and subsequently sent from 
Europe 256 volumes in the German lan- 
guage, and also contributed 600 volumes of 
public documents. 

In January, 1869, he made a donation of 
$5,000 to Dartmouth College, and $1,000 
to the " Social Friend," a literary society of 
which he was a member when in college. 

His health failing, Mr. Grimes sailed for 
Europe April 14, 1869, remaining abroad 
two years, reaching home September 22, 
1871, apparently in improved health and 
spirits. In November he celebrated his 
silver wedding, and spent the closing 
months of his life with his family. He voted 
at the city election February 5, 1872, was 
suddenly attacked with severe pains in the 
region of the heart, and died after a few 
short hours of intense suffering. 




/^, (^^i^z^.^^ 



RALPH P. LOWE. 





lc.^(ji2^^HE fourth Governor 
^ ' of the State, and 

the seventh of Iowa 
without reference to 
the form of govern- 
ment, was Ralpli P. 
Lowe. He was born 
in Ohio in 1808, and Hved 
just three-fourths of a cent- 
ury. He came to the 
Territory of Iowa in 1839 
or 1840, when he was a 
httle over thirty years old. 
He settled in Muscatine, 
where in a short time he 
became prominent in local 
affairs and of recognized 
ability in questions of public policy. While 
yet residing in that city, he represented 
the county of Muscatine in the constitu- 
tional convention of 1844 that framed the 
rejected Constitution. 

After this constitutional convention, Mr. 
Lowe took no further part in public mat- 
ters for a number of years. He removed 
*.o Lee County about 1849 or '50, where 
he became district judge as a successor to 
S-eorge H. Williams, who was afterward 
famous as President Grant's Attorney Gen- 
eral. He was district judge five years, 
from 1852 to 1857, being succeeded by 
Judge Claggett. In the summer of 1857 



•^P 



he was nominated by the Republicans for 
Governor of Iowa, with Oran Faville for 
Lieutenant-Governor. The Democracy 
put in the field Benjamin M. Samuels for 
Governor and George Giliaspy for Lieu- 
tenant Governor. There was a third ticket 
in the field, supported by the American or 
" Know Nothing " party, and bearing the 
names of T. F. Henry and Easton Morris. 
The election was held in October, 1857, and 
gave Mr. Lowe 38.498 votes, against 36,088 
for Mr. Samuels, and 1,006 for Mr. Henr}'. 

Hitherto the term of office had been four 
years, but by an amendment to the Consti- 
tution this was now reduced to two. Gov- 
ernor Lowe was inaugurated January 14, 
1858, and at once sent his first message to 
the Legislature. Among the measures 
passed by this Legislature were bills to in- 
corporate the State Bank of Iowa ; to pro- 
vide for an agricultural college ; to author- 
ize the business of banking ; disposing of 
the land grant made by Congress to the 
Des Moines Valley Railroad ; to provide 
for the erection of an institution for the 
education of the blind ; and to provide for 
taking a State census. 

No events of importance occurred dur- 
ing the administration of Governor Lowe, 
but it was not a period of uninterrupted 
prosperity. The Governor said in his 
biennial message of January 10, i860, re- 



192 



GOVERNORS OF IOWA. 



viewing the preceding two years: " The 
period that has elapsed since the last 
biennial session has been one of great dis- 
turbing causes, and of anxious solicitude to 
all classes of our fellow citizens. The first 
year of this period was visited with heavy 
and continuous rains, which reduced the 
measure of our field crops below one-half 
of the usual product, whilst the financial 
revulsion which commenced upon the At- 
lantic coast in the autumn of 1857 did not 
reach its climax for evil in our borders until 
the year just past." 

He referred at length to the claim of the 
State against the Federal Government, 
and said that he had appealed in vain to 
the Secretary of the Interior for the pay- 
ment of the 5 per cent, upon the military 
land warrants that the State is justly en- 
titled to, which then approximated to a 
million of dollars. The payment of this 
fund, he said, " is not a mere favor which 
is asked of the General Government, but a 
subsisting right which could be enforced in 
a court of justice, was there a tribunal of 
this kind clothed with the requisite juris- 
diction." 

The subject of the Des Moines River 
grant received from the Governor special 
attention, and he gave a history of the 
operations of the State authorities in ref- 
erence to obtaining the residue of the lands 
to which the State was entitled, and other 
information as to the progress of the work. 
He also remarked " that under the act 
authorizing the Governor to raise a com- 
pany of mounted men for defense and pro- 
tection of our frontier, approved February 
9, 1858, a company of thirty such men, 
known as the Frontier Guards, armed and 
equipped as required, were organized and 
mustered into service under the command 
of Captain Henry B. Martin, of Webster 
City, about the first of March then follow- 
ing, and were divided into two companies, 
one stationed on the Little Sioux River, 



the other at Spirit Lake. Their presence 
afforded security and gave quiet to the 
settlements in that region, and after a ser- 
vice of four months they were duly dis- 
banded. 

" Late in the fall of the year, however, 
great alarm and consternation was again 
felt in the region of Spirit Lake and Sioux 
River settlements, produced by the appear 
ance of large numbers of Indians on the 
border, whose bearing was insolent and 
menacing, and who were charged with 
clandestinely running off the stock of the 
settlers. The most urgent appeals can^e 
from these settlers, invoking again the 
protection of the State. From the repre- 
sentations made of the imminence of their 
danger and the losses already sustained, 
the Governor summoned into the field once 
more the frontier guards. After a service 
of four or five months they were again 
discharged, and paid in the manner 
prescribed in the act wnder which ihey 
were called out." 

Governor Lowe was beaten for the 
renomination by Honorable S. J. Kirkwood, 
who was considered much the stronger 
man. To compensate him for his defeat 
for the second term, Governor Lowe was 
appointed one of the three judges under 
the new Constitution. He drew the short 
term, which expired in 1861, but was 
returned and served, all told, eight years. 
He then returned to the practice of 
law, gradually working into a claim busi- 
ness at Washington, to which city he re- 
moved about 1874. In that city he died, on 
Saturday, December 22, 1883. He had a 
large family. Carleton, one of his sons, 
was an officer in the Third Iowa Cavalr}' 
during the war. 

Governor Lowe was a man of detail, 
accurate and industrious. In private and 
public life he was pure, upright and honest. 
In religious faith he was inclined to be a 
Spiritualist. 




^:3e''>->t-6y<-<— ^ 



SAMUEL J. KIRKWOOD. 



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S^f^SAMUBL ^. I^II^I^WOOD.il^ 



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AMU EL JORDAN 
KIRKWOOD, the 
fifth Governor of the 
State of Iowa, was born 
December 20, 1813, in 
Harford County, Mary- 
land, on his father's 
farm. His father was twice 
married, first to a lady named 
Coulson, by whom he had 
two sons, and, after her 
tleath, to Mary Alexander, by 
whom he had three children, 
all sons, the youngest of whom 
is the subject of these ncjtes. The 
father of Governor Kirkwood was 
a native of Maryland, his ancestors 
having settled there previous to the Revo- 
lution ; his mother was born in Scotland, 
and both parents were strict members of 
the Presbyterian church. 

When ten years t)ld young Kirkwood was 
sent to Washington City to attend a school 
taught by a relative named John McLeod. 
He remained at school four years, when he 
entered a drug store at Washington as 
clerk, in which occupation he continued till 
after attaining his majority, with the excep- 
tion of about eighteen months spent in 
teaching in York County, Pennsylvania. 
In 1835 Samuel left Washington and set- 
tied in Richland County, Ohio, where he 
assisted his father and brother (who had rc- 




■p^^^^^^^ /f 
•^ 



moved from Maryland there) in clearing a 
farm. In 1841 he entered, as a student, the 
law office of Thomas W. Hartley, afterward 
Governor of Ohio, and in 1S43 was admit- 
ted to the bar by the Supreme Court of 
Ohio. He then engaged in the practice 
of law with his former preceptor, Mr. 
Bartley, forming an association which con- 
tinued for eight years. 

From 1845 to 1849 ^^ served as prose- 
cuting attorney of his county. In 1849 l^c 
was elected as a Democrat to represent his 
county and district in the constitutional 
convention. In 1851 Mr. Bartley, his part- 
ner, having been elected to the supreme 
judiciary of the State, Kirkwood formed a 
partnership with Barnabas Barns, with 
whom he continued to practice until the 
spring of 1855, when he removed to the 
West. 

Up to 1854 Mr. Kirkwood had acted with 
the Democratic party. But the measures 
proposed and sustained that year by the 
Democracy in Congress, concentrated in 
what was known as the Kansas-Nebraska 
act, drove him with hosts of anti-slavery 
Democrats out of the party. He was be- 
sought by the opposition in the " Richland 
district" to become their candidate for 
Congress, but declined. In 1855 he came 
to Iowa and settled two miles northwest of 
Iowa City, entering into a partnership with 
his brother-in-law, Ezekiel Clark, in the 



• 96 



GOVERNORS OF IOWA. 



milling business, and kept aloof from pub- 
lic affairs. He could not long conceal his 
record and abilities from his neighbors, 
however, and in 1856 he was elected to the 
State Senate from the district composed of 
the counties of Iowa and Johnson, and 
served through the last session of the 
Legislature held at Iowa City and the first 
one held at Des Moines. 

In 1859 Mr. Kirkwood was made the 
standard-bearer of the Republicans of Iowa, 
and though he had as able and popular a 
competitor as General A. C. Dodge, he was 
elected Governor of Iowa by a majority of 
over 3,000. He was inaugurated January 
1 1, i860. Before the expiration of his first 
term came the great civil war. As Gov- 
ernor, during the darkest days of the Rebell- 
ion, he performed an exceedingly impor- 
tant duty. He secured a prompt response 
by volunteers to all requisitions by the 
federal Government on the State for troops, 
so that during his Governorship no " draft " 
took place in Iowa, and no regiment, except 
the first, enlisted for less than three years. 
At the same time he maintained the State's 
financial credit. The Legislature, at its ex- 
tra session in 1861, authorized the sale of 
$800,000 in bonds, to assist in arming and 
equipping troops. So frugally was this 
work done, that but $300,000 of the bonds 
were sold, and the remaining $500,000 not 
having been required, the bonds represent- 
ing this amount were destroyed by order 
of the succeeding Legislature. 

In October, 1861, Governor Kirkwood 
was. with comparatively little opposition, 
re-elected — an horror accorded for the first 
time in the history of the State. His ma- 
jority was about 18,000. During his second 
term he was appointed by President Lin- 
coln to be Minister to Denmark; but he 
declined to enter upon his diplomatic duties 
until the expiration of his term as Governor. 
The position was kept open for him until 
that time, but, when it came, pressing pri- 



vate business compelled a declination of 
the office altogether. 

In January, 1866, he was a prominent 
candidate before the Legislature for United 
States Senator. Senator Harlan had re- 
signed the senatorship upon his appoint- 
ment to the office of Secretary of the 
Interior by President Lincoln, just before 
his death, but had withdrawn from the 
cabinet soon alter the accession of Mr. 
Johnson to the Presidency. In this way 
it happened that the Legislature had two 
terms of United States Senator to fill, a 
short term of two years, to fill Harlan's 
unexpired term, and a long term of six 
years, to immediately succeed this; and 
Harlan had now become a candidate for 
his own successorship, to which Kirkwood 
also aspired. Ultimately, Kirkwood was 
elected for the first and Harlan for the 
second term. During his brief senatorial 
service, Kirkwood did not hesitate to meas- 
ure swords with Senator Sumner, whose 
natural egotism had begotten in him an 
arrogant and dictatorial manner, borne with 
humbly until then by his colleagues, in 
deference to his long experience and emi- 
nent ability, but unpalatable to an inde- 
pendent Western Senator like Kirkwood. 

At the close of his senatorial term, March 
4, 1867, he resumed the practice of law, 
which a few years later he relinquished to 
accept the presidenc}^ of the Iowa Cit)' 
Savings Bank. In 1875 he was again elected 
Governor, and was inaugurated January 13, 
1876. He served but little over a year, as 
early in 1877 he was chosen United States 
Senator. He filled this position four years, 
resigning to become Secretary of the In- 
terior in President Garfield's cabinet. In 
this ofifice he was succeeded, April 17, 1882, 
by Henry M. Teller, of Colorado. 

Governor Kirkwood returned to Iowa 
City, his home, where he still resides, being 
now advanced in years. He was married 
in 1843 to Miss Jane Clark, a native of Ohio, 





C //t, cU^^^^^Cl 



WILLIAM M. STONE. 



190 




^RttriWm nTWr rrrrFnTiirTTnTTi nTm rPm 

^^^^^^^^y^M^ 



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jHE subject of this brief 
sketch was the ninth 
to hold the position 
of Governor of Iowa, 
and the sixth to fill 
the office under the 
State organization. 
He held the office four 
years, from 1864 to 1868. 

William Milo Stone was 
born October 14, 1827, 
a son of Truman and La- 
vina (North) Stone. His 
great-grandfather on both 
sides of the family was in 
the seven years' struggle 
for independence. His 
grandfather, Aaron Stone, was in the second 
war with England. Truman Stone moved 
to Lewis County, New York, when the son 
was a year old, and six years later to Co- 
shocton County, Ohio. 

Like many other self-made men, William 
M. had few advantages. He never attended 
a school of any kind more than twelve 
months. In boyhood he was for two season.^ 
a team-driver on the Ohio Canal. At seven- 
teen he was apprenticed to the chairmaker's 
trade, and he followed that business until 
twenty-three years of age, reading law 



meantime during his spare hours, wher- 
ever he happened to be. He commenced 
at Coshocton, with James Mathews, who 
afterward became his father-in-law ; con- 
tinued his readings with General Lucius V. 
Pierce, of Akron, and finished with Ezra B. 
Taylor, of Ravenna. He was admitted to 
the bar in August, 1851, by Peter Hitch- 
cock and Rufus P. Ranney, supreme judges, 
holding a term of court at Ravenna. 

After practicing three years at Coshocton 
with his old preceptor, James Mathews, he, 
in November, 1854, settled in Kno.wille, 
which has remained his home since. The 
year after locating here Mr. Stone pur- 
chased the Knoxvilleyo?<r«rt/, and was one 
of the prime movers in forming the Repub- 
lican party in Iowa, being the first editor to 
suggest a State convention, which met 
February 22, 1856, and completed the or- 
ganization. In the autumn of the same 
year he was a Presidential elector on the 
Republican ticket. 

In April, 1857, Mr. Stone was chosen 
Judge of the Eleventh Judicial District. 
He was elected judge of the Sixth Judicial 
District when the new Constitution went 
mto operation in 1S58, and was serving on 
the bench when the American flag was 
stricken down at Fort Sumter. At that 



GOVERNORS OF JOWA. 



time, April, 1861, he was Tiolding court in 
Fairfield, Jefferson County, and when the 
news came of the insult to the old flag he 
immediatel}' adjourned court and prepared 
for what he believed to be more important 
duties — duties to his country. 

In May he enlisted as a private; was 
made Captain of Company B, Third Iowa 
Infanti'y, and was subsequently promoted 
to Major. With that regiment he was at 
the battle of Blue Mills, Missouri, in Sep- 
tember, 1 861, where he was wounded. At 
Shiloh, the following spring, he commanded 
the regiment and was taken prisoner. By 
order of Jefferson Davis he was paroled for 
the time of fort}' days, with orders to re- 
pair to Washington, and if possible secure 
an agreement for a cartel for a general ex- 
change of prisoners, and to return as a 
prisoner if he did not succeed. Failing to 
secure that result within the period speci- 
fied he returned to Richmond and had 
his parol extended fifteen days ; repairing 
again to Washington, he effected his pur- 
pose and was exchanged. 

In August, 1862, he was appointed by 
G<n'ernor Kirk wood Colonel of the Twen- 
ty-second Iowa Infantry, which rendez- 
voused and organized at Camp Pope, Iowa 
City, in August, 1862. The regiment was 
occupied for several months in guarding 
supply stores and the railroad, and escorting 
sujjply trains to the Army nt the Southeast 
Missouri until January 27, 1863, when it re- 
ceived orders to join the arm}' under Gen- 
eral Davidson, at West Plains, Missouri. 
After a march of five days it reached its 
destination, and was brigaded with the 
Twenty -first and Twenty-third Iowa regi 
ments, Colonel Stone commanding, and was 
designated the First Brierade, First Divis- 
ion. Army of Southeast Missouri. April i 
found Colonel Stone at Milliken's Bend, 
Louisiana, to assist Grant in the capture of 
Vicksburg. He was now in immediate 
command of his regiment, Which f(3rmed a 



part of a brigade under Colonel C. L. 
Harris, of the Eleventh Wisconsin. In the 
advance upon Port Gibson Colonel Harris 
was taken sick, and Colonel Stone was 
again in charge of a brigade. In the battle 
of Port Gibson the Colonel and his com- 
mand distinguished themselves, and were 
successful. The brigade was in the reserve 
at Champion Hills, and in active skirmish 
at Black River. 

On the evening of May 21 Colonel Stone 
received General Grant's*order for a gen- 
eral assault on the enemy's lines at 10 A. M. 
on the 22d. In this charge, which was 
unsuccessful, Colonel Stone was again 
wounded, receiving a gunshot in his left 
forearm. Colonel Stone commanded a 
brigade until the last of August, when, 
being ordered to the Gulf department, he 
resigned. He had become very popular 
with the people of Iowa, and they were 
determined to make him Governor. 

He was nominated in a Republican con 
vention held at Des Moines in June, 1863, 
and was elected by a large majority. He 
was brevetted Brigadier-General in 1864, 
during his first year as Governor. He was 
inaugurated January 14, 1864, and was re- 
elected in 1865, his four years in office 
closing January 16,1868. His majority in 
1863 was nearly 30,000, and in 1865 about 
16,500. His diminished vote in 1865 was 
due to the fact that he was very strongl}' 
committed in favor of negro suffrage. 

Govern(3r Stone made a very energetic 
and efficient executive. Since the expira- 
tion of his gubernatorial term he has sought 
t(5 escape the public notice, and has given 
his time largely to his private business in- 
terests. He is in partnership with Hon. O. 
B. Ayres, of Knoxville, in legal practice. 

He was elected to the General Assembly 
in 1877, ^"d served one term. 

In May, 1857, he married Miss Carloae: 
Mathews, a native of Ohio, then residing in 
Knoxville. They iiave one son — William A. 



SAMUEL MERRILL. 



203 



«-.JtJ>'^ 













OLONEL SAM- 
f UEL MERRILL, the 
seventh Governor of 
the State of Iowa, the 
successor of Governor 
Stone, is among the 
men of the West who 
have been called from 
private Hfe to places of trust on 
account of their peculiar fitness 
for office. He was born in the 
town of Turner, Oxford County, 
Maine, August 7, 1822. He is 
of English ancestry, being a 
descendant on his mother's side 
of Peter Hill, who came from 
the West of England and set- 
tled in Saco, Maine (now known as Bidde- 
ford), in 1653. From this ancestry have 
sprung the most of the Hills of America. 
On his father's side he is a descendant of 
Nathaniel Merrill, who, with his brother 
John, came from Salisbury, England, and 
settled in Newburg, Massachusetts, in 1636. 
Abel Merrill married Abigail Hill, June 
25, 1809, in Buxton, Maine. They soon 
moved to Turner, where they became the 
parents of eight children, Samuel, the sub- 
ject of this sketch, being next the youngest, 
the fourth and youngest son in the family, 
and in the eighth generation from his Pil- 
grim fathers. 

18 



Samuel was married first to Catherine 
Thorns, who died m 1847, but fourteen 
months after their marriage. In January. 
1 85 1, he was again married, his second wife 
being a Miss Hill, of Buxton, Maine. To 
this union there have been born four chil- 
dren, three of whom died young, the eldest 
living to be only two and a half years old. 

At the age of sixteen he moved with his 
parents to Buxton, where his time was 
mostly engaged by turns in teaching and 
in attending school until he attained his 
majority. Having determined to make 
teaching a profession, he set out for that 
purpose toward the sunny South, but, as 
he says, he was " born too far north " for 
his political comfort. Suspicion having 
been aroused as to his abolitionist pro- 
clivities, and finding the elements not al- 
together congenial, he soon abandoned the 
land of chivalry for the old Granite State, 
where he engaged for several years in 
farming. 

In 1847 he removed to Tamworth, New 
Hampshire, where he embarked in mer- 
cantile business in company with a brother. 
In this, as in all his business enterprises, he 
was quite successful. Not being satisfied 
with the limited resources of Nortliern 
New England, he determined to try his 
good fortune on the broad prairies of the 
new and more fertile West. Accordingly, 



204 



GOVER!VORS OF IOWA. 



in 1856, he turned his face toward the set- 
ting sun. He made a final settlement at 
McGregor, Iowa, where he established a 
branch house of the old firm. 

During all these years of business Mr. 
Merrill took an active but not a noisy part 
in politics. In 1854 he was elected as an 
Abolitionist to the New Hampshire Legis- 
lature, at the same time General N. B. 
Baker, ex-Adjutant General of Iowa, was 
Governor of the same State. In 1855 he 
was returned for a second term to the Leg- 
islature. In Iowa he was equally fortunate 
in securing the good will of those who 
knew him. His neighbors and those who 
had dealings with him found a man who 
was honest in his busmess, fair in his deal- 
ings, social in his relations, and benevolent 
in his disposition. He took an active in- 
terest in the prosperity of the town and 
ever held an open hand to all needed chari- 
ties. These traits of character had drawn 
around him, though not realized or intended 
by himself, a host of personal admirers. 
This good will resulted in his being nomi- 
nated for a seat in the State Legislature, 
and he was the only one on his ticket that 
was elected. The Legislature met in extra 
session in 1861 to provide for the exigencies 
of the Rebellion, and in its deliberations Mr. 
Merrill rendered effective and unselfish 
service. 

He continued in business at McGregor 
until the summer of 1862, when he was 
commissioned as Colonel of the Twenty- 
first Iowa Infantry, proceeding immediately 
to Missouri, where active service awaited 
him. Marmaduke was menacing the Union 
forces in Central Missouri, which called for 
prompt action on the part of the Union 
Generals. Colonel Merrill was placed in 
command of a detachment of the Twenty- 
first Iowa, a detachment of the Ninety-ninth 
Illinois, a portion of the Third Iowa Cavalry 
and two pieces of artillery, with orders to 
make a forced march to Springfield, he be- 



ing at Houston, eighty miles distant. On 
the morning of the nth of January, 1863, 
they having come across a body of rebels, 
found them advancing in heavy force. 
Colonel Merrill immediately made dis- 
position for battle, and brisk firing was 
kept up for an hour, when the enemy fell 
back. Colonel Merrill now moved in the 
direction of Hartville, where he found the 
rebels in force under Marmaduke, and from 
six to eight thousand strong, with six pieces 
of artillery, while Colonel Merrill had but 
800 men and two pieces of artillery. 

In this engagement the rebels lost several 
officers and not less than 300 men in killed 
and wounded. The Union loss was seven 
killed and sixty-four wounded, five captured 
and two missing. The regiment performed 
severe marches and suffered much in sick- 
ness during the winter. It was assigned to 
the Thirteenth Corps, General John A. Mc- 
Clernand ; fought gallantly at the battle of 
Port Gibson; and while the impetuous 
charge of Black River bridge was being 
made Colonel Merrill was severely, and re- 
ported fatall)', wounded. The battle of Black 
River bridge, the last of the series of engage- 
ments during the campaign of Vicksburg in 
which the rebels fought without tlieir fortifi- 
cations, was a short but bloody combat. 
While Colonel Merrill was leading his regi- 
ment in this deadly charge he was wounded 
through the hips. This brought his mili- 
tary career to a close. Suffering from his 
wounds, he resigned his commission and re- 
turned to McGregor, but was unable to at- 
tend to his private affairs for many months. 

In 1867 he was chosen Governor to suc- 
ceed William M. Stone. He was inaugu- 
rated January 16, 1868, and served till 
January 11, 1872, being re-elected in 1869. 
After the expiration of his term of office 
he returned to McGiegor, but as soon as 
he could adjust his business interests he lo- 
cated in Des Moines, where he is now 
President of the Citizens' National Bank. 



I 




Cfjfi/S c. (:AiipENfE)i. 



26? 











WROM his numerous offi- 
V'i cial positions, and 

the ability with 
which they have 
been filled, Cyrus 
C. Carpenter, the 
eighth Governor of 
the State of Iowa, 
deserves to be remembered 
as one of Iowa's foremost 
men. He is a native of Sus- 
quehanna County, Penns}'!- 
vania, and was born Novem- 
ber 24, 1829. His parents 
were Asahel and Amanda M. 
(Thayer) Carpenter, both of whom died be- 
fore he was twelve years old. His grand- 
father, John Carpenter, was one of nine 
young men who, in 1789, left Attleborough, 
Massachusetts, Un- the purpose of finding a 
home in the " new country." After various 
vicissitudes they located upon the spot 
which they called Harford, in Northeastern 
Pennsylvania, the township in which C3'rus 
was born. This location at that time was 
far from any other settlement, Wilkesbarre, 
in Wyoming Valley, near the scene of the 
celebrated Indian massacre, being among 
the nearest, though fifty miles away. 

Cyrus attended a common school three 
or four months in a year until 1846, then 



taught winters and worked on a farm sum- 
mers for three or four years, and with the 
money thus raised paid his expenses for 
several months at the academy which had 
been established in his native town. After 
leaving this institution, in 1852, he started 
westward ; halted at Johnstown, Licking 
Count}', Ohio ; taught there a year and a 
half, and with his funds thus replenished he 
came to Iowa, loitering some on the way, 
and reaching Des Moines in June, 1854. A 
few days later he started on foot up the 
Des Moines Valley, and found his way to 
Fort Dodge, eighty miles northwest of Des 
Moines, from which place the soldiers had 
moved the previous spring to Fort Ridgely, 
Minnesota. 

He now had but a single half dollar m 
his pocket. He frankly told the landlord 
of his straightened circumstances, offering 
to do any kind of labor until something 
should " turn up." On the evening of his 
arrival he heard a Government contractor 
state that his chief surveyor had left him 
and that he was going out to find another. 
Young Carpenter at once offered his ser- 
vices. To the inquiry whether he was a 
surveyor, he answered that he understood 
the theory of surveying, but had had no 
experience in the field. His services were 
promptly accepted, with a promise of steady 



208 



GOVERNORS OF /OtVA. 



employment if he were found competent. 
The next morning he met the party and 
took command. When the first week's 
work was done he went to Fort Dodge to 
replenish his wardrobe. As he left, stjme 
of the men remarked that that was the last 
that would be seen of him. He was then 
of a slight build, jaded and torn by hard 
work, and, when he left the camp, so utterly 
tired out it is not surprising that the men 
who were inured to out-door life thought 
him completely used up. But they did not 
know their man. With the few dollars 
which he had earned, he supplied himself 
with comfortable clothing, went back to 
his work on Monday morning and con- 
tinued it till the contract was completed. 

The next winter he taught the first school 
opened in Fort Dodge, and from that date 
his general success was assured. For the 
first two years he was employed much of 
the time by persons having contracts for 
surveying Government lands. He was thus 
naturally led into the land business, and 
from the autumn of 1855, when the Land 
Office was established at Fort Dodge, much 
of his time was devoted to surveying, select- 
ing lands for buyers, tax-paying for foreign 
owners, and in short a general land agency. 
During this period he devoted such time as 
he could spare to reading law, with the 
view of eventually entering the profession. 

Soon after the civil war commenced he 
entered the army, and before going into the 
field was commissioned as Captain in the 
staff department, and served over three 
years, attaining the rank of Lieutenant- 
Colonel and being mustered out as brevet 
Colonel. 

He has served his State in numerous 
civil capacities. He was elected Surveyor 
of Webster County in the spring of 1856, 
and the next year was elected a Represen- 
tative to the General Assembly, and served 
in the first session of that bod\- held at Des 
Moines. He was elected Register ot the 



State Land Office in 1866, re-elected in 
1868, and held the office four years, declin- 
ing to be a candidate for renomination. 
He was elected Governor of Iowa in 

1 87 1, and was inaugurated January 1 1, 1872. 
He was re-elected two years later, and 
served until January 13, 1874. He made 
an able and popular executive. In his first 
inaugural address, delivered January 11, 

1872, he made a strong plea for the State 
University, and especially its normal de- 
partment, for the agricultural college, and 
for whatever would advance the material 
progress and prosperity of the people, urg- 
ing in particular the introduction of more 
manufactories. 

At the expiration of his second term as 
Governor Mr. Carpenter was appointed, 
without his previous knowledge, Second 
Comptroller of the United States Treasury, 
and resigned after holding that office about 
fifteen months. He was influenced to take 
this step at that time because another bureau 
officer was to be dismissed, as the head of 
the department held that Iowa had more 
heads of bureaus than she was entitled to, 
and his resigning an office of a higher grade 
saved a man who deserved to remain in 
Government employ. 

He was in the forty -seventh Congress 
from 1 88 1 to 1883, and represented Web- 
ster County in the twentietli General As- 
sembly. He is now leading the life of a 
private citizen at Fort Dodge, his chief 
employment being the carrying on of a 
farm. He is not rich, whicii is a striking 
commentary on his long official service. 
He has led a pure and upright life. 

He has been a Republican since tiie or- 
ganization of that party. In religious mat- 
ters he is orthodox. 

He was married in March, 1864, to Miss 
Susan C. Burkholder, of Fort Dodge. They 
have no children, but have reared from 
childhood a niece of Mrs. Carpenter, Miss 
Fannie Burkholder. 



yOStiUA G. kEWBOLb. 



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^"OSHUA G. NEWBOLD 

was the tenth Governor 
of the State, and the 
thirteenth of Iowa, num- 
bering from the first 
Territorial G o v e r nor. 
He is yet living at Mount 
Pleasant. He is a native of 
Pennsylvania, and his an- 
cestors in this country were 
among the very early set- 
tlers in New Jersey. They 
were Friends, and conse- 
q u e n 1 1 y none of them 
figured in the struggle ff)r 
the independence of the colo- 
nies. Governor Newbold is the son of 
Barzilla and Catherine (Houseman) New- 
bold. He was born in Fayette Count}-, 
Pennsylvania, May I2, 1830, and reared as 
a farmer. When he was eight years of age 
the family moved to Westmoreland County, 
same State, where he was educated in the 
common school, and also in a select school 
or academy, the latter taught b}- Dr. John 
Lewis, since of Grinnell, Iowa. At sixteen 
he returned with the family to Fayette 
County, where he remained eight 3'ears, 
assisting his father in running a flouring 
mill, when not teaching. When about nine- 
teen he began the study of medicine, read- 
ing a year or more while teaching, and then 
abandoning the notion of being a physician. 



In the month of March, 1854, Mr. New- 
bold removed to Iowa, locating on a farm, 
now partly in the corporation of Mount 
Pleasant, Henry County. At the end of 
one year he removed to Cedar Township, 
Van Buren County, there merchandising 
and farming till about i860, when he re- 
moved to Hillsboro, Henry County- and 
pursued the same callings. 

In 1862, when the call was made for 600,- 
000 men to finish the work of crushing the 
Rebellion, Mr. Newbold left his farm in the 
hands of his family and his store in charge 
of his partner, and went into the army as 
Captain of Company C, Twenty-fifth Regi- 
ment Iowa Infantry. He served nearly 
three years, resigning just before the war 
closed, on account of disability. During 
the last two or three months he served at 
the South he filled the position of Judge 
Advocate, with headquarters at Woodville, 
Alabama. 

His regiment was one of those that made 
Iowa troops famous. It arrived at Helena, 
Arkansas, in November, 1862, and sailed in 
December following on the expedition 
against Vicksburg by way of Chickasaw 
Bayou. At the latter place was its first en- 
gagement. Its second was at Arkansas 
Post, and there it suffered severely, losing 
in killed and wounded more than sixty. 

Alter Lookout Mountain it joined in the 
pursuit of Bragg's flying forces to Rmg- 



212 



GOVERNORS OF IOWA. 



gold, where it engaged the enemy in their 
strong works, November 27 losing twenty- 
nine wounded. The following year it joined 
Sherman in his Atlanta campaign, then on 
the famous march to the sea and through 
the Carolinas. 

On returning to Iowa he continued in 
the mercantile trade at Hillsboro for three 
or four years, and then sold out, giving 
thereafter his whole attention to agricult- 
ure, stock-raising and stock-dealing, mak- 
ing the stock department an important 
factor in his business for several 3'ears. Mr. 
Newbold was a member of the thirteenth, 
fourteenth and fifteenth General Assem- 
blies, representing Henry County, and was 
chairman of the school committee in the 
fourteenth, and of the committee on appro- 
priations in the fifteenth General Assembly. 
In the fifteenth (1874) he was temporary 
Speaker during the deadlock in organizing 
the House. In 1875 he was elected Lieu- 
tenant Governor on the Republican ticket 
with Samuel J. Kirkwood. 

His Democratic competitor was E. B. 
Woodward, who received 93,060 votes. Mr. 
Newbold received 134,166, or a majority of 
31,106. Governor Kirkwood being elected 
United States Senator during that session, 
Mr. Newbold became Governor, taking the 
chair February i, 1877, and vacating it for 
Governor Gear in January, 1878. 

Governor Newbold's message to the Leg- 
islature in 1878 shows painstaking care 
and a clear business-like view of the in- 
terests of the State. His recommendations 
were carefully considered and largel}' 
adopted. The State's finances were then 
in a less creditable condition tiian ever be- 
fore or since, as there was an increasing 
floating debt, then amounting to $340,- 
826.56, more than $90,000 in excess of the 
Constitutional limitation. Said Governor 
Newbold in his message: " The commori- 
\Vealth ought not to set an example of dila- 



toriness in meeting its obligations. Of ah 
forms of indebtedness, that of a floating 
character is the most objectionable. The 
uncertainty as to its amount will invariably 
enter into any computation made by persons 
contracting with the State for supplies, ma- 
terial or labor. To remove the present 
difficulty, and to avert its recurrence, I 
look upon as the most important work that 
will demand your attention." 

One of the greatest problems before 
statesmen is that of equal and just taxation. 
The following recommendation shows that 
Governor Newbold was abreast with fore- 
most thinkers, for it proposes a step which 
yearly finds more favor with the people: 
" The inequalities of the personal-property 
valuations of the several counties suggest 
to my mind the propriety of so adjusting 
the State's levy as to require the counties 
to pay into the State treasury only the tax 
on realty, leaving the corresponding tax on 
personalty in the county treasury. This 
would rest with each county the adjust- 
ment of its personal property valuations, 
without fear that they might be so high as 
to work injustice to itself in comparison 
with other counties." 

Governor Newbold has always affiliated 
with the Republican party, and holds to its 
great cardinal doctrines, having once em- 
braced them, with the same sincerity and 
honesty that he cherishes his religious senti- 
ments. He has been a Christian for some- 
thing like twenty-five years, his connection 
being with the Free-Will Baptist church. 
He found his wife, Rachel Farquhar, in 
Fayette County, Pennsylvania, their union 
taking place on the 2d of May, 1850. They 
have had five children, and lost two. The 
names of the living are — Mary Allene, 
Emma Irene and George C. 

The Governor is not yet an old man, and 
may serve his State or county in other 
capacities in the coming years. 



fOtiN H. GEAR. 



2iS 



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l ii fai«f i i |»< Iiq;) i ti i t i iir i i i^^^ly^ 





; HE eleventh to hold the 
highest official posi- 
tion in the State of 
Iowa was John H. 
Gear, of Burlington. 
He is )'et living in 
that city. He was 
born in Ithaca, New York, 
April 7, 1825. His father 
was Rev. E. G. Gear, a cler- 
gyman of the Protestant 
Episcopal church, who 
was born in New London, 
Connecticut, in 1792. 
When he was quite young 
his family removed to 
Pittsfield, Berkshire County, 
Massachusetts; in 1816, after being or- 
dained, he emigrated to New York and 
settled at Onondaga Hill, near which is now 
the thriving city of Syracuse. Soon after 
locatino; there he was married to Miranda E. 
Cook. He was engaged in the ministry in 
various places in Western New York until 
1836, when he removed to Galena, Illinois. 
There he remained until 1838, when he was 
appointed Chaplain in the United States 
Army at Fort Snelling, Minnesota. He 
died in 1874, aged eighty -two years. 

John H., his only son, in 1843, came to 
Burlington, where he has since continued 
to reside. On his arrival he commenced 



his mercantile career by engaging as clerk 
with the firm of Bridgeman & Bros. After 
being with this firm for a little over a year 
he entered the employ of W. F. Coolbaugh 
(since president of the Union National 
Bank, of Chicago), who was even at that 
early date the leading merchant of Eastern 
Iowa. He was clerk for Mr. Coolbaugh 
for about five years, and was then taken 
into partnership. The firm of W. F. Cool- 
baugh & Co. continued in business for 
nearly five years, when Mr. Gear suc- 
ceeded to the business by purchase, and 
carried it on until h^ became known as the 
oldest wholesale grocer in the State. He 
is now president of a large rolling mill 
company at Burlington. 

Mr. Gear has been honored by his fellow- 
citizens with many positions of trust. In 
1852 he was elected alderman ; in 1863 was 
elected mayor over A. W. Carpenter, be- 
ing the first Republican up to that time 
who had been elected in Burlington on a 
party issue. In 1867 the Burlington, Cedar 
Rapids & Minnesota Railroad Company 
was organized, and he was chosen as its 
president. His efforts highly contributed 
to the success of the enterprise, which did 
much for Burlington. He was also active 
in promoting the Burlington & Southwest- 
ern Railway, as well as the Burlington & 
Northwestern narrow-gauge road. 



2iG 



GOVERNORS OP /Oil' A. 



He has always acted with the Republican 
party, and in 1871 was nominated and 
elected a member of the House of Repre- 
sentatives of the Fourteenth General As- 
sembly. In 1873 he was elected to the 
Fifteenth General Assembly. The Repub- 
lican caucus of the House nominated him 
for Speaker by acclamation, and after a 
contest of two weeks he was chosen over 
his opponent, J. W. Dixon. He filled the 
position of Speaker very acceptably, and 
at the close of the session all the members 
of the House, independent of party affili- 
ations, joined in signing their names to a 
resolution of thanks, which was engraved 
and presented to him. In 1875 he was the 
third time nominated to the Assembly by 
the Republican party, and while his county 
gave a large Democratic vote he was again 
elected. He was also again nominated for 
Speaker, by the Republican caucus, and 
was elected by a handsome majority over 
his competitor, Hon. John Y. Stone. He 
is the only man in the State who ever had 
the honor of being chosen to this high posi- 
tion a second time. He enjoys the reputa- 
tion of being an able parliamentarian, his 
rulings never having been appealed from. 
At the close of the session he again received 
the unanimous thanks of the House for his 
courtesy and impartiality. 

In 1877 he was nominated for Governor 
by the Republican convention which met 
at Des Moines, June 28, and at the election 
held the following October he received 
121,546 votes, against 79,353 for John F. 
Irish, 10,639 for Elias Jessup, and 38,228 for 
D. P. Stubbs. His plurality over Irish was 
42,193. He was inaugurated January 17, 
1878, and served four years, being re-elected 
in 1879, by the following handsome vote: 
Gear, 157,571 ; Trimble, 85,056 ; Campbell, 
45.439; Dungan, 3,258; Gear's majority 
over all competitors, 23,828. His second 
inauguration was in January, 1880. 

Governor Gear's business habits enabled 



him to discharge the duties of his office 
with marked ability. He found the finan- 
cial condition of the State in a low ebb, but 
raised Iowa's credit to that of the best of 
our States. In his last biennial message he 
was able to report : " The warrants out- 
standing, but not bearing interest, Septem- 
ber 30, 1 88 1, amounted to $22,093.74, and 
there are now in the treasury ample funds 
to meet the current e.vpenses of the State. 
The war and defense debt has been paid, 
except the warrants for $125,000 negotiated 
by the executive, auditor and treasurer, 
under the law of the Eighteenth General 
Assembly, and $2,500 of the original bonds 
not yet presented for payment. The only 
other debt owing by the State amounts to 
$245,435.19, due to the permanent school 
fund, a portion of which is made irredeem- 
able by the Constitution. These facts place 
Iowa practically among the States which 
have no debt, a consideration which must 
add much to her reputation. The expenses 
of the State for the last two years are less 
than those of any other period since 1869, 
and this notwithstanding the fact that the 
State is to-day sustaining several instita 
tions not then in existence ; namely, the 
hospital at Independence, the additional 
penitentiary, the normal school, and the 
asylum for the feeble-minded children, be- 
sides the girl's department of the reform 
school. The State also, at present, makes 
provision for fish culture, for a useful 
weather service, for sanitary supervision 
by a board of health, for encouraging im- 
migration to the State, for the inspection of 
coal mines by a State inspector, and liberally 
for the military arm of the Government." 

Governor Gear is now in the sixty-first 
year of his age, and is in the full vigor of 
both his mental and physical faculties. He 
was married in 1852 to Harriet S. Foot, 
formerly of Middlebury, Vermont, by whom 
he has had four children, two of whom are 
living. 







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IE twelfth Governor 
of the State was 
Buren R. Sherman, 
who held office two 
terms, from 1882 to 
1886. He was born 
in Phelps, Ontario 
County, New York, May 
28, 1836, and is the third 
son of Phineas L. and Eve- 
line (Robinson) Sherman, 
both of whom were natives 
of the Empire State. 

The subject of this sketch 
received his early educa- 
tion in the public schools 
of his native place, and con- 
cluded his studies at Elmira, New York, 
acquiring a thorough knowledge of the 
English branches. At the close of his 
studies, acting on the advice of his father, 
who was a mechanic (an ax maker), he ap- 
prenticed himself to Mr. S. Ayres, of El- 
mira, to learn the watchmaker's trade. In 
1855, with his famil}', he removed to Iowa 
and settled upon an unbroken prairie, in 
what is now Geneseo Township, Tama 
County, where his father had purchased 
lands from the Government. Thei^e young 
Sherman labored on his father's farm, em- 
plo3'ing his leisure hours in the study of 
law, which he had begun at Elmira. He 

also engaged as bookkeeper in a neighbor- 
ly 



ing town, and with his wages assisted his 
parents in improving their farm. In the 
summer of 1859 he was admitted to the bar. 
and the following spring removed to Yin 
ton, and began the practice of law with 
Hon. William Smyth, formerly District 
Judge, and J. C. Traer, conducting the 
business under the firm name of Sm3'th. 
Traer & Sherman. 

They built up a flourishing practice and 
were prospering when, upon the opening 
of the war, in 1861, Mr. Sherman enlisted in 
Company G, Thirteenth Iowa Volunteer 
Infantry, and immediately went to the 
front. He entered the service as Second 
Sergeant, and in February, 1862, was made 
Second Lieutenant of Company E. On the 
6th of April following he was ver}' severely 
wounded at the battle of Pittsburg Landing, 
and while in the hospital was promoted to 
the rank of Captain. He returned to his 
company while yet obliged to use crutches, 
and remained on duty till the summer of 
1863, when, by reason of his wound, he was 
compelled to resign and return home. Soon 
after i-eturning from the army he was 
elected County Judge of Benton County, 
and re-elected without opposition in 1865. 
In the autumn of 1866 he resigned his judge- 
ship and accepted the office of clerk of the 
District Court, to which he was re-elected 
in 1868, 1870 and 1872, and in December, 
1874, resigned in order to accept the office 



iio 



GOVERNORS Olf IOWA. 



of Auditor of State, to which he had been 
elected by a majority of 28,425 over J. M. 
King, the " anti-monopoly" candidate. In 
1876 he was re-nominated and received 50,- 
272 more votes than W. Growneweg(Demo- 
crat) and Leonard Brown (Greenback) to- 
gether. In 1878 he was again chosen to 
represent the Republican party in that office, 
and this time received a majorit)' of 7,164 
over the combined votes of Colonel Eiboeck 
(Democrat) and G. V. Swearenger (Green- 
back). In the six years that he held this 
office, he was untiring in his faithful appli- 
cation to routine work and devotion to his 
especial share of the State's business. He 
retired with such an enviable record that it 
was with no surprise the people learned, 
June 27, i88i,that he was the nominee of the 
Republican parly for Governor 

The campaign was an exciting one. The 
General Assembly had submitted to the 
people the prohibitory amendment to the 
Constitution. This, while not a partisan 
question, became uppermost in the mind 
of the public. Mr. Sherman received 133,- 
330 votes, against 83,244 for Kinne and 28,- 
1 12 for D. M. Clark, or a plurality of 50,086 
and a majority of 21,974. In 1883 he was 
re-nominated by the Republicans, as was L. 
G. Kinne by the Democrats. The National 
party offered J. B. Weaver. During the 
campaign these candidates held a number 
of joint discussions at different points in the 
State. At the election the vote was: Sher- 
man, 164,182; Kinne, 139,093 ; Weaver, 23,- 
089; Sherman's plurality, 25,089; majority, 
2,000. In his second inaugural Governor 
Sherman said : 

" In assuming, for the second time, the 
office of Chief Magistrate of the State, I 
fully realize my grateful obligations to the 
people of Iowa, through whose generous 
confidence I am here. I am aware of the 
duties and grave responsibilities of this ex- 
alted position, and as well what is expected 
of me therein. As in the past I have given 



my undivided time and serious attention 
thereto, so in the future I promise the most 
earnest devotion and imtiring effort in the 
faithful performance of my official require- 
ments. I have seen the State grow from 
infancy to mature manhood, and each year 
one of substantial betterment of its previous 
position. 

" With more railroads than any other 
State, save two; with a school interest the 
grandest and strongest, which commands 
the support and confidence of all the peo- 
ple, and a population, which in its entirety 
is superior to any other in the sisterhood, 
it is not strange the pride which attaches to 
our people. When we remember that the 
results of our efforts in the direction of good 
government have been crowned with such 
magnificent success, and to-day we have a 
State in most perfect physical and financial 
condition, no wonder our hearts swell in 
honest pride as we contemplate the past 
and S(3 confidently hope for the future. 
What we may become depends on our own 
efforts, and to that future I look with earnest 
and abiding confidence." 

Governor Sherman's term of office con- 
tinued until January 14, 1886, when he was 
succeeded by William Larrabee, and he is 
now, temporarily, perhaps, enjoying a well- 
earned rest. He has been a Republican 
since the organization of that party, and his 
services as a campaign speaker have been 
for many years in great demand. As an 
officer he has been able to make an enviable 
record. Himself honorable and thorough, 
his management of public business has been 
of the same character, and such as has com- 
mended him to the hearty approval of the 
citizens of the State. 

He was married August 20, 1862, to Miss 
Lena Kendall, of Vinton, Iowa, a young 
lady of rare accomplishments and strength 
of character. The union has been happy 
in every respect. They have two children 
— Lena Kendall and Oscar Eugene. 




■<*0^)^ 




C^^No'" t^-I--' 




WILL/AM LARRABBE. 




"^i '^WILLIAM LflHHflBEE.^ 




iii^ 





ILLIAMLARRABEE 

is the thirteenth 
Governor of this 
State, and the six- 
teenth Governor 
of Iowa, counting 
from the Territo- 
irganization. His ancestors 
the name of d'Larrabee, and 
among the French Hugue- 
who came to America early 
e seventeenth century, set- 
g in Connecticut. Adam 
ibee was born March 14, 
nd was one of the early 
graduates of West Point Military Academy. 
He served with distinction in the war of 
1 81 2, having been made a Second Lieuten- 
ant March i, 181 1. He was promoted to be 
Captain February i, 18 14, and was soon 
after, March 30, of the same year, severely 
wounded at the battle of Lacole Mills, dur- 
ing General Wilkinson's campaign on the 
St. Lawrence. He recovered from this 
wound, which was in the lung, and was 
afterward married to Hannah Gallup Lester, 
who was born June 8, 1798, and died March 
15, 1837. Captain Larrabee died in 1869, 
aged eighty-two. 

The subject of this sketch was born at 



Ledyard, Connecticut, January 20, 1833 
and was the seventh of nine children. \\p 
passed his early life on a rugged New Eng- 
land farm, and received only moderate 
school advantages. He attended the dis- 
trict schools winters until nineteen years of 
age, and then taught school for two winters. 

He was now of an age when it became 
necessary to form some plans for the future 
In this, however, he was embarrassed by a 
misfortune which befel him at the age of 
fourteen. In being trained to the use of 
fire-arms under his father's direction, an ac- 
cidental discharge resulted in the loss of 
sight in the right eye. This unfitted him 
for many employments usually sought by 
ambitious youths. The family lived two 
miles from the sea, and in that locality it 
was the custom for at least one son in each 
family to become a sailor. William's two 
eldest brothers chose this occupation, and 
the third remained in charge of the home 
farm. 

Thus made free to choose for himself 
William decided to emigrate West. In 
1853, accordingly, he came to Iowa. His 
elder sister, Hannah, wife of E. H. Williams, 
was then living at Garnavillo, Clayton 
County, and there he went first. In that 
way he selected Northeast Iowa as l^'s 



234 



GOVERNORS OF IOWA. 



future home. After teaching one winter at 
Hardin, he was for three years employed as 
a sort of foreman on the Grand Meadow 
farm of his brother-in-law, Judge Williams. 

In 1857 he bought a one-third interest in 
the Clermont Mills, and located at Cler- 
mont, Fayette County. He soon was able 
to bu) the other two-thirds, and within a 
year found himself sole owner. He oper- 
ated this mill until 1874, when he sold to S. 
M. Leach. On the breaking out of the war 
he offered to enlist, but was rejected on ac- 
count of the loss of his right eye. Being 
informed he might possibly be admitted as 
a commissioned officer he raised a company 
and received a commission as First Lieu- 
tenant, but was again rejected for the same 
disability. 

After selling the mill Mr. Larrabee de- 
voted himself to farming, and started a 
private bank at Clermont. He also, ex- 
perimentally, started a large nursery, but 
this resulted only in confirming the belief 
that Northern Iowa has too rigorous a cli- 
mate for fruit-raising. 

Mr. Larrabee did not begin his political 
career until 1867. He was reared as a 
Whig, and became a Republican on the or- 
ganization of that party. While interested 
in politics he generally refused local offices, 
serving only as treasurer of the School 
Board prior to 1867. In the autumn of that 
year, on the Republican ticket, he was 
elected to represent his county in the State 
Senate. To this high position he was re- 
elected from time to time, so that he served 
as Senator continuously for eighteen years 
before being promoted to the highest office 
\\\ the State. He was so popular at home 
that he was generally re-nominated by ac- 
clamation, and for some years the Demo- 
crats did not even make nominations. 
During the whole eighteen j^ears Senator 
Larrabee was a member of the principal 
committee, that on Wa3-s and Means, of 
which he was generally chairman, and was 



also a member of other committees. In the 
pursuit of the duties thus devolving upon 
him he was indefatigable. It is said that 
he never missed a committee meeting. Not 
alone in this, but in private and public 
business of all kinds his uniform habit is 
that of close application to work. Many 
of the important measures passed by t/ie 
Legislature owe their existence or present 
form to him. 

He was a candidate for the gubernatorial 
nomination in 1881, but entered the contest 
too late, as Governor Sherman's following 
had been successfully organized. In 1885 
it was generally conceded before the meet- 
ine of the convention that he would be 
nominated, which he was, and his election 
followed as a matter of course. He was 
inaugurated January 14, 1886, and so far 
has made an excellent Governor. His 
position in regard to the liquor question, 
that on which political fortunes are made 
and lost in Iowa, is that the majority should 
rule. He was personally in favor of high 
license, but having been elected Governor, 
and sworn to uphold the Constitution and 
execute the laws, he proposes to do so. 

A Senator who sat beside him in the 
Senate declares him to be " a man of the 
broadest comprehension and informatiou 
an extraordinarily clear reasoner, fair and 
conscientious in his conclusions, and of 
Spartan firmness in his matured judg- 
ment," and says that " he brings the prac- 
tical facts and philosophy of human nature, 
the science and history of law, to aid in his 
decisions, and adheres with the earnestness 
of Jefferson and Sumner to the fundamental 
principles of the people's rights in govern- 
ment and law." 

Governor Larrabee was married Sep- 
tember 12, 1 861, at Clermont, to Anna M. 
Appelman. daughter of Captain G. A. 
Appelman. Governor Larrabee has seven 
children— Charles, Augusta, Julia, Anna, 
William, Frederic and Helen. 




M 



OC\X<..LJl, 



/$W^ 



HORACE BOIES. 



225 



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:)RACEBOIES,Governor 
of Iowa, is a lawyer by 
profession, and a resident 
of the city of Waterloo, 
jjg^ of wliicli city he has 
' ^"^ T" been a resident, engaged 
in the active practice of his pro- 
fession, since 1867. Governor 
Boies is a son of Eber and Hettie 
(Henshaw) Boies, and was born 
in Aurora, Erie County, New 
York, on the 7th day of Decem- 
ber, 1827. His father was a 
farmer by occupation, and in 
moderate circumstances, and Horace was 
reared under the healthful influence of farm 
life. He attended the public schools as op- 
portunity afforded, until sixteen years of age, 
when, being inspired with an ambition to see 
more of the world than liad been possible for 
him within the narrow limits of his native 
town, with the added variety of an occasional 
visit to Buffalo, he persuaded his father to 
consent to his departure for the West. Pass- 
age was secured on a steamer at Buffalo, 
which was bound up the lakes, and in due 
time he landed at the little hamlet of Racine, 
Wisconsin. This was in the spring of 1843, 
live years before Wisconsin was admitted 
into the Union. The total cash assets of the 
youthful emigrant amounted to but 75 cents. 



which required on his part strict economy 
and immediate employment. 

Not finding a favorable opening at Racine, 
he struck out on foot in search of work 
among the farmers, which he secured of a 
settler near Rochester, and about twenty 
miles from Racine. His employer proved a 
hard task-master, and put the boy at the 
laborious work of ditch-digging, while he 
gave him the poorest kind of food, and even 
that to a very limited amount. After a 
month spent in a half-starved condition, and 
having been greatly overworked, he received 
the sum of $10 for his services. Broken in 
health, he left his employer, and soon for- 
tunately fell in with a family that had re- 
cently come from the vicinity of his home 
in the State of New York. These people 
proved true friends, and kindly cared for hiui 
through a long illness that followed, which 
was the legitimate result of his month of 
hardship and starvation. On recovering his 
health, young Boies continued at farm work 
until a year had elapsed since he left his 
home; he then returned to his native town, 
having learned the useful lesson of self- 
reliance, which in after years enabled him to 
more easily overcome the difficulties that 
beset the way of him who has to hew out hie 
own road through life. On his return to 
Aurora, Mr. Boies pursued a course of study 



226 



GOVERNORS OF IOWA. 



at the academy of that village, and later 
spent one winter in school-teaching in Boone 
County, Illinois. 

Returning to the State of New York, lie 
was mai'ried in Aurora, on the 18th of April, 
1848, to Miss Adela Kins:, a daughter of 
Darius and Hannah King. Mrs. Boies was 
a native of Erie County. They had three 
children, of whom only one is now living, a 
daughter, Adela, who is now the widow of 
John Carson. Mrs. Carson resides at Mt. 
Vernon, Iowa. 

In 1850 Mr. Boies began the study of law 
in Aurora, and was admitted to the bar at 
Buffalo at the general term of the Supreme 
Court in November, 1852. He pursued the 
practice of his profession in Buffalo and 
vicinity with marked success, and in the fall 
of 1857 was elected to represent his district 
in the New York House of Representatives 
for the session of 1858. 

Mrs. Boies died in November, 1855, and 
he was married the second time in Decem- 
ber, 1858, in Waterloo, Iowa, to Miss Ver- 
salia M. Barber, who was born in Boston, 
Erie County, New York, a daughter of Dr. 
P. J. Barber. Mrs. Boies had removed to 
Iowa six months previous to her marriage. 
She died in April, 1877, leaving three chil- 
dren, a daughter and two sons. Earl L., the 
eldest, was graduated at Cornell College, 
studied law with his father, was admitted to 
the bar iri 1886, and became the partner 
of his father. Jessie, the daughter, is lier 
father's companion and housekeeper. Her- 
bert B., the youngest, is a law student in his 
father's office at Waterloo. 

After pursuing the practice of his pro- 
fession at Buffalo and vicinity for fifteen 
years, Mr. Boies removed to Iowa, settling at 
Waterloo in April, 1867. He at once formed 
a law partnership with H. B. Allen, and for 
«, time the firm was Boies & Allen. Then 



Carolton F. Couch, the present District 
Judge, was admitted to membership, and the 
firm name became Boies, Allen & Couch. 
That connection was continued till 1878, 
when Mr. Allen, on account of failing health, 
was obliged to withdraw, the firm becoming 
Boies & Couch until 1884, when Mr. Couch 
was elected Judge of the Ninth Judicial Dis- 
trict. Mr. Boies was then alone in business 
for a short time, when he was joined by his 
eldest son. In 1886 Mr. James L. Husted 
was admitted to membership in the firm, 
which has since continued under the name 
of Boies, Husted & Boies, and is widely 
known as a leading law firm of eastern 
Iowa. 

Governor Boies was a Whig in early life, 
and on the disruption of that party and the 
formation of the Republican party, he joined 
the latter. He was never ambitious to serve 
in official position, and with the exception of 
his one term in the Legislature of his native 
State and one term as City Attorney of 
Waterloo, he held no office of importance till 
elected Governor of Iowa in the fall of 1889. 
He maintained his connection with the Re- 
publican party until 1882, since which time 
he has affiliated with the Democrats. Gov- 
ernor Boies enjoys the distinction of being 
the first Governor of Iowa elected by the 
Democratic party for thirty-five years, and 
was the only successful candidate of his 
party on the State ticket at the late election. 
Considering the fact that the State was car- 
ried the year previous, in the Presidential 
election, by a n:ajority of 35,000 in favor of 
the Republicans, the success of Governor 
Boies may be said to have been a compli- 
ment to him as a man and leader, without 
disparaging the splendid campaign work of 
his party managers, or ignoring the effect of 
the evident change in popular political senti- 
ment in Iowa. 




(L^ , /v/^^^^c^^W-^^tvj 







.^^ 



POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY 




^^S^^^^^ 



|ALEB BALDWIN was born April 3, 
1824, about five miles southeast of the 
borough of Washington, in the State of 
Pennsylvania. He enjoyed the advantages 
of a good primary education, and after com- 
pleting his preparatory studies he entered 
Washington College, in iiis native State, and 
graduated with honor in the c'ass of 1842. 
As it was the custom in those early days for 
students to teach for a year or more before 
beginning the study of law, he went to Paris, 
Kentucky, and taught school for one year. 
He then returned to Washington and studied 
law with the Hon. T. M. T. McKennan, a 
distinguished jurist and statesman of Penn- 
sylvania, and at one time Secretary of the 
Interior under Millard Fillmore, was ad- 
mitted to tiie bar in the spring of 1846, and 
soon afterward removed to Fairfield, Iowa, 
and commenced the practice of law. His 
manhood more than justified the promise of 
his youth, for he rose to marked eminence in 
the State of Iowa. He resided in Fairfield 
for eleven years, during which period he was 
three times elected Prosecuting Attorney of 
Jefferson County, a position he resigned to 
accept tiie appointment of District Judge 
tendered him by Governor Grimes. 

At the e.Ypiration of his term as District 



20 



Judge he removed to Council Bluffs, in 1857, 
where he continued to reside the remainder 
of his life. Two years later, in 1859, he was 
cliosen by the popular voice as one of the 
Judges of tlie Supreme Court. Up to that 
time the judges of the Supreme Court had not 
been elected directly by the people, and many 
doubts were entertained whetlier the choice 
of a tribunal of such power could be safely 
trusted to tiie voice of the masses. In the 
canvass of that year it was argued witii par- 
ticular vigor against Judge Baldwin that he 
was a new and an untried man, and that the 
State had no assurance tliat he would be 
equal to the high position to which he had 
been nominated. Making no personal appeal 
to the people, he quietly awaited their choice, 
and in company with ex-Governor Ralph P. 
Lowe and Hon. L. D. Stockton was elected 
by a handsome majority- In the classifica- 
tion by lot of the members of the court he 
drew the four-year term, and after the expi- 
ration of two years became by succession the 
Chief Justice of the State. He discharo-ed 
the laborious work of his office with such 
ability, and by his ceaseless attention to the 
duties of his position and by his impartiality 
and unassuming manners had so won the con- 
fidence of the people, that after the close of 



282 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY 



the four years lie was universally desired by 
the members of the bar of his own party to 
accept a renomination, and had he consented 
would have been chosen by acclamation. He 
deemed it his duty, however, to decline a re- 
nomination, and retired for a time from pub- 
lic life to resume the practice of his profes- 
sion. Warm-hearted as a friend, energetic 
and public-spirited as a citizen, and able and 
impartial as a judge, he carried with him 
into his retirement the coniidenee and affec- 
tion of the people of the entire State. 

At a meeting of the Supreme Court the fol- 
lowing preamble and resolutions were passed: 

Whereas, the judicial term of Hon. Caleb 
Baldwin is about to e.Kpire, and although it 
was the manifest wish of a large majority of 
the people of Iowa, the unanimous desire of 
the Legal Profession of the State tliat he 
should continue his connection with our Su- 
preme Bench, yet by his own voluntary de- 
termination that connection is about to be 
severed; and 

Whereas, Under such circumstances it is 
eminently proper for the Bar of the State to 
give authoritative expression of their senti- 
ments of respect for our retiring Chief Jus- 
tice; therefore, 

Resolved, That in the Hon. Caleb Baldwin 
we have found and recognize an able, impar- 
tial and faithful jurist; that in his compre- 
hensive, yet accurate view of the whole case 
under consideration he has evinced a capac- 
ity for the administration of justice, and at 
the same time a taithful regard for the prin- 
ciples of law, which is justly envied by all 
and possessed by but few; that we refer with 
much pride and confidence to the opinions de- 
livered by him during his term as a vindica- 
tion of this expression of our sentiments, and 
as an evidence of the high character of our 
Supreme Bench, which we are glad to know, 
through his influence and that of his asso- 



ciates, is being justly recognized and appre- 
ciated by the best jurists of other States. 

Resolvd, That the Hon. Caleb Baldwin, by 
bis uniform dignity, courtesy and kindness 
on the Bench, has shown how unerringly a 
true vian may exercise authority without 
showing power, and by his conduct has now 
and retains our highest regards. 

Resolved, That the Hon. Caleb Baldwin 
carries with him in his retirement our grate- 
ful esteem and affection, our sincere wish for 
his good health, long life and continued use- 
fulness, and our profound regrets that he has 
felt it to be his duty to dissolve that relation 
which has for foiir years existed between ns 
with a pleasure that has been uninterrupted 
by even the slightest act, word or thought. 

His name was frequently suggested with 
the Chief Magistracy of Iowa, but he could 
not be prevailed upon to become a candidate 
before a State Convention. He was a favor- 
ite in the West, and if his ambition had been 
equal to his ability and to the good will of 
the people toward him, there would have been 
no office too high for his possible attainment. 

In 1864 he was appointed by President 
Lincoln United States District Attorney for 
the District of Iowa, which position he held 
until after the assassination of President 
Lincoln and the assumption of the Presi- 
dency by Andrew Johnson, when he resigned. 
He again resumed the active practice of his 
profession at Council Bluffs, associating with 
h,im the Hon. George F. Wright. He re- 
mained actively in the practice until 1874, 
when he was appointed by President Grant 
one of the members of the Alabama Claims 
Commission, which position he held until 
his death, which occurred at Council Bluffs, 
Iowa, December 15, 1876. 

Judge Baldwin's life was one of unusual 
activity and usefulness. As a lawyer he 
stood at the head of his profession and was 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



233 



without a peer in the West. He was pos- 
sessed uf a natural genius for the law, culti- 
vated and strengthened by careful study and 
experience. Fortunate in his early legal 
training, and still more fortunate in being 
endowed with the strictest integrity and an 
untiring industry, he infused into his decis- 
ions and thus into the legal monuments of 
the State the spirit which he imbued from a 
life-long intercouse with the highest sources 
of the law. As a judicial writer Judge Bald- 
win had clearness, succinctness and force. 
He always meant what he said and said what 
he meant in the fewest possible words and 
most direct manner, and seldom, if ever, 
failed to illustrate clearly and logically his 
earnest and honest convections whatever the 
subject with which he dealt. As a citizen of 
Council Bluffs Judge Baldwin was active in 
all public affairs and zealous for the upbuild- 
ing of the city and its future welfai-e. He 
was closely identified with its struggles, 
growth and prosperity. Nor did he limit 
his work to the city. He helped build his 
State. He carried to public position what 
lie had shown in private life, — business habits 
and a carefully trained legal mind. 

Nature had endowed Judge Baldwin with 
a form of manly dignity and a face of impres- 
sive benevolence. With remarkably pleasing 
manners, he commanded the admiration of 
all who met him. In his influence over men 
and their emotions he had a sublime mastery, 
and he took pleasure in affording needed re- 
lief and imparting to others that desii-able 
inspiration which he himself possessed. As 
a friend he was generous, kind, true and 
faithful. He was deliberate in drawing con- 
elusions and judging faults. His heart was 
large enough to embrace within its sympa- 
thies all classes. Ever willine: to lend a 
helping hand, whether to one in need of en- 
couragement or in distress, affable and oblig- 



ing. Judge Baldwin was personally popular 
with rich and poor, high and low, alike. He 
was a leader and controller of men and a 
great organizer, and he was, as has often been 
said of him, " the Von Moltke of luwa poli- 
tics;" but the essential element of his success 
had a surer foundation than this. He was 
distinguished for his unchallenged honesty; 
holding some of the most responsible posi- 
tions in his State and nation, his course was 
ever marked by unswerving integrity. He 
was faithful to every public duty and true to 
his friends. He never betrayed a public trust 
or a personal friend, in private life he was 
genial and companionable, in the home he 
was the dutiful son, an affectionate hiisliand, 
a kind and indulgent father. 

In 1848 Judge Baldwin was married ti> 
Miss Jane Barr, a daughter of the Kev. 
Thomas Barr, of Kushville, Indiana. She 
was a woman admirably fitted to be the wife 
of so noble a husband. She had more than 
average intellectual force, and her natural 
powers had been cultivated, enlarged and de- 
veloped by careful study and training. For 
this reason she was an acquisition to society, 
and it enabled her to fulfill the duties de- 
volving upon her as the wife of a prominent 
man and the mother of a large family. After 
the death of her husband she held the office 
of Postmistress in the city of Council Bluffs 
during the administration of President Hayes 
and part of Garfield's. Her administration 
of that office was marked by the utmost fidel- 
ity and acceptance, and she left behind her a 
monument of virtue that the storms of time 
can never destroy. Her deeds of kindness, 
love and mercy shown to the many with 
whom she came in contact year by year, will 
never be forgotten. 

Judge Baldwin died December 15, 1876, 
after a long and painful illness. Calm, re- 
signed, with an unswerving faith in the fu- 



•Zi\ 



BloaiiAPnWAL IIISTOR Y 



ture, he passed qnietly and peacefully away, 
jnst as he had reached the zenith of Ins capa- 
bilities, just as his mind fully disciplined by 
exercise, matured by experience and enlarged 
bv observation, was capable of its best and 
grandest achievements, in the midst of pub- 
lic employment and arduous duties, sur- 
rounded by a host of earnest friends, and in 
the bosom of an interesting family. In the 
power of example, in the wealth of an earnest, 
active, true life, he still lives. 

As a mark of the high respect and esteem 
in which he was held by the Court of Claims, 
and also by the Iowa delegation then in Con- 
gress, resolutions fittingly portraying his 
character and virtues were \inanimonslj 
adopted by both these bodies, spread upon 
the record of the Court and the history of 
Iowa in Congress. 



^*^ 



E. McMULLEN, a prominent farmer 
of Washington Township, was born in 
'^ Bedford County, Pennsylvania, Feb- 
ruary 22, 1846, the son of William McMul- 
len, also a native of Pennsylvania. He was 
the son of Charles McMullen, who was born 
in Maryland, of Scotch-Irish parentage, and 
who also served in the war of 1812. Our 
subject's tnother was Margaret (Herage) Mc- 
Mullen, a native of Bedford County, Penn- 
sylvania. William McMullen is still living, 
in Washington Township, at the age of sev- 
enty-one years. He has been a farmer all his 
life; is a Republican in politics, and a mem- 
ber of the Methodist Church. 

The subject of this sketch was but seven 
years of age when his parents moved to Pe- 
oria County, Illinois, where he remained until 
he was eighteen, engaged in farm work. Dur- 
ing the war he enlisted in the One Hundred 
and Forty-sixth Illinois Infantry, Company 



I, under Colonel Dean, and later was a mem- 
ber of C'ompany B, Twenty-second Regiment 
United States Infantry, and served on the 
frontier for three years after the war. He 
was then engaged in freigliting and teaming 
in Colorado and Wj'oming for two years. 
He next went to Missouri, and from there 
came to Pottawattamie County in 1871, first 
settling in Silver Creek Township. He then 
removed to Mills County, where he remained 
fur a time, and in 1881 bought his present 
farm of 340 acres in Washington Township. 
He has improved this place until he now 
owns one of the finest farms in Pottawatta- 
mie County. 

Mr. McMullen was married in Mills Coun- 
ty, December 21, 1875, to Sarah E. Ellis, 
who was born in Orange County, Indiana, a 
daughter of Jesse and Rachel (Frazier) Ellis, 
both natives of North Carolina. Mrs. Mc- 
Mullen was eleven years of age when her 
parents settled near Oskaloosa, Mahaska 
County, Iowa. Her father died in 1856, in 
Illinois, on the way to Iowa. The mother 
died in this county at the age of seventy four 
years. Religiously they were Quakers, or 
Friends. Mrs. McMullen received a good 
education at New Sharon, Iowa, and at the 
age of seventeen years was engaged in teach- 
ing, which occupation she continued for thir- 
ty-two terms. In 1871 she went to Kansas 
and took up a Government homestead, after 
which she returned to Mahaska County. In 
1875 she came to Mills County, where she 
was married. Mr. and Mrs. McMullen have 
six children: Byron G., Herman Ray and 
Normon Fay, twins; Herbert A., Laura, 
Grace and Blanche. Mr. McMullen is a 
strong believer in the principles of the Demo- 
cratic party, and has served as Township 
Trustee and in other minor offices in his 
township. He is a member of the Masonic 
order. No. 400, of Silver City, and also of 



OF POX I' AW ATT AM IE COUNTY. 



335 



the G. A. R., Bradford Post, No. 471. Mrs. 
McMullen was reared a Quaker, and is now 
a member of the Evangelical Church. 



■ - . m » l^ » S l i ; « ^ 

rriOMAS H. JEFFERSON, a promi- 
nent farmer of Pottawattamie County, 
Iowa, is a son of William Jefferson, 
who was born in 1801, and was married to 
Elizabeth Hewett, daughter of John Hewett, 
a native of England. Mr. Jefferson came to 
America in 1823, and settled in Trumbull 
County, Ohio, where he was among the early 
settlers. He was the only member of his 
family that ever came to this country. He 
was engaged first in driving a stage for tlie 
Ohio Stage Company for sixteen years, and 
next in clearing a farm from heavy timber. 
The country at that time was covered with 
giant beech, oaks, walnut, maple, hickory and 
almost all kinds of timber native to that 
State, and wild beasts were also plentiful. 
To Mr. and Mrs. Jefferson were born live 
children: William, Mary, Thomas, Edward, 
and one who died when young. The father 
lived on his farm for many years, where he was 
a well-known and prominent man, and both he 
and his wife were members of the Church of 
England. In 1863 he went to Black Hawk 
County, Iowa, where he lived the remainder ot 
his days, dying at the age of seventy-six years. 
He was a hard-working and upright man. 

Thomas H. Jefferson, our subject, was 
born February 23, 1839, and after his mar- 
riage was engaged in the oil country in 
Warren and Erie counties, Pennsylvania, for 
three years. In 1867 he came to Iowa, set- 
tling in Black Hawk County, where he re- 
mained two years; he next lived on the Mis- 
souri line in Polk and Cedar counties, and 
in 1872 he came to Belknap Township, Pot- 
tawattamie County, settling on wild land. 



There was but one house between him and 
Big Grove, now Oakland, which then con- 
tained a store, blacksmith shop, a saw- mill 
and three small cabins. In 1881 he came to 
his present fine farm of 320 acres, one-lialf 
of which is in Belknap Township. Politi- 
cally he is a Democrat, and stands deservedly 
high as a straightforward and honorable man. 
Mr. Jefferson was married in 1863, in 
Pennsylvania, to Rose Stewart, daughter of 
Simeon and Hannah (Blakesley) Stewart, and 
they have three children: Stewart, Charles 
C. and Tommy. Simeon Stewart was born 
in New York State, and was the father of 
five children: Tryphenia, Calphurnia, Perry, 
Rose and Dora. He was a carpenter by 
trade, but owned a farm in the woods of 
Erie County, Pennsylvania, where he lived 
for many years, and wiiere he was a pioneer 
settler. He went thirty -two miles to Erie 
on horseback for his ffour. He was a soldier 
in the war of 1812, and lived to the age of 
eighty-two, dying on his farm. He was a 
member of the Masonic order, and a man 
well known and respected in his county. He 
kept a hotel on the road from Oil City to 
Corry, Pennsylvania, and during the oil 
exitement did an immense business, accumu- 
lating a hmd^omi property. 



I ' J"! ' ^" ' " 

fOHN BLAKELY is one of the enter- 
prising and well-known citizens of 
Wright Township. He came here in 
the spring of 1877, and has since made this 
place his home. He was born in Perry 
County, Ohio, February 13, 1842, a son of 
Andrew Blakely. His great-grandfather 
Blakely was a native of the Emerald Jsle. 
Andrew Blakely was a stone-cutter by trade, 
which he followed the most of his life. His 
political views were those of the Democratic 



236 



BIOQBAPEJCAL HI STOUT 



party. He married Catlierine Gilchriest, a 
native of Pennsylvania and a lady of German 
ancestry. Tiiey reared a family of six chil- 
dren, five of whom are living, John being the 
fifth born. Mrs. Blakelj was born in 1807, 
and is now eighty-three years of age. She 
resides in Pennsylvania, near the old Gil- 
chriest homestead. 

John was principally brought up in West- 
moreland County, Pennsylvania, where he 
learned the carpenter's trade, which he fol- 
lowed for many years in that State and in 
Ohio. In 1868 he came West, and worked 
in different parts of Missouri, and finally in 
Maryville, Nodaway County. In 1871 he 
came to Cass County, Iowa, and bought 
eighty acres of land, six miles southeast of 
Lewis, which he improved. February 5, 
1874, he married Miss Lucina Ingraham, a 
native of New York State and a daughter of 
Clark and Electa Lucina (Grinnell) Ingra- 
ham, both natives of the East. When a child 
she came with her parents to Illinois, and 
later to Cass County, Iowa. Her father is 
now a resident of Griswold. 

In 1877 Mr. Blakely sold his farm in Cass 
County and bought his present farm of 
eighty acres, upon which he has since made 
many improvements. He erected a two-story 
frame house and surrounded it with shade 
and ornamental trees; and his barn, other out- 
buildings and improvements on the premises 
all show thrift and enterprise. Mr. and Mrs. 
Blakely have five children: Etta Belle, 
Lenora, Elizabeth Jane, John Sherman and 
Electa Lucina. 

In politics Mr. Blakely is a Republican. 
He has served the public as a member of the 
School Board. Both he and his wife are 
members of the Presbyterian Church of Gris- 
wold. He is associated with Lewis Lodge, 
No. 140, I. O. O. F. Mr. Blakely is a man 
yet in the prime of life; has traveled exten- 



sively, and is well-informed on all general 
topics. He takes an active interest in edu- 
cational and religious matters, and any move- 
ment that has for its object the upbuilding 
or advancement of the community where he 
resides, finds in him an earnest supporter. 

— |->-^>i— 



fOSHUA M. CEOGHAN, one of the rep- 
resentative farmer citizens of Wright 
Township, is a native of the Buckeye 
State. He was born in Perry County, Ohio, 
April 12, 1846, a son of James Croghan,also 
a native of Ohio. The Croghans are of Irish 
descent. The mother of our subject was nee 
Catherine Munson. She was born in Ger- 
many, a daughter of Thomas Munson. Her 
education was obtained in her native land, 
and she came to the United States at the age 
of fourteen. She was % woman of much in- 
telligence and refinement, and after coming 
to this country was engaged in teaching the 
German language in the schools. Her hus- 
band, James Croghan, was also a successful 
teacher for many years. In 1853 they 
moved to Rochester, Cedar County, Iowa, 
becoming early pioneei-s of that county. Her 
death occurred that same year. She was a 
member of the Baptist Church. Mr. Cro- 
ghan spent the residue of his life in Cedar 
County, and died September 18, 1870, in his 
seventieth year. He was a mason by trade, 
but for many years had followed the profes- 
sion of teaching. In politics he was a Re- 
publican. He was a member of the Gray 
beard Regiment of Iowa, and served in his 
regiment two years and seven months as 
Second Lieutenant. While in Ohio he was a 
member of the " Hardshell" Baptist Church, 
but after coining to Iowa he united with the 
Christian Church. Mr. and Mrs. Croghan 
were the parents of fourteen children. Ben- 



OF POTT AW ATT Aif IB COUNTY. 



337 



jamin, their first born, is a resident of Allen 
County, Kansas. 

Joshua was reared in Cedar County, Iowa, 
on a farm, and when he grew up learned the 
harness-maker's trade at Wilton Junction, 
Muscatine County, same State. During the 
great Rebellion he enlisted, in 1864, in Com- 
pany B, Second Iowa Infantry. The regi- 
ment was on its noted march to the sea under 
General Sherman. Mr. Croghan joined them 
at Atlanta, Georgia, and from there marched 
with them to Savannah, then up through the 
Carolinas and to Richmond. After the sur- 
render of General Lee's army they marched 
on to Washington, and were present at the 
grand review. He was mustered out at 
Louisville, Kentucky, and at Davenport, 
Iowa, received his final discharge and was 
paid off. 

The war over, Mr. Croghan returned to 
Cedar County, Iowa, where he resided six 
years. lie then removed to Clinton County, 
same State, and after remaining three years 
returned to Cedar County. Five years later, 
in 1879, he came to Pottawattamie County. 
In 1880 he purchased forty acres of wild 
land, which he has since improved and brought 
under a high state of cultivation. He has a 
comfortable home, a good barn, modern wind 
pump, a grove and orchard of four acres, and 
other substantial improvements. Everything 
about the Croghan farm shows thrift and 
enterprise. At present Mr. Croghan is cul- 
tivating 240 acres of land, and is feeding 
twenty-eighty head of cattle and a large 
number of hogs. 

February 25, 1868, and Clinton County, 
Iowa, are the date and place of Mr. Cro- 
ghan's marriage to Miss Mary Jane Dale, a 
native of Crawford County, Ohio, daughter 
of Samuel and Mary Dale. Her father died 
in 1864, and her mother is a resident of 
Muscatine, Iowa, where she has three sons. 



Mr. Croghan and his wife have seven chil- 
dren: Mary C, the oldest, died in 1870; 
James F., Phillip, Sina A., Charles, Colbert 
and Sherwood M. Mr. Croghan is a charter 
member of Washington Post, G. A. R., No. 
9. In politics he is a Republican. He and 
his wife are members of the Protestant 
Methodist Church. 

— -" f ' ! ' « ; ' ! >♦-■ — 



fARWELL MERRIAM, a farmer of 
Lewis Township, is a native of Wor- 
cester County, Massachusetts, born Jan- 
nary 14, 1833, the son of Asa and Sarah 
(Warren) Merriam, natives of Westminster, 
Massachusetts, and of French extraction. 
The parents were both deceased in Massachu- 
setts, the father dying May 19, 1886, at the 
advanced age of eighty-six years, ten months 
and eleven days, and the mother in 1859; 
she was born about the beginning of the 
nineteenth century. The father was a farmer, 
and also owned and operated a mill in 
Princeton, Worcester County, Massachusetts. 
Farwell Merriam was the fifth child in a 
family of ten children, was reared to farm 
life, and received his education in the district 
schools. When he was twenty years of age 
he entered a wood shop, engaged in getting 
out chair material, and also learned wood- 
turning for about one year. February 6, 
1854, he embarked for California on board the 
steamship Georgia; ticket, $115; March 
13, 1854, arrived at San Francisco. He 
there took steamboat Pawnee up the river 
to Marysville, and then walked twenty- 
eight miles to Swedish Flat, Butte County, 
where he engaged in gold-mining for over 
three years, when he returned to his native 
State, remaining until the spring of 1858. 
At Worcester, Massachusetts, April 6, 1858, 
he purchased a ticket for $32 to St. Louis, 



238 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY 



Missouri, via Chicago, which was at that 
time a small place. From St. Louis he 
came by boat to Council Bluffs, where he re- 
mained over night, and the next morning 
started out afoot for Onavva, Iowa, a distance 
of some sixty miles. Here he engaged at 
work for Judge Whitney, in Monona Coun- 
ty, where he remained for two or three 
weeks. Mr. Merriam then purchased a piece 
of hind, all of the northwest quarter of sec- 
tion 5, on the west side of the Sioux River, 
comprising 114 acres. This was a tract of 
uncultivated land, which he slightly im- 
proved, and remained one year. He then re- 
turned to Onawa, where he erected a home, 
and resided there until May 6, 1861, when 
lie started with a wagon and two yoke of 
cattle for Denver, Colorado, arriving at Den- 
ver June 15, 1861. From there he went to 
Golden Gate, and over the divide to 
Black Hawk Point and Central City, where 
he took up a claim between Central and Ne- 
vada City, which he worked for several 
months. On October 6 he sold out and re- 
turned overland to Council Bluffs, and thence 
to Onawa, where he remained until April, 
1862. Mr. Merriam then returned to Coun- 
cil Bluffs, en route for Denver; but when he 
arrived here he changed his mind, and on 
May 15, 1862, opened a small grocery, notion 
and fruit store at No. 187 Broadway. Dur- 
ing his stay in Council Bluffs he increased 
his stock, and controlled the whole fruit 
market. In 1881 he turned his entire atten- 
tion to his farm, which is located on section 
17, Lewis Township, where he has lived since 
the spring of 1875, having purchased the 
same in 1874. This farm consists of forty 
acres, for which he paid $2,000, and which 
he has turned into a vegetable garden and 
fruit farm; but for a number of years he fol- 
lowed stock-raising. Mr. Merriam has made 
many improvements, and now has one of the 



best located farms in this part of the county; 
everything denotes thrift, energy and pros- 
perity. He is a stanch Republican, and takes 
an active part in all political issues of the 
day, and strives to promote the best interests 
of his party. 

Mr. Merriam was married September 4, 
1867, in Sparta, Wisconsin, to Miss Sarah E. 
Jones, aged thirty-nine years, the daughter 
of G. H. and Adaline Jones, of Council Bluffs. 
Mr. and Mrs. Merriam have six children, 
viz.: George N., of Council Bluffs, aged 
twenty-two yeara and four months: Grace 
E., nineteen years and nine months, and the 
wife of W. W. Biddleston. of Council Bluffs; 
Charles F., deceased March 15, 1889, aged 
fifteen years, three montlis and twenty-two 
days; Walter, deceased in 1882, at the age of 
three years, eleven months and twenty-five 
days; Leonard A., at home, aged seven years 
and six months, and Ilarrold, four years and 
six months old. Mr. Merriam is a member 
of the Pioneer Association of Monona Coun- 
ty, Iowa. 




TLLIAM GARNER, one of the early 
pioneers of Pottawattamie County, 
was born in Davidson County, North 
Carolina, June 22, 1817, a son of David and 
Sarah (Stevens) Garner, also natives of North 
Carolina. The father lived to the age of 104 
years, and the mother died at the age of 
ninety years. Our subject was but seven- 
teen years of age when his parents moved to 
Quincy, Illinois, where he remained eleven 
years. He was married in 1846 to Sarah 
Workman, and they then joined the Mormons 
at Nauvoo, Illinois, and some years later 
came with that colony to Pottawattamie 
County, Iowa. Mr. Garner was one of the 
first settlers in this county, and Garner Town- 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY . 



239 



ship was named in his honor. He served in 
the Mexican war, and marched tliroiigh to 
Mexico, tlience to Lower California, after 
which he returned home. He now owns 350 
acres of fine land in Garner Township, and 
has also given each of his eleven children a 
good farm. He has lived to see his children 
grow to maturity, nnd is a well-to-do and 
honorable citizen of Pottawattamie Coimtj. 
He built the woolen mill on Mosquito Creek, 
and has been an important factor in many 
other improvements. 

^^wf^,_ 



3p«jl'?ILLI AM C. LONG, a successful 
\\ \\' farmer ot Wright Township and an 

l-=£Jl^ ex -soldier of the late war, came to 
Pottawattamie Connty, Iowa, in 1876, and 
has since resided here. 

He was born in Somerset County, Penn- 
sylvania, Febriiary 11, 1847. His father and 
grandfather, Jacob II. and Henry Long, were 
both natives of Somerset County. His 
mother was Mary E. Baker, also a native of 
that county, a daughter of Josiah Baker, a 
native of Pennsylvania. Both the Longs 
and Bakers are of German extraction. When 
William C. was six years old his parents 
moved to Howard County, Indiana. There 
he worked on the farm in summer and at- 
tended school during the winter months. In 
the fall of 1863 he enlisted in Company E, 
Eleventh Indiana Cavalry, and took an active 
part in the war until its close. He partici- 
pated in the battles of Hnntsvilleand Athens, 
Alabama; Columbia, Tennessee; was on the 
march against General Hood's forces, and 
was at Franklin, Spring Hill and Nashville, 
Tennessee. The war over, Mr. Long received 
an honorable discharge at Indianapolis, Indi- 
ana, and from there went to Lee County, 
Illinois, whither his father had moved during 



the war. His mother had died in Howard 
County, Indiana, in 1863, leaving twelve chil- 
dren, as follows: Lydia Susana, Lucinda, 
William C, Kebecca, J. W., Matilda E., 
Martin Luther, Mary Ellen, Eosyanna: 
Franklin and a babe unnamed are deceased. 
Henry, another son, was drowned. He was 
a member of the same company in which his 
brother served, was taken prisoner at Colum- 
bia, Tennessee, and confined at Anderson- 
ville for four months. At the end of that 
time he was paroled, put on board the Old Sul- 
tana, a condemned vessel, which went to the 
bottom of the river with all on board, near 
Memphis. 

Mr. Long resided in Lee County, Illinois, 
until 1876, when he came to Iowa. He 
spent ono year in Boone County before com- 
ing to Pottawattamie County. In Center 
Township he purchased and improved a farm 
of eighty acnes, which, in 1883, he sold to 
Jack Evans. Then he bought his present 
farm of 120 acres. This place is one of the 
best farms in the township, everything about 
the premises indicating industry and prosper- 
ity. Mr. Long has a story and a half frame 
house, which is built in modern style and 
which is surrounded with a grove and 
orchard. He has a good barn 24x26 feet 
with sixteen-feet posts, and a corn -crib 24 x 
32 X 12 feet, with a capacity of 3,000 bushels. 
He has a long cattle shed, a cow stable, a 
wind pump, and everything convenient for 
carrying on general farming and stock-rais- 
ing to the best advantage. 

July 3, 1867, Mr. Long was married, in 
Howard County, Indiana, to Miss Lavina 
Darby, a lady of much intelligence and a na- 
tive of Clinton County, that State. She is a 
daughter of John and Rachel Darby. Mr. 
and Mrs. Long have three children: Laura 
Etta, Lilly Dale and Lucy Ellen. They lost 
their first-born, an infant son. Mr. Long is 



240 



BIOGRAPHICAL UISTOBr 



a Republican, and, like the representative 
citizens of his county, is well posted on gen- 
eral topics and current events. 



lOLOMON ERNEST, one of the enter- 
prising aud successful citizens of Wasli- 
ington Township, came to Pottawattamie 
County in 1873, and to his present farm in 
1881, where he has since resided and made 
his home. He was born in Somerset County, 
Pennsylvania, June 15, 1832, the son of 
William Ernest, who was also a native of 
Pennsylvania, and was a son of William Er- 
nest, Sr., who were of Pennsylvania Dutch 
ancestry. The mother of our subject was 
Mary (Wagamon) Ernest, also of Pennsylvania 
Dutch ancestry. Solomon Ernest was seven 
years of age when, in 1839, his parents re- 
moved to Eayette County, Illinois, where 
they resided until their death, the father dy- 
ing in 1872, at the age of over sixty years; 
and the mother in 1855. The father was a 
farmer all his life; politically he was a Dem- 
ocrat. Both parents were members of the 
Christian Church. They reared three sous 
and four daughters. 

Solomon, the second son and third child, 
was reared on a farm, and received his edu- 
cation in the Fayette County public schools. 
He resided in that county se.ven years, and 
then removed to Olmsted County, Minne- 
sota, settling near Rochester. He resided in 
that State eleven years, and in 1873 came 
to Pottawattamie County, first settling in 
Washington Township, and afterward re- 
moved to Silver Creek Township, where he 
resided four years. In 1880 he bought wild 
land where he now resides, and the next 
year improved it. Mr. Ernest now owns 200 
acres in Washington Township and seventy- 
three acres in Belknap Township, which is 



just across the highway. He has a com- 
fortable frame residence, 16 x 24 feet and 
one and a half stories high, situated on a 
natural building site, and surrounded by a 
grove and orchard of two acres. 

Mr. Ernest was married April 6, 1856, in 
Fayette County, Illinois, to Miss Isabello E. 
Lee, a woman of intelligence and education, 
who was born in that county April 17, 1839, 
and was a daughter of Harvey Lee, a native 
of New York State, and a son of Abijah 
Lee. They were of a patriotic family, several 
members of the family having fought in 
the Revolutionary war. The mother of Mrs. 
Ernest was Elizebeth (Nesbitt) Lee, a native 
of Dixon County, Tennessee, and a daughter 
of Joseph and Isabelle (Harper) Nesbitt. 
The parents were married in Fayette County, 
near Vandalia, Illinois, where the mother 
was reared and educated. The father died 
when Mrs. Ernest was nine years of age, and 
the mother died in 1878, at the age of sixty- 
six years. She was a member of the Chris- 
tian Church. The father was a carpenter by 
trade, although he was engaged in farming 
for many years; in politics he was a Whig. 
They had a family of eight children, three 
sons and five daughters. Mr. and Mrs. Er- 
nest have four children, viz.: Henrietta, wife 
of George Darrymple, of Washington Town- 
ship, and they are the parents of four chil- 
dren; Marilla, wife of Simon Finley, of 
Fillmore County, Minnesota, and they are 
the parents of live children; Abijah B., at 
home; Florence, wife of George W. Killion, 
of Washington Township, and they have two 
children. They liave lost two by death, — 
Abner, a young man of twenty-eight years; 
and Ella, wife of John M. Killion, at the age 
of nineteen years. Mr. and Mrs. Ernest are 
members of the Christian Church ; they were 
reared that way and have not departed from 
the teachings of their youth. Two of their 




^-^^■^'t-e^c*^ /6a^iD^■ 



2^Z-^-t_ 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



241 



daughters have been workerf? in the Sabbath- 
school. In politics Mr. Ernest is a Democrat. 
He was rocked in a Democratic cradle, and 
has always stood by that party. He is well- 
known in the community where he resides, 
is honorable in all his dealings, and is num- 
bered among the solid men of the township. 



SEXTER CHAMBERLAm BLOOM- 
ER, attorney at law and one of the 
most prominent and respected citizens 
of Council Bluffs, was born in Scipio, Cayuga 
County, New York, July 4, 1816, and was 
reared under the influence of Quakers. His 
father, John Bloomer, was a native of West- 
chester County, ISIew York, and of English 
descent, and his mother, Tamma Chamber- 
lain, was a native of Massachusetts and also 
of English ancestry. On receiving his edu- 
cation, Mr. Bloomer exhibited a decided taste 
for litei-ary and professional pursuits. In 
1837 he began the study of law, and soon 
afterward political affairs. Later he became 
editor of the Seneca Cf>unty Courier, a 
Whig paper, at Seneca Falls, New York, and 
tilled that position for fifteen years. In 1843 
he was admitted to practice in the several 
courts of New York. During his residence 
there he held several offices, among them 
that of Postmaster during the last four years, 
under the Taylor-Fillmore adminstration. In 
1853 he removed to Mount Yernon, Ohio, 
and became the editor of the Western Home 
Visitor, Mrs. Bloomer continuing the pub- 
lication of the Lily at the same place. With 
the view of still bettering his situation, he 
visited CottucII Blufts in October, 1854, and 
decided to make this point his future home, 
and the next year he moved thither, arriving 
April 15, and immediately established him- 
self in the practice of law and in the real- 



estate business. At that time the county 
was strongly Democratic, and Mr. Bloomer, 
in company with John T. Baldwin, C. E. 
Stone and others, led in the organization of 
the new Republican party in Western Iowa. 
The interest which lie manifested in political 
movements and the able manner in which he 
performed the duties imposed upon him 
caused his fellow citizens to bestow upon him 
many trusts, and he was frequently presented 
as a candidate for the offices of Judge, Rep- 
resentative to the Legislature, etc. For 
eleven years he was a member of the Board 
of Education, for a time serving as its Presi- 
dent. Within this period seven fine school- 
houses were erected, one of the number, the 
Bloomer School, being named in his honor. 
He was a member of the State Board of Edu- 
cation until that office was abolished; was 
largely influential in procuring the establish- 
ment of the Council Bluffs Free Public Libra- 
ry, of whicli he has been an honored trustee 
from its foundation. For twelve years, and 
until the office was abolished, he was Receiver 
of the Public Moneys at this point; was 
Alderman in 1856, and Mayor of the city 
two years, 1869-'71. In all these official 
capacities he was honest and efficient, render- 
ing satisfaction to the public. During the 
war he rendered efficient service to the cause 
of the Union, and was a member of the Union 
League. In 1872-'73 he was editor of the 
Council Bluffs Repioblican, and for a time 
was editor also of the Northwestern Odd 
Fellow. He also compiled a history of Pot- 
tawattamie County, under the title of " Notes 
on the Early History of Pottawattamie Coun- 
ty," which was published in a magazine 
called the Annals of Iowa. As an evidence 
that he has a fine, large brain, it can be said 
that he has been as efficient in his business 
relations as in tiie legal and litei-ary. As a 
politician his record is unblemished. In 



242 



BIOOR^iPlIICAL HISTORY 



religious matters he is a member of the 
Protestant Episcopal Chnrch, of which he has 
been Senior Warden for thelast thirty years. 
He was married April 15, 1840, to Miss 
Amelia Jenks, a lady of culture, and in hearty 
sympathy with every movement of reform. 
Her first national notoriety was occasioned 
by her introduction of what was known as 
the " Bloomer costume," which called the 
attention of the public to an urgent reform 
in dress, and has led to important modifica- 
tions of the old and unhealtht'ul fashion, and 
secondly, and more lastingly, as a prominent 
and efficient advocate of the cause of woman 
suifrage. (A biographical account of her 
is given in connection herewith.) She and 
her husband first arrived in Council Bluffs 
on the 15th day of April, 1855, and immedi- 
ately took up their residence in their present 
pleasant liome. That day was the fifteenth 
anniversary of their marriage, and April 15, 
1890, they celebrated both that event and 
their marriage by a " Golden Wedding." It 
was a grand occasion. A large number of 
magnificent presents were made to them, and 
letters of congratulation from eminent co- 
workers in the cause of reform throughout 
the United States were received,— among 
them Miss Susan B. Anthony and Mrs. ex- 
Governor Hale, of Wyoming. A splendid 
poem was composed for the occasion by Rev. 
G. W. Crofts, and illustrated on its presenta- 
tion by Miss S. D. Rhese. 



— »#♦ ^^ 



>iy^ 



.|.'wmRS. AMELIA HLOOMER. — Inas- 
>iJ;\/..i\i much as the name of this lady has 
^^i&^ become prominent over the country, 
it seems proper that it should appear in this 
history, more especially as she is now one of 
the oldest settlers. 

Mrs. Bloomer was born in Cortland Coun- 



ty, New York, in the year 1818. Her maiden 
name was Amelia Jenks. She received a 
fair education in the common schools of the 
State, and after arriving at suitable age she 
engaged in teaching, at first in the public 
schools and afterward as a private tutor. 
She was married in 1840 to Dexter C. 
Bloomer, of Seneca Falls, New York, where 
she resided with her husband until the fall 
or winter of 1853. Mr. Bloomer was an 
attorney, and also, at the time of their mar- 
riage and for some years after, editor and one 
of the publishers of a county newspaper. 
Mrs. Bloomer early began to write for the 
paper, confining her articles mainly to the 
advocacy of temperance, of which she has 
always been an ardent defender. She was 
one of the editors of the Water Bucket, a 
temperance paper published during the 
Washingtonian revival, and she early con- 
nected herself with the order of Good Tem- 
plars. In 1849 a temperance paper called 
the Lily was commenced in Seneca Falls, and 
it very soon fell entirely into the hands of 
Mrs. Bloomer, both as editor and publisher. 
It was continued by her for six years in New 
York, and one year in Ohio. It was devoted 
to the " interests of woman," and ardently 
advocated the cause of temperance and wo- 
man's enfranchisement, and attained a wide 
circulation. In 1851 Mrs. Bloomer first ap- 
peared on the platform as a public speaker, 
and slie, in company with other advocates of 
temperance and Woman's Rights, in the 
winter of that year addressed large and atten- 
tive audiences in all large cities of the State. 
Mrs. Bloomer continued, during her residence 
in New York and Ohio, to speak frequently 
on the question so near her heart, visiting and 
speaking in Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago, 
Milwaukee and St. Louis; and wherever she 
went she always was favored with full houses. 
In 1850 Mrs. Bloomer's attention was called 



OF rOTTAW ATT AM IB COUNTY. 



243 



to the short dresses and trowsers which a 
few ladies about that time be^an to don. She 
was pleased with it, adopted it in place of 
the long, heavj skirt that ladies were accus- 
tomed to wear, and advocated in the Lily its 
adoption by others. It soon excited great 
interest, and her name soon became connected 
with it the world over. Mrs. Bloomer con- 
tinued to wear it for some six years; and she 
is still a firm believer that its general use 
would tend to promote the comfort and 
health of her sex. She, however, never pub- 
licly advocated it other than in the columns 
of her paper, and never in any way alluded 
to it in her public addresses. Her main 
theme and the work of her life has been the 
enfranchisement of woman, alike in industrial 
employments, in educational privileges, and 
in political rights; and in all tliese respects 
she has been spared to witness most wonder- 
ful progress; but the hour of complete 
triumph is yet delayed. 

In 1854 Mrs. Bloomer removed with her 
husband to Mount Yernon, Ohio, where, dur- 
ing that year, she continued the publication 
of her paper, acting also as associate editor 
of the Western Uovie Visitor. She made 
many addresses during the year in that State, 
and organized a number of lodges of Good 
Templars. In 1855 she became a resident 
of Council Bluffs, where she has since resided. 
She has spoken often and written a great 
deal on her favorite subject of Woman's 
Rights, as well as upon temperance and otlier 
prominent questions before the public. She 
was the first president of the Iowa Woman 
Suffrage Society, and her residence has always 
been open to the advocates of her favorite 
ideas, as they stopped or passed through the 
city- But advancitig years has limited her 
activities, and she has been compelled to 
to leave to others the carrying on the battle 
for equal justice for her sex. 



In 1842 she became a member of the Epis- 
copal Church, and she has continued her 
connections with it through all the subsequent 
years, and aided in its work in many ways in 
the city of her adoption. She has taken a 
deep interest in whatever tends to ameliorate 
all suffering and promote the happiness of 
the poor and the unfortunate, as well as the 
rich. In the spring of 1890 she celebrated, 
in connection with her husband, their Golden 
Wedding, in tiie pleasant cottage in which 
they have resided for thirty-five years. It 
was thronged with their friends, who joyfully 
seized the occasion to express their high 
regards for tlie venerable pair, and the pres- 
ents which they received were alike numer- 
ous, beautiful and spontaneous. 



— ^-^«f-|— 

fUSTIN J. OLNEV^, of Belknap Town- 
ship, was born in Kirtland, Lake County, 
Ohio, February 8, 1838, a son of Oliver 
and Alice (Johnson) Olney, the former a na- 
tive of New England, and the latter of the 
State of Vermont. The father, reared and 
educated in New England, followed his pro- 
fession as cloth manufacturer, in the land of 
his birth, and emigrated to Ohio in an early 
day, locating first in Portage County, thence 
removing to Lake County. He emigrated 
thence to Nauvoo, Illinois, and a few years 
later removed to the State of Missouri, where 
his wife died, in 1842. Soon afterward he 
moved back to Illinois, where he married 
again, and remained until the date of his 
death, lie was the father of eleven children, 
namely: Newton, who died about the year 
1841; Milton, now residing in Ohio; Emily, 
who resides in Oregon, having emigrated 
thereabout the year 1846 or 1847; Mary, 
who went to Oregon in 1852, and died in 



244 



BIOORAPHIOAL BISTORT 



November, 1855; Rosetta, who died about 
tlie year 1842; Oliver, who died in Belknap 
Township, Pottawattamie County, Iowa, in 
1875, at the age of forty-two years; Laura, 
still living in Kirtland, Ohio; Caroline A., 
who died in 1858; Cornelia, who died about 
the year 1841; Justin J., the subject of this 
sketch; and Albert, who died in infancy, in 
1842. 

Mr. Olney, the siibject of this sketch, and 
his sister Mary, after the death of their 
mother, were taken by an uncle, John John- 
son, living at Hiram, Ohio, who brought them 
up. Laura was brought up by Mrs. Emily 
Quiim, an aunt, who lived at Kirtland, Ohio. 
Caroline was brought up by Mrs. Jason Ry- 
der, an aunt, of Hiram, Ohio. In the year 
1855 Mr. Johnson came to Pottawattamie 
County, Iowa, and located on a farm near 
Council Bluffs, where young Justin J. worked 
for him by the month for about one year. He 
then rented a part of Mr. Johnson's farm, 
and worked for liim until 1862, when he made 
three trips across the plains to Denver. 
August 9, 1865, he married Miss Mary E., 
daughter of Edwin S. and Eveline (Morris) 
Morrison. 

Mr. Morrison was reared in his native 
State, Missouri. December 8, 1836, he mar- 
ried his wife in Virginia, her native State. 
His first ancestors in America settled in this 
country in early times. His father was a 
Presbyterian minister. After his marriage 
Mr. Morrison visited Cincinnati, Ohio, re- 
sided for a time at Madison, Indiana, and 
then returned to Cincinnati, where his wife 
died in 1847, leaving five children, namely: 
Moiiteville, now a resident of Kansas City, 
Missouri; Sarah E., deceased; Mary E., wife 
of Mr. Olney; Catherine and Elizabeth, both 
deceased. Mrs. Olney was born in Indiana, 
JSJovember 27, 1842. Her mother having 
died when she was quite young, she was 



taken care of by her grandmother for one 
year; then her father married Margaret Den- 
ton September 14, 1849, and she was taken 
to his home in Cincinnati, where she was 
brouglit up. At the age of eighteen years 
she came to South English, Iowa, to reside 
with her brother, where she made her home 
until her marriage. 

In 1866 Mr. Olney purchased 240 acres of 
land on the west side of the Nishnabotna 
River, near his present home. Since that 
time he purchased forty acres more, all of 
which he occupied and improved until 1880, 
when he rented his farm and removed to 
Oakland, and engaged in the trade in agri- 
cultural implements; but a year afterward he 
moved upon a farm in the vicinity of Oak- 
land. In 1883 he exchanged his farm for an 
undivided one-half interest in a tract of 560 
acres. When the division was made he ob- 
tained 320 acre3 of fine land in sections 28 
and 24, where improvements had been made. 
His principal business is agriculture. He has 
140 acres in cultivation, and the rest in pas- 
ture and meadow. He also has an orchard of 
one and a half acres of apples and small fruit. 
There is a fine spring of water upon his land, 
furnishing a good supply of pure water for 
all purposes. 

Politically Mr. Olney is a Republican, and 
a zealous advocate of Republican principles. 
He has been a prominent member of the 
Board of Education in his township, and has 
held many of the township offices, which he 
has filled to the satisfaction of the people. 

His family are members of the Christian, 
or Disciples' Church, of Oakland. His two 
children are: Caroline Alice, the wife of D. 
S. Pleak, who now resides in Macedonia 
Township, this county; and Wayne, living at 
home with his parents. Mrs. Olney's father 
resides in Springfield, Ohio, and by his second 
wife has six children, to wit: Marion E., 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



345 



Belle, Sarah, Louisa, Margaret and George. 
Marion E. now resides in Cincinnati, Ohio; 
Louisa is the wife of a Mr. McConnell, in 
Illinois; and the others are at home. 

.■• i .ig . 2 ii ; . |i . « « ^— 



lAMUEL BARSTOW is a native of 
Muskingum County, Ohio, born Au- 
gust 18, 1829, tive miles north of 
Zanesvilie, the son of Samuel and Alvira 
(Woodruff) Barstow, natives of Maine and 
Ohio respectively. The mother died May 5, 
1840, and the father died at Farmington, 
Illinois, in 1867. They had a family of 
seven children, of whom only tive still sur- 
vive: Warren H., deceased in Illinois; 
George W., of Licking County, Ohio; Wil- 
lis, of Cleveland, Ohio; Samuel, our subject; 
Anthony H.. deceased; Martha, wife of M. 
W. Spaulding, residing in TecuiHseh, Ne- 
braska; Stephen, of Farmington, Illinois; 
and Sarah A., deceased in infancy. Mr. Bar- 
stow was again married, this time to Mary 
L. Jet, of Ohio, who died in 1889, at Farm- 
ington, Illinois. By this marriage there were 
seven children, namely: Judson, who died 
in Andersonville prison after having been 
wounded at the battle of Chickahominy 
Swamps. He was first taken to Libby prison, 
thence to Andersonville, where he died of 
abuse and neglect; Elvira, deceased, wife of 
M. W. Spaulding, of Tecumseh, Nebraska; 
Henry, deceased in Illinois; Eliza, a resi- 
dent of Farmington, Illinois; Ann, deceased; 
Milton, deceased; Ross, a resident of Farm- 
ington. 

Samuel Barstow, Jr., our subject, was 
reared in his native county, and remained at 
home until he had attained his majority. He 
was brought up to farm life, and received 
his education in the old log school-house of 



those days. September 19, 1853, he re- 
moved to Fulton County, Illinois, where he 
remained a short time, and then removed to 
Peoria County, working at whatever pre- 
sented itself, farming being his principal oc- 
cupation. He was married November 24, 
1853, to Miss Eleanor A. Caulson, daughter 
of William S. and Hephzibah (Eno) Caulson, 
natives of England and New York respect- 
ively. The mother, born in Michigan in 1804, 
still resides in the State of Washington, near 
Olympia. The father died in 1844, at the 
age of forty-three years. They had a family 
of ten children, of whom seven still survive: 
Hannah T., wife of Ambrose Clark, of 
Union County Oregon; Sarah Ann, widow 
of J. W. Clark, residing in Mills County, 
Iowa; William P., deceased in Mexico; 
Mary O., deceased, was the wife of Charles 
Davis, of Exeter, Nebraska; Eleanor A., 
the wife of the subject of this sketch; 
Jakie, a resident of California; Imle E., of 
Cordelan Mines, Idaho; Emeline, widow of 
J. S. Sherwood, of the State of Washington; 
Henry S., also of Washington. Eleanor, the 
wife of our subject, was born in Peoria 
County, Illinois, near Peoria city, January 
29, 1832, where she was reared and married. 
In the fall of 1855 they came to Iowa, and 
located in Mills County, where Mr. Barstow 
purchased a pre-emption right of raw prairie, 
with no improvements whatever. Here they 
made their home for eight years, and im- 
proved eighty acres. In 1863 they returned 
to Illinois, where they spent one year, and 
then returned to Iowa, spending four years in 
Mills County; returned to Peoria and spent 
one year, and again returned to Mills County. 
In April, 1872, they located on their present 
fartn of forty acres, on the southwest (piarter 
of section 31, Lewis Townshi)), Pottawat- 
tamie County. Here they at once com- 
menced improvements, erected a small resi- 



346 



BIOGRAPHICAL HI8T0RT 



dence, 16 x 21, and one and a half stories 
high. They made their home here for sev- 
eral years, when they removed to their pres- 
ent residence. Mr. Barstow lias added to 
his first purchase until he now has 160 acres 
of finely improved land, the most of which 
he has done himself. When they landed in 
Iowa they had nothing but pluck and energy, 
but by close application they have secured 
for themselves a comfortable home. He de- 
votes himself principally to farming and 
stock-raising. Politically he is a stanch E.e- 
])ublican, taking an active part in all of the 
political work of the county. He has held 
the ofiice of Justice of the Peace and Road 
Supervisor, and while in Mills County he 
was chosen as Supervisor of the county two 
terms. Mr. and Mrs. Barstow are members 
of the Christian Ghurcii, of which he is an 
ordained elder. 

They have five children: James M., born 
September, 1854, a practicing physician of 
Council Bluffs; Roseltlia, wife of Joseph 
Stoker, residing in Mills County; Alice J., 
born January 20, 1858, the wife of Edward 
P. Mclntyre, of Harrison County, Iowa; 
Ilepsie E., born September 16, 1865, is a 
teacher in the public schools of Council 
Bluffs; Elvira, deceased; Guy E., born July 
28, 1873, is at home. 






[EOUGE PLUMB, a popular citizen of 
Belknap Township, was born in Lin- 
colnshire, England, May 20, 1842, a son 
of William and Sarah (Grey) Plumb, who 
were also natives of England. The father 
was born in February, 1811, and died in his 
native country May 12, 1884; the mother 
was born February 25, 1821. They reared a 
family of six children, five sons and one 
daughter. 



George Plumb, our subject, was reared on 
a farm in England, and also for three years 
worked in the dock-yard at Chatham. In 
1871 he sailed from Liverpool to New York, 
and then went to Mills County, Iowa, where 
his two brothers, Valentine and Frank, then 
resided. He remained in that county until 
1881, when he came to his present farm 
in Pottawattamie County. Politically Mr. 
Plumb is a Republican, and he has also 
served three years as a member of the School 
Board. He and his wife are members of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church. He was mar- 
ried in Lincolnshire, England, May 14, 1867, 
to Miss Ann Coy, who was born in that 
country, and the daughter of Thomas and 
Ann (Thurby) Coy, both natives of England. 
Mr. and Mrs. Plumb have four sons: Thomas 
William, who was born in England, is now 
farming for himself; Henry Reloy, Arthur 
Wesley and Walter Howard. 

... ' m| « ; i i ; ' ||" «" — 



fAMES P. ALLENSWORTH is one of 
the prominent citizens of Silver Creek 
Township. He came to Pottawattamie 
County in 1882, and has since made this 
place his home. Mr. Allensworth was born 
in Jefferson County, Ohio, November 15, 
1835. His father, John Allensworth, a na- 
tive of Pennsylvania, was a son of Emmanuel 
Allensworth. John Allensworth was married 
in Jefferson County, Ohio, to Miss Lydia 
Bartholomew, who died when James P. was 
a small child, iu 1841. The family subse- 
quently removed to Muskingum County, 
Ohio, where they resided several years. The 
father came to Mills County, Iowa, and died 
in 1874. He was by trade a cabinet-maker 
and wood- turner, and was a good mechanic 
in his younger days, but in later life turned 




RECTOR, ST. FRANCIS CHURCH. 



OP POTTAWATT.UriE COUNrY 



317 



his attention to agricultural pursuits. Polit- 
ically he was a Democrat. 

The su^)jeet of this sketch was reared on 
his father's farm in Jefferson County, received 
his education in a log school-house, and, at 
the age of twenty-one years, went to Mus- 
kingum County, Ohio. Four years later he 
moved to Morgan County, same State, where 
he lived until 1872. In that year he came 
to Iowa and settled in Mills County. Upon 
his arrival there he had but little money, but 
had great faith in Iowa, and with a willinsr 
hand he went to work. He bought 120 acres 
of land, which he improved and which he sold 
in the fall of 1881. He then purchased 240 
acres of prairie land where he now resides, to 
which he afterward added five acres of tim- 
ber land. The soil had been broken and the 
land fenced, but no buildings had been 
erected. Mr. Allensworth has improved thi'' 
property and it is now considered one of the 
best farms in the township. He put up a 
jjood frame house on a natural building site 
and surrounded it with a grove and orchard 
of four acres, and built a barn 34 x 48 x 16 
feet. He also has a granary, cribs, cattle 
yards, sheds for stock, and a modern wind- 
mill. In short, every thing about the farm 
indicates thrift and prosperity. He is ex- 
tensively engaged in stock-raising, in which 
he has met with eminent success. 

Mr. Allensworth was married in Morgan 
County, Ohio, February 26, 1860, to Miss 
Malinda Sowers, a lady of intelligence and 
refinement, who was reared and educated in 
that county. Her father, William Sowers, 
was a native of Maryland, and her mother, 
nee Mary Ann Thuish, was born in Ohio. 
They lived in the latter State until their 
death, the mother dying when Mrs. Allens- 
worth was fifteen years old. Her father died 
in September, 1889, at the age of eighty-five 
years. He was an active member of the 



21 



Methodist Church, and for many years was a 
cluss-leader and exhorter. Mr. and Mrs. 
Allensworth have four children, viz.: Alle- 
thea, wife of J. P. Boyleau, Belknap Town- 
ship, Pottawattamie County, Iowa; George 
C. married Cora Tipton, and resides on a 
farm adjoining his father's; "William, at 
home; Edith, a successful and popular teacher. 
In his political views Mr. Allensworth is 
independent, casting his vote for whom he 
considers the best man for the position. He 
is a worthy member of the Methodist Epis- 
copal Church, a steward and a liberal sup- 
porter of the same. During the civil war he 
served 100 days in the National Home 
Guards of Ohio. He has always been inter- 
ested in educational matters, and has given 
his children the benefit of good schooling and 
fitted them for respectable positions in life. 
He is ranked among the enterprising, suc- 
cessful and popular citizens of his community. 



I^HE ST. FEANCIS XAVIER OATH- 
OLIC CHURCH, of Council Bluffs, 
^- was one of the first societies formed 
in this part of the country, even so far in the 
past as when the jndians had full sway here; 
and the first priest or pastor was Father De 
Smet, the great missionary. His people 
erected a small log church on the bluffs, 
where the first priest in charge was Father 
James Powers. Father Doxacher sticceeded 
him. They resided at Omaha, to which dio- 
cese the congregation at the Bluff's belonaed. 
The first Iowa res^ident priest at Council 
Bluff's was liev. Bernard P. McMenomj, 
who came in November, 1869, from George- 
town, Monroe County, Iowa, but previously 
from Missouri. He is a native of County 
Donegal, Ireland, born in August, 1830; was 
educated at St. Columb's College, at London- 



248 



BIOGRAPHICAL IIIbTOJiY 



derry, Ireland, which institution he entered 
at the age of tifteen years, continuing there 
until within a short time before he emigrated 
to America in 1849. He first settled at St. 
Louis, and continued his studies there for 
four years in a seminary under Archbishop 
Peter K. Kenrick. Then, February 24, 1854, 
he was ordained and sent to North Santa Fe, 
in northeast Missouri, where he took charge 
of a parish. He laid out the town of St. 
Marysville, and by his own efforts obtained 
the establishment of a postoffice there, which 
he named St. Patrick. After an engagement 
there of four years he was removed to Edina, 
Knox CJounty, Missouri, where he had charge 
of a parish for seven and a half years. Then 
he came to Georgetown, this State, and from 
there, in 1869, to Council Bluffs, as before 
stated. While at Georgetown he erected 
some four or five churches, the principal one 
being the Georgetown church, a large stone 
building. The others were at Melrose, Chari- 
ton (Lucas County), Woodburn (Clark Coun- 
ty), and one near Leon in Decatur County; 
and along the line of the Chicago, Burling- 
ton & Quincy Railroad for some 200 miles 
he erected many churches. 

He has been very zealous in church work. 
Since his residence in Council Bluffs he has 
erected the St. Francis Xavier Church, at the 
corner of Sixth street and Fifth avenue, a large 
and handsome edifice 60x120 feet in dimen- 
sions, completing it in 1888, at a cost of 
over $50,000. Also he built the St. Francis 
Xavier Academy, in the rear of the church, 
where there are twenty-five Sisters in charge 
of a large number of pupils, — about sixty-five 
boarding pupils and 250 day pupils. He 
also erected the St. Joseph Academy, for 
boys, a good brick building opposite the 
church. The St. Bernard's Hospital, con- 
ducted by the Sisters of Mercy, is a large, 
substantial brick building, where the sick 



and infirm are received without distinction 
of creed or color. The priest's residence is 
a handsome brick structure erected also by 
him, between the church and the Sisters' 
Academy. Under Father McMenomy's ad- 
ministration here the membership of the par- 
ish has increased from about 500 to over 
2,000. His assistant in parish work is Kev. 
T. A. Maloy. 



fQ. ROLLINS, section 21, Center Town- 
ship, Pottawattamie County, is one of 
** the early settlers and well-known citi- 
zens of the townnhip. He came here in 
1865, and has since made this place his 
home. 

He was born twenty miles from Augusta, 
Maine, in Kennebec County, February 10, 
1838, a son of Levi Rollins, a native of 
Maine. His grandfather, Mark Rollins, was 
born in New Hampshire, July 4, 1776. He 
was a carpenter by trade, at which he was 
still able to work when he was eighty years 
old. He lived to be ninety-nine. The Rol- 
lins family trace their ancestry to three 
brothers who came from England to America 
and settled in the New England States. The 
mother of our subject was nee Julia Ann 
Smart. The Smarts were descendants of an 
old New England family. Levi Rollins and 
his wife reared a family of eight children, as 
follows: Sarah, deceased; James, at Grin- 
nell, a soldier of the Twenty-fourth Iowa In- 
fantry in the late war; J. Q., our subject; 
Mary Hussey, a resident of Maine; Calvin, 
who resides in New Hampshire. He was in the 
Seventh Maine Infantry, but was transferred 
to the Thirteenth Maine Infantry. He was 
in the battle of Cedar Creek, where General 
Sheridan made his famous ride. Calvin was 
wounded in that battle. Oscar was also in 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



349 



the Seventh Maine Infantry, and died of dis- 
ease in the army; Harriet, deceased; Edward 
resides in Maine. Mr. and Mrs. Rollins 
lived in Maine until their death. The mother 
was a faithful member of the Methodist 
Episcopal Chnreh. Her death occurred 
when J.Q. was twelve years old. The father 
died at the age of seventy-three years. He 
was a farmer all his life. Politically he was 
formerly a Democrat, but later a Kepublican. 

Mr. Rollins was reared on a farm and re- 
ceived a common-school education in Maine. 
In 1860 he came to Iowa and settled in Cedar 
County, where he lived until he came to 
Pottawattamie County. He was married in 
Cedar County, December 2, 1863, to Miss 
Mary Viena Fuller, daughter of Ezra and 
Arloa (Turner) Fuller. A sketch of her 
father appears on another page of this work. 
She was born in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, 
and lived there until she was thirteen years 
of age, when she came with her parents to 
Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Rollins have eight chil- 
dren living, viz.: Mary Ellen, wife of J. B. 
Wills, of Butler County, Nebraska, has four 
children; Edward Elsworth and James Levi, 
both of Belknap Township, this county; Julia 
Eva, Herbert Henry, Arthur Garfield, Olive 
Pearl, Benjamin Harrison — all at home. 
Jessie Mary died in her seventh year. 

In 1865 Mr. Rollins came to Pottawatta- 
mie County and purchased forty acres of land 
in Center Township. This he afterward sold 
to A. L. Brown. He then rented land of 
Mrs. Fuller for one year, after which he 
bought eighty acres in Valley Township. 
That farm he exchanged for eighty acres in 
section 15, Center Township. After im- 
proving it to some extent he sold it and again 
rented land. In 1886 he purchased his pres- 
ent farm of eighty acres. The soil had been 
broken, but there were no buildings on 
the place. He has since made many im- 



provements, has erected a good house and 
barn, and everything about the premises 
shows thrift and prosperity. Mr. Rollins is 
engaged in general farming and some car- 
pentering, and during a portion of the year 
he operates a thresher and corn-sheller. He 
is a Republican; has served as Constable, 
Justice of the Peace, and as a member of the 
School Board. 




"^ "I ' l '^ l ' l" " 

ALTER I. SMITH, one of the young- 
est, though most prominent members 
of the bar of Council Bluffs, is a na- 
tive of this city, born July 10, 1862. His 
father, George F. Smith, was an early resi- 
dent of Council Blutfs. Mr. Smith was 
educated in the public schools of this city, 
graduating at the high-school, in the class of 
1878. He began the study of law in Auo-ust, 
1881, in the office of Colonel D. B. Dailey, 
and was admitted in December, 1882. After 
his admission he continued with Colonel 
Dailey until 1885, since which time he has 
been alone in practice. Mr. Smith, though 
one of the youngest members of the bar of 
Pottawattamie County, has already taken 
high rank as a lawyer, and is recognized as a 
young man of marked ability, whose future 
gives promise of a most successful and useful 
career. Mr. Smith is a most industrious 
student of his profession, and a gentleman of 
extensive and varied reading, and is num- 
bered among the progressive and enterprising 
citizens of Council Bluffs, where all his life 
thus far, has been passed. June 19, 1890, at 
the age of twenty-seven, he was unanimously 
nominated for the office of District Judge by 
the Republican Judicial Convention of the 
Fifteenth District of Iowa, composed of the 
counties of Audubon, Shelby, Pottawattamie, 
Cass, Mills, Montgomery, Fremont and Pacre, 



250 



BIOGRAPHICAL IIISTORT 




and was elected November 4th followinic, 
rnniiiiig 667 votes ahead of his ticket in 
Pottawattamie County. 

— ~*-»^»-^^"* 

fARREN DEAN, an early settler and 
proniineiit citizen of Wright Town- 
ship, Pottawattamie County, was 
l)(irn in Rhode Island, March 8, 1843. His 
father, Edward Dean, formerly a worthy citi- 
zen and pioneer of Wright Township, now 
resides in Griswold, Cass County, Iowa, both 
he and his wife being past eighty years old. 
He was horn at Taunton, Massachusetts, in 
1810, and his wife, nee Mary Ami West, was 
born in Massachusetts in 1809. She is a 
dauu-hter of Amos and Avis (Horton) West, 
who lived as man and wife for sixty-eiglit 
years. Her father was a soldier in the war 
of 1812, and lived to be ninety-six years old. 
The Deans were of an old Mew England 
family. Edward Dean married his present 
wife in Rhode Island, and in 1856 came to 
Iowa, settling in Wright Township, this 
county, being the third family to locate in 
the township. Here they lived until 1884, 
when they removed to Griswold. 

Warren Dean was a lad of tliirteen years 
when his parents came West. His youth was 
spent on a farm in this frontier district, and 
his education was obtained in a log school- 
house. Duritig the civil war he tendered his 
services to his country, enlisting in August, 
1862, in Company I, Twenty-third Iowa In- 
fantry Volunteers, William Dewey being his 
first Colonel. Mr. Dean was a brave soldier 
and participated iu many of the important 
engagements of the war. He was first under 
lire at Port Gibson; was at the siege and sur- 
render of Vicksburg; went with General 
Banks up the Red River; was at the siege of 
Mobile; and finally received an honorable 



discharjie at Harrisburcr, Texas, whither he 
had been ordered from Mobile. 

Alter the war he returned to Pottawatta- 
mie County and engaged in agricultural pur- 
suits on his father's farm. April 3, 1867, 
near where Atlantic now stands, Cass County, 
Iowa, Mr. Dean wedded Miss Georgiana 
Hardenbergh, who had been a successful 
teacher of Cass and Pottawattamie counties. 
She was born in Ulster County, New York, 
July 6, 1844, and was a young girl when her 
parents moved to Lee County, Illinois. From 
there the family moved to Cass County, Iowa, 
in 1859. Her father and mother, Thomas 
H. and Fanny (Niver) Hardenbergh, both na- 
tives of New York State, now reside near 
Atlantic, where tliey have made their home 
for many years. After his marriage, Mr. 
Dean lived on the old farm for four years. 
In 1871 he moved to a portion of his pre?ent 
farm. He now owns 380 acres of as good 
land as there is in this county. His com- 
fortable home and surroundings indicate the 
taste and refinement of its occupants and also 
the prosperity which has attended them. He 
is engaged in general farming and stock- 
raising, and has been eminently successful. 

He and his wile are the parents of four 
children: Carrie M., who was educated at 
Simpson College, Indianola, is a popular 
teacher and an artist of rare ability; Ada L., 
George W. and Rae L. Mr. Dean's political 
views are in harmony with Republican prin- 
ciples. He has served as Township Clerk and 
as a member of the School Board. He has 
been identified with the Christian Church, 
but, as that society has no organization in his 
vicinity, he worships at the Methodist Epis- 
copal Church of Wiiipple, and is a lil>eral 
supporter of the same. His wife is an active 
and zealous member of that church, and is 
Superintendent of the Sabbath-school. Mr. 
Dean is a member of the G. A. R., and is 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



251 



associated with Worthitigtoii Post, No. 9, 
Griswold. 



lAMUEL B. PASSMORE was born in 
West Nottingliain Townsliip, Chester 
County, Pennsylvania, December 13, 
1827, son of John W. Passmore, a native of 
the same county. His grandfather and his 
great-grand father, Ellis and George Passmore, 
were also natives of Pennsylvania. The tirst 
Paseniore who landed in this country was a 
Friend, eatne here with William Penn and 
settled in Pennsylvania. All his descendants 
down to the present generation have belonged 
to the Society of Friends. The wife of John 
W. and the inotlier of Samuel B. Passmore 
was nee Deborah Brown, a native of Chester 
County, Pennsylvania. She is a daughter of 
Samuel and Elizabeth (Brown) Brown, also 
natives of the Keystone State. John W. and 
Deborah Passmore reared four children, as 
follows: Ellis P., a i-esident of Rising Sun, 
Cecil County, Maryland; Samuel B., whose 
name heads this article; Elizaljeth Ruth, 
widow of Eliphaz Cheyney, Westchester, 
Pennsylvania, and Colonel John Andrew 
Moore Passmore, No. 318 South Forty-second 
street, Philadelphia, a prominent resident of 
that place. He was an officer in the late war, 
and is now manager at Philadelphia for D. 
Appleton & Co. John W. Passmore died in 
June, 1848, at the age of forty-six years. His 
relict has been for forty-four years a widow. 
She is now ninety years of age and resides 
with her son Ellis in Cecil County, Mary- 
land. When she made a visit to her son in 
Iowa, in 1881, she was in good health and 
quite active. 

Samuel B. Passmore was reared on his 
fatlier's farm in Chester County, Pennsyl- 
vania, and received his education in the pub- 



lic schools. March 28, 1850, he wedded Miss 
Hannah M. Jackson, a native of that county. 
Her parents, Joshua and Sarah (Cook) Jack- 
son, were also born in Chester County, Penn- 
sylvania. Mr. Passmore and his wife 
remained in their native county until May 
22, 1855, when they moved to Bureau County, 
Illinois. There he rented land and lived 
until 1870, when he came to Wright Town- 
ship, Pottawattamie County, Iowa, and bought 
160 acres of land ; this was all wild prairie 
land. He also bought ten acres of timber, 
situated three miles from his farm. He was 
among the early settlers of this part of the 
country, and at that time deer were frequently 
seen on his premises or in view of his dwell- 
ing. He has since developed his farm and 
it is now under a good state of cultivation. 
Maple Grove, as he is pleased to call it, is 
considered one of the finest farms in Wright 
Township. Mr. Passmore erected a com- 
fortable one-and-a-half-story house, which, 
surrounded with beautiful evergreens and 
shrubs, makes an attractive home. In 1874 
he purchased 160 acres of prairie land which 
adjoined his farm, making 320 acres in one 
body. He has an artificial grove of thirteen 
acres and an orchard comprising three acres. 
His barn is 44x46 feet, with eighteen feet 
posts, and a rock foundation. His farm is 
divided into five fields for pasture, meadow 
and grain; and among other improvements 
made by Mr. Passmore are two windmills and 
1,600 rods of osage-orange and 200 rods of 
willow hedge. He has some line specimens 
of stock, both cattle and hogs. Maple Grove 
is, indeed, a beautiful home, and one of which 
the owner should be justly prond. 

Mr. Passmore and his wife have ten chil- 
dren, viz.: Amor C, of Aurora, Buchanan 
(bounty, Iowa; Ella Deborah, wife of A. J. 
Lipp, Wriffht Township; Orlando C. resides 
near Linden, Dallas County, Iowa; Ida A., 



253 



BIOQRAPniCAL UlSTORT 



wife of J. C. Morris, Guthrie County, Iowa; 
Ell wood Lovejoy, at home; Anna Mary, wife 
of H. Nolta, Dexter, Dallas County, Iowa; 
Ellis P., in the nursery business at Cloverdale, 
California; Willie T., Dallas County, Iowa; 
Emma L., wife of N. G. Brown, Cass County, 
Iowa; and Lincoln G., at home. 

Like his worthy ancestors, Mr. Passraore is 
a Quaker. He, however, attends the Meth- 
odist Episcopal Church of Whipple; has been 
a trustee for several years and is a liberal 
supporter of that church. He is one of the 
leadincr Kepublicans of his township, and is 
chairman of the Republican Central Com- 
mittee. He was formerly a Free Soiler, and 
was one of the three in his township who 
voted that ticket in 1852, the township cast- 
inir 200 votes. He has served in most of the 
township offices, is at present Township Trus- 
tee, and has always used his influence for the 
best interests of the community. 

Mr. Passmore is past sixty, but bears his 
age lightly. He is frank and cordial in his 
manner, with a vein of humor in his make- 
up, and he is highly esteemed by all who know 
him. His family are refined and cultured, 
and are ranked with the best society of the 
community. 



kELSON LEWIS, of Lewis Township, is 
P/1 a native of Monroe, Michigan, born 
December 25, 1838, the son of Silas 
and Lydia Lewis. He was the ninth in a 
family of ten children. He was reared to 
farm life in his native State, and received his 
education in the public schools. When he 
was fifteen years of age he commenced work- 
ing for himself, and in his seventeenth year 
came to Pottawattamie County, Iowa, where 
he has since made his home. He was en- 
gaged in various pursuits during his younger 



days, and in 1856 he made a trip to Texas, 
where he remained during the winter. He 
then returned to Pottawattamie County, and 
during the years 1861-'62 was engaged in 
freighting across the plains from Council 
P)luffs to Denver, and in 1863 he freighted 
from Council Bluffs to Fort Randall. April 
12, 1864, Mr. Lewis was married to Miss 
Emily Jane Musser, who was born in Knox 
County, Ohio, August 26, 1846, the daughter 
of John and Caroline A. (Souls) Musser. 
The parents were natives of Pennsylvania, 
and came to Ohio previous to their marriage. 
From that State they came to Pottawattamie 
County, Iowa, and purchased a farm in what 
is now Garner Township, where they made 
their home until the death of Mr. Musser, 
which occurred October 21, 1868. The 
father was a cabinet-maker and house-joiner 
by occupation. They had a family of nine 
children, viz.: William A., of Indianapolis, 
Indiana; Charles O., of Nebraska* Frances 
L., wife of Henrv Palmer, residing ia Coun- 
cil Bluffs; Emily J., wife of the subject of 
this sketch; Hester A., wife of Samuel 
Underwood, of Garner Township; Mary E., 
wife of Charles Green, residing in Neola 
Township; Martha E., wife of John Flem- 
ming, of Dakota; Abbie M., wife of George 
W. Ballinger, of Dawson County, Nebraska; 
Julia A., wife of William Ballinger, of 
Omaha. Mrs. Musser is still a resident of 
Garner Township. 

Nelson Lew'is, our subject, purchased a 
farm shortly after his marriage, in Lewis 
Township, consisting of eighty acres on sec- 
tion 16, where he commenced makingimprove- 
ments. He erected a good frame residence, 
24x32 feet, and also barns for stock and 
grain; he has the finest stock barn in this 
part of the county, which is 56 x 104 feet, 
and contains a steam mill for grinding meal 
and feed. He has fine groves and eight 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



253 



acres of orchard. Mr. Lewis has added to 
his first purchase until lie now possesses 280 
acres, on sections 16 and 21, Lewis Town- 
ship, and forty acres in Mills County. His 
home and surroundings denote thrift and 
prosperity. In April, 1884, he engaged in 
the dairy business, and now he has one of 
the most extensive dairies in the county, 
keeping 150 cows, and milking daily about 
175 gallons. He is a live, energetic man, 
who has by his honesty and integrity won a 
large circle of friends. In his political views 
he is a Trohibitionist, and has represented 
his township in most of its various offices. 
He was also instrumental in organizing Lewis 
Township. 

Mr. and Mrs. Lewis are the parents of 
twelve children, viz.: Lydia May, Charles 
W., Edwin J., I>ank N., Jessie A., Eva E., 
Harry 13. and Walter S. (deceased), Freddie 
O., Bertie A., Yernon S. and an infant son. 

.^c» • !? • ! ! l | » T ||. lai 



t*TT:OOSTER FAY, of Lewis Township, 
MV|| is a native of Franklin County, Yer- 
.-^f^ mont, born November 18, 1819, the 
son of Jonathan and Kuth (Elsworth) Fay. 
The parents were natives of Massachusetts 
and New Hampshire, and of Scotch and Eng- 
lish origin. They had three children: Ad- 
dison, a resident of Bowling Green, Ohio; 
Wooster, our subject; and Hollia, deceased in 
1868. 

Wooster Fay, our subject, was reared in his 
native State until he was fifteen years of age, 
when his family removed to Wood County, 
Ohio. He was reared to farm life, and re- 
ceived his education in the common schools. 
When the family went to Wood County it 
was a new country, they being among the 
pioneers. They improved a farm which they 
entered from the Government, and here he 



lost his parents. He remained in Wood 
County twenty-one years, and in 1855 came 
west to Iowa. In the spring of 1856 he 
came to Pottawattamie County and purchased 
a farm of 200 acres of partially improved 
land, in what is now Keg Creek Township. 
In the fall of 1856 he removed with his 
family to Pottawattamie County, where they 
commenced life again in a new country, and 
for the second time became a pioneer. He 
remained in Keg Creek Township until 
April, 1889, when he removed to his present 
home, on section 4, Lewis Township. He has 
a comfortable little home with three acres 
of land, and here he expects to spend his 
remaining days. He has labored hard in 
assisting in the development of Pottawatta- 
mie County, having improved 176 acres of 
prairie land, which he disposed of at various 
times, and has also purchased other land. 
The home farm is on sections 20, 28 and 29, 
Keg Creek. This he improved and made 
his home until he removed to his present 
place. He dealt in stock principally, in con- 
nection with his farming, and the last twelve 
or thirteen years he has taken special pVide 
in the i-earing of a better grade of stock, in 
the short-horn class. Politically he is a Re- 
publican, and has represented his county as 
a member of the Board of Supervisors for six 
years, from 1874 to 1880. He represented 
his township in the State Legislature for 
three terras and a half, and in all of his politi- 
cal career he has never asked a trian to vote 
for him. 

Mr. Fay was married in Wood County, 
Ohio, November 9, 1846, to Charlotte M. 
McMillan, who was born in Seneca County, 
Ohio, March 10, 1826. She was the daugh- 
ter of Morrison and Clarissa (Brown) McMil- 
lan, natives of New York and Canada, and of 
Scotch origin. Mr. and Mrs. Fay have four 
children, namely: Emma, born October 15, 



25 i 



BIOOBAPHIGAL lllaTOBY 




1847, is the wife of Samuel H. Hopkins, re- 
siding in Macedonia, Pottawattamie County: 
Morrison M., a resident of Franklin County, 
Nebraska, born August 27, 184U; Jane, born 
July 10, 1851, the wife of Logan Eeynolds; 
Isoletta, born June 8. 1866, wife of James 
Pei'shell, residing in Lincoln County, Wash- 
ington. The family are among the most 
worthy and respected citizens of the county, 
and have by their honesty and integrity 
won a larjijo circle of friends. 



ILLIAM L. DEAN came to Wrigbt 
Township, Pottawattamie County, 
Iowa, in 1856, and has since made 
this place his home. He was born in Rhode 
Island, December 18, 1848, son of Edward 
and Mary A. (West) Dean, prominent and 
early citizens of this township. A further 
account of them will be found on another 
page of this work, in the sketch of Warren 
Dean. 

The subject of this sketch is the youngest 
of the family and was only seven years of age 
when iiis parents came West and located in 
this township, being among the pioneer set- 
tlers here. He attended the public schools 
and grew to manhood on the frontier. To the 
rudiments of an education thus obtained he 
added a larger knowledge by private study 
and reading at home. He was married, No- 
vember 2, 1868, in Cass County, Iowa, to 
Miss Emily Wright, daughter of Simeon and 
Emeiine (Arnold) AV right, the former a native 
of Massachusetts and the latter of New York. 
Her father is a prominent pioneer of this 
township, it having been named in honor of 
him. For several years he was a member of 
the County Board of Supervisors. 

Mr, Dean remained on the home farm for five 
years after his marriage and then came to his 



present farm, which he had partly improved 
before removing to it. He first purchased 
eighty acres, and from time to time, as for- 
tune favored him, he bought more land until 
he is now the owner of 500 acres, one of the 
best farms in the eastern part of the county. 
His residence, a modern frame house with 
bay windows and porches, was built in 1881, 
at a cost of $2,100. It is surrounded by a 
l)eautiful lawn, dotted over with evergreens 
and shrubs, and makes a cosy and attractive 
home. Mr. Dean has a good barn with a rock 
foundation, other farm buildings and con- 
veniences, and a supply of water near the 
surface of the ground. His farm is divided 
into ten different fields, separated by good 
fences. Twenty acres of river bottom are in 
timber, and he also has a ten-acre grove of 
thrifty young trees. 

Mr. and Mrs. Dean have five children, 
namely: Augusta M., who has been a teacher 
and is now attending Simpton College 
at Indianola; Charlotte B., Edward A., 
Georgia May and Alice Efiie, all at home. 
Mr. Dean was a member of the Christian 
Church when that society had an organiza- 
tion in this vicinity, but more recently he has 
taken an active interest in the Methodist 
Episcopal Church, of Whipple, of which his 
wife and two daughters are members. He is 
a Kepublican, and is the present Trustee of 
Wright Township. He has also served sev- 
eral years on the School Board. 



— "< -; " : -g- 



W. PIERCE, one of the enterprising 
and successful citizens of Washington 
" Township, came to Iowa in 1870, first 
settling in Mills County. He was born in 
Windsor County, Vermont, April 22, 1852, 
a son of Albert A., who was a native of N sw 
Hampshire, and a son of Alpheus . Pierce, 



V 





'^^^ 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



255 



who was born in Vermont, The Pierce 
family is of Puritan ancestry, and oue of the 
ancestors was a soldier in the Revolutionary 
war. The mother of our subject was Mary 
(McCollough) Pierce, who was born in New 
Hampshire, a daughter of John McCollough, 
a native of sonthwestern Scotland, and of 
Scotch-Irish descent. Albert A. Pierce and 
wife made their home in New York until 
their death, the mother dying in 1873, at the 
age of about thirty-eight years, and the father 
in North Carolina, while there on business. 
He was a tanner and currier by trade, but 
later in life was engaged ao a traveling solic- 
itor. Politically he was a Republican, and 
in religion was a member of the Presbyterian 
Churcii. The mother was a member of the 
Episcopal Church. They were the parents 
of two children: O. W., our subject, and 
Etta, who died at the age of twenty-six years. 
O. W. Pierce was reared in Vermont until 
thirteen years of age, wiien he went to New 
York city and remained five years. At the 
acre of eighteen he came West to Iowa. 
While in New York city he was engaged as 
clerk in a wholesale house, and his education 
was received mostly by attending a night 
school in that city. In 1870 he settled in 
Mills County, Anderson Township, Iowa, and 
was engaged in farming there until 1877, 
when lie purchased 120 acres of wild land in 
Washington Township, Pottawattamie Coun- 
ty, where he has since resided. He now 
owns 280 acres, 200 of which is in one body, 
and the remainder is located a half mile 
north of section 12, and ail is under a good 
state of cultivation. He is engaged in gen- 
eral farming and stock-raising, and lias some 
thoroughbred stock of the highest grades. 

Mr. Pierce was married in Mills County, 
Iowa, in 1877, to Miss Frances M. Wilson, a 
native of that county, and daughter of Will- 
iam B. and Ann (Watson) Wilson. The 



parents now reside in Mills County, near 
Hastings. Mrs. Pierce was a successful 
teacher before her marriage. Tliey have had 
si.\ children, viz.: Fred Wilson, Edith May, 
Arthur Winiield, Edna Jenny, Leonard Al- 
bert, and William C, who died when a babe- 
Mrs. Pierce died February 15, 1889; she 
was an affectionate wife and mother, and her 
death was a great loss to her family and 
friends. She was reared in, and was for 
several years connected with, the Methodist 
Church. Politically Mr. Pierce is a Repub- 
lican, and has served as Township Clerk and 
Assessor with credit to himself and the best 
interests of the township. 



-5m^ 



,1T^,ILLARD F. 



ROHRER.— Mr. Roh- 
lit rer has been a resident of Council 
Bluffs, Iowa, since July, 1871, arriv- 
ing before he had attained the age of twenty- 
one. He came originally from Rohrersville, 
Washington County, Maryland, where he 
was born on the old family farm, August 80, 
1850, the family of which they are represent- 
atives having been natives of Pennsylvania, 
and of German ancestry. 

The greatest excitement during his boy- 
hood days was that created by " Old John 
Brown," at Harper's Ferry, Virginia, in 
1859, which was only twelve miles distant. 
He received a common -school education in 
the private and public sciiools of Boonsboro, 
and Keedysville, Maryland. During the late 
war, his home was on the border of the bat- 
tle-field of Antietam, the battle having been 
fought September 17, 1862. He was at that 
time aged twelve years. 

Even at this age he was pressed into service 
as a nurse, as his father's house, barn and 
wood-house were turned into hospitals, and all 
possible aid rendered Ijy the family to the 



1 ^ 



356 



BIOOBAPHIOAL HISTORY 



vvoundod soldiers of the " Federal Army." 
He left his native State and home to begia 
life for hirasolf in 1870, to accept an engage- 
ment to travel for a wholesale glove house in 
Chicacro, and, having closed this ensrao-ern'^nt 
in the fall, he thea located for the winter near 
Avaion, Livingston County, Missouri, at 
which place he engaged in teaching school. 

In tlie spring of 1870 he selected their 
present family farm of 280 acres in said 
county, and immediately wrote for his father 
and family, and upon their arrival from 
Maryland he assisted in putting in the 
spring crops. 

As stated before, in July, 1871, he made 
his first appearance in Council Bluffs, to in- 
troduce a fall wheat brand of flonr manufact- 
ured by Siiively & Hedges, of Wathena, Kan- 
sas. At the expiration of three months he 
was ordered to Texas to introduce the same 
flour, and on account of being pleased with 
the business outlook in Council Bluffs he 
resigned his position and decided to make 
this city his home. 

He found immediate employment as clerk 
of the Briggs House, which was then one of 
the leading hotels. He was next employed 
in the Postoffice Bookstore of Brackett & 
Gouldon as a clerk, which position he held 
until D. W. Bushnell succeeded J. P. Goul- 
den, at which time he was appointed Deputy 
Sheriff by ex-Sheriff George Doughty, de- 
ceased. 

In the discharge of his duties as Sheriff it 
was necessary for him to ride over the entire 
county: inasmuch as only about one-half of 
the farm land was occupied and fenced at 
that time, he rode in every direction over the 
grand prairies that now constitute many of 
the most valuable farms. P'ollowing this he 
was employed by J. M. Palmer to assist in 
opening the first frame hotel and depot on 
the identical ground now occupied by the 



brick and stone Union (Pacific) Passenger 
Depot. 

Subsequently he was appointed agent of 
tlie Burlington & Missouri River Railroad in 
Nebraska, and bill clerk of the Chicago, Bur- 
lington & Quincy Railroad in this city, by J. 
W. Morse, late general passenger agent of 
the Union Pacific Railroad. 

In 1875 he formed a partnership with 
Thomas Bowman, the present Congressman 
elect, in the insurance business, having pur- 
chased the large lire insurance agency of J. 
P. & J. N". Casady. About three months 
after forming this partnership Mr. Bowman 
was elected County Treasurer, and after Jan- 
uary 1, 1878, Mr. Rohrer conducted the 
business alone. 

In 1881 he became a member of the com- 
mercial storage and agricultural implement 
firm composed of Thomas Bowman, George 
F. Wright and himself, and known as the 
firm of Bowman, Rohrer & Co. The firm 
closed out their business on January 1, 1885, 
to Shephard, Field & Cook. At this time 
Mr. Rohrer was appointed general agent of 
the Mutual Life Insurance Company of New 
York for the State of Iowa. 

On December 31, 1887, he was elected 
Mayor of the city of Council Bluffs by tlie 
City Council, to succeed ex-Mayor William 
Groneweg, who resigned theoflSceon account 
of being elected State Senator. At the fol- 
lowing city election in March, 1888, he was 
the Democratic candidate for Mayor, and 
David J. Rockwell the Republican nominee 
for the same office. Mr. Rockwell being a 
popular gentleman polled the full strenth of 
his party; nevertheless Mr. Rohrer was 
elected by between 700 and 800 majority, his 
term expiring March 17, 1890. 

During his continuous term of twenty-six 
and one-half months as Mayor of the city, 
Council Bluffs made more substantial prog- 



/ 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE GOUNTT. 



257 



ress as a city than during any previous 
term, viz.: the paving with cedar blocks of 
Broadway from Twelfth street to Omaha, a 
distance of three miles, connecting with the 
(second) great iron and steel bridge over the 
Missouri Rive;, uniting the cities of Council 
Bluffs and Omaha by the first electric street 
railway introduced in the great West; open- 
ing up the Lake Manawa steam street rail- 
way; opening up the Council Bluffs and 
Omaha Chautauqua grounds, etc., etc. Dur- 
ing his terra of office eight miles of streets 
were paved with cedar blocks, and brick and 
other public and private improvements were 
made in keeping with the same. 

In his filial message to the City Council 
on March 17, 1890, he made the following 
valualjle recommendations in reference to 
that portion of tLe city which is now appar- 
ently (to the eye) in Omaha: 

'• My attention has but recently been called 
to some facts to which in this parting mes- 
sage I deem it my duty to call your attention. 
I am informed by able lawyers and also by 
officials who are in a position to know that 
the long neglected body of land known as 
" Cut-off Island," and sometimes slightingly 
referred to as " No Man's Land," is within 
the corporate limits of the city of Council 
Bluffs, and it seems that in five or six suits 
which have been had concerning this land 
it has been conceded on all hands, by law- 
yers and judges, that such is the case. 

" Heretofore this land has been almost of 
no consequence, but the marvelous growth of 
our city and its sister across the river has at- 
tracted the attention of capitalists to this 
tract of land which is in Iowa, but contigu- 
ous to Omaha. This point settled, impor- 
tant consequfcnces ensue therefrom. 

"The Union Pacific Railway Company has 
built its tracks on this island, bridges are 
being built, streets opened up; arrangements 



are being made to fill up the unoccupied 
ground with factories, warehouses and busy 
industries. 

" I have only recently learned these facts, 
but should consider myself derelict in duty 
were I to fail to call your attention to the 
same upon this particular occasion. 

"The island in extent embraces nearly 
2,000 acres of valuable land; and if I under- 
stand the matter aright, this is all subject to 
taxation by the council of the city of Council 
Bluffs, and the trackage of the railroads as 
well. This should be looked into and at- 
tended to. 

" We, in turn, aiming to give to the public 
as good government as possible, and watch- 
ful of the interests of all within our jurisdic- 
tion, should see to it that the right of fran- 
chise so dear to the American heart should 
be accorded to the residents of that district, 
who are in fact citizens of Council Bluff's. 

" The children of these parents have a right 
to attend our public schools. The census- 
taker must not omit to include this popula- 
tion in his list. 

" The importance of the right to tax this 
large body of land is liable to be underesti- 
mated, as, in my opinion, but very few years 
will pass before a large revenue will be de- 
rived tlierefrom, and steps should be taken, 
at the next real-estate assessment in the 
spring of 1891, to get the same property 
upon the books." 

His recommendations were acted upon 
promptly by the present city administration, 
and at this writing the exact boundary lines 
between the cities of Council Bluff's and 
Omaha, in tin vicinity of this valuable tract 
of ground constitutes a case in the Supreme 
Court of the Uiiited States. 

His parents. Judge George C. Rohrer and 
Sophia E. fDeaner) Rohrer, were born in 
Washington County, Maryland; however, as 



J 



358 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY 



before stated, they have resided on their farm 
near Avalon, Livingston County, Missouri, 
since 1871, his mother having died on May 
19, 1889, at the age of sixty-two. Twelve 
children were in their family; of these, Win- 
field Scott, Susan Maria, Emma Alice and 
Laura Ellen, died wiien quite young — from 
infancy to age of seven. Harry Crytzman died 
at home, August 30, 1889, at the age of 
twenty-seven. 

Ida Florence is the wife or Irwin F. Rob- 
inson, and resides at Ciiillicotiie, Missouri. 
Samuel Deaner resides in Council Bluffs, and 
is at present a member of the city engineer's 
force, while Luelia Dinah, Christian Frank- 
lin, and Julia Elizabeth, reside on the farm, 
which is now and has been for years farmed 
in partnership by the subject of this sketch, 
Millard Fillmore, and his brother C. Frank- 
lin. Mary Catharine is the wife of Noah 
W. Cronise, who resides at Rohrersvilie, 
Maryland, and is a half-sister, being the only 
child of his father's first wife. 

On September 11, 1877, Mr. Rohrer was 
married to Sarah Beach Beers, the only child 
of John B. Beers and Eliza (Beers) Crawford. 

Tiiey have had three children: the first 
burn, John Beach Beers, died February 8, 
1880, at the age of thirteen months. Ti>e 
i-emaining two children: Isaac Beers is ten 
years old, and Carrie Test is seven years of age. 

Mrs. Rohrer's parents were among the 
early settlers of Council Ijlnffs, her father 
having been engaged in the wholesale gro- 
cery business, and very extensively in real 
estate in western Iowa, and in Omaha and 
Nebraska City in Nebraska. In Council 
Bluffs Beers' Addition and Beers' Subdivis- 
ion bear his nanje. Mrs. Rohrer is an act- 
ive meml)er of the Presbyterian Church, and 
takes a great interest in the Woman's Chris- 
tian Association Hospital, having been one 
of tiie first officers. 



Mr. Rohrer is engaged in the real estate 
and tire insurance business. His real inter- 
ests are very large in Council Bluffs, and 
likewise at Blue Hill, in Webster County, 
Nebraska. He is a stockholder in the Coun- 
cil Bluff's Savings Bank, one of thj {a.-'i--, 
commercial savings and ijaneral biiikint 
houses in western Iowa. 



HRISTIAN H. BECK, a farmer of 
Lewis Township, Pottawattamie Coun- 
ty, was born in Ilolstein, Germany, 
August 22, 1827, and came to America with 
his parents. His fdther, Asmes Henry Beck, 
was a native of Holstein, Germany. He was 
a tailor by trade, and also owned a small 
farm. He was married to Elsebee Kickbust 
whose family were great land-holders in Ger- 
many. In 1853 they came to America and 
landed in Davenport, Iowa, where they re- 
mained about four ye irs. Tlien they came 
to Pottawattamie County, Lewis Township, 
where they purchased eighty acres of " raw " 
land in the PIr.mer settlement, which they 
improved. They afterward rented this land, 
and lived with their daughter, Mrs. Whitland, 
of Lewis Township. The mother died on the 
old home farm in the Plumer settlement, and 
the father died at Whitland's. They had a 
family often children, viz. : Christian Henry, 
our subject; Margaret, deceased, wife of 
Henry Scliworts; Catharine M., the wife of 
H. H. Spetman, of Lewis Township; Fred K., 
residing with his brother, C. H.; Elsie N., 
wife of John Spetman, residing in Nebraska; 
Asmes II., deceased; Hans, deceased; Henry, 
deceased; Christina, wife of Dick Messman, 
of Lewis Township. The parents were mem- 
bers of the Lutheran Church. 

Christian II., our subject, was reared to 
farm life, and engaged in the war of 1848 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



259 



against Denmark, serving three years. He 
also engaged in liorse-tradinsr wliile in the 
old country, and traveled a great deal. He 
was second sergeant in the war in Germany, 
served faithfully and was a gallant soldier. 
After he came to Davenport, he spent some 
two years, and then came to Lewis Township), 
Pottawattamie Connty, where he purchased 
a larm of eighty acres on section 35, which 
he improved and used for a pasture-farm. 
He remained on this place about ten years, 
when he and his brother, Asmes, bought 240 
acres of unim])rovt'd land on sections 3 and 
10, Lewis Township. They built a small 
frame house, 16x16, where they lived one 
summer, and which they now use for a gran- 
ary. Mr. Beck then built his present home, 
also a li-aine residence, 32 x 34 feet, and has 
erected a number of good barns for stock and 
grain, the main one being 62x40 feet, which 
is one of the finest barns in this part of the 
county. He has planted five acres of orchard 
and groves. He has added to his first pur- 
chase until he has now 520 acres, on sections 
9, 10 and 11, and eighty acres on section 35, 
making in all 600 acres. He lias made all 
the improvements the farm contains, and has 
done a vast amount of labor in this county. 
He devotes himself to farming and stock- 
raising; also buys feed and ships a large 
amount of stock. He is a Democrat, always 
taking an active part in the political work of 
his county. He has represented his township 
as Trustee and School Director. 

Mr. Beck was married in June, 1859, to 
Sarah Young, daughter of Jacob and Sarah 
(Seaman) Young, who came from Alsace, 
Germany, about 1853 or 1854, and located 
for a time in Ohio, and then came to Potta- 
wattamie County. The father died in Mills 
County, Iowa, in 1886, and the mother still 
resides there. The father was a farmer and 
also owned a large vineyard and made large 



quantities of wine, but after coming lo this 
country he followed farming. They were 
members of the Lutheran Church, and had a 
family of eight children: Jacob, deceased in 
the old country; Hans, also deceased in the 
old country; Catharine, deceased in Loudon- 
ville, Ohio; Sarah, wife of the subject of this 
sketch; Jacob, deceased; George, residing 
in Pottawattamie County, Iowa; Margaret, 
wife of Adolph Guise, residing in Potta- 
wattamie County, Iowa; John, a resident of 
Mills Coxinty, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Beck 
have eleven children: Ferdinand, born July 
25, 1862, died April 20, 1888; Laura, born 
June 9, 1864, died April 1, 1868; Margaret, 
born May 22, 1866, is the wife of Ferdinand 
Plumer, near Sioux City, Iowa; Rosa, born 
July 25, 1868, is at home; Freddie, born 
June 9, 1871; Christina, born September 1, 
1872, died in October, 1874; Gotlieb, born 
December 14, 1874; John, born August 6, 
1877; Adolph, born January 18, 1861; Al- 
vina, born October 8, 1883, died May 29, 
1888; and Dickie, born October 11, 1885. 

Mr. and Mrs. Beck are members of the 
German Lutheran Church. 



fAMES BOILER.— Among the promi- 
nent and well-known citizens of Wright 
Township, Pottawattamie County, we 
find the name that heads this sketch. Mr. 
Boiler has been a resident of this place since 
1873. He was born in Pike County, Ohio, 
March 26, 1848, son of William and Caro- 
line (Kincaid) Boiler, both natives of Ohio. 
Grandfather David Boiler was born in Ger- 
many. 

In 1851 William Boiler and wife moved 
from Ohio to Iowa and settled in Muscatine 
County, becoming pioneers of that place. 
They made their home in Muscatine County 



360 



BIOGRAPHICAL BISTORT 



until 1865, when they moved to Marshall 
County, same State. After remaining in the 
latter place three years they returned to Mus- 
catine County. Then, in 1873, they came to 
Wright Township. Three years later they 
moved to Walnut, Iowa, where the father 
died April 25, 1886, at tlie age of seventy- 
six years. He was a farmer all his life. In 
politics he was a Democrat. His widow, now 
sixty-eight years of age, resides at Walnut. 
On a frontier farm in Muscatine County 
James Boiler grew to manliood. He was 
educated in the pioneer schools, and early in 
lift! was taught that industry, economy and 
honesty were necessary elements for the 
foundation of a successful life. At the age 
of seventeen he entered upon a three years' 
apprenticeship to the carpenter's trade, and 
was afterwards entjaged in contracting and 
building in Marshalltown, Iowa. In 1873 he 
came to this township and bought 160 acres 
of wild prairie land, and was one of tiie first 
settlers in his neighborhood. He has since 
added to his first purchase until he is now 
the owner of 320 acres of valuable, well im- 
proved land. He also owns 160 acres which 
he uses for pasture, and which is located two 
miles from his home farm. He has a fine 
two-story residence, which was enlarged and 
remodeled in 1884. It is beautifully located 
and is surrounded with shade trees, makincr 

o 

an attractive place and a comfortable home. 
A grove and orchard of five acres are near 
the house. He has a large barn, stock scales 
and other buildings, two modern wind pumps 
and good fences; in short, this farm is con- 
sidered one of the best improved ones in the 
neighborhood. Mr. Boiler keeps annually 
from fifty to 150 head of cattle, and from 200 
to 300 hogs. 

Mr. Boiler was married in Muscatine 
County, Iowa, January 25, 1876, to Miss 
Sarah Jane Nolte, a native of Jefferson 



County, Indiana, daughter of Herman and 
Sarah (Padgett) Nolte. She was reared in 
Indiana, and at the age of sixteen years came 
with her parents to Muscatine County, where 
they now reside. Mr. and Mrs. Boiler have 
three children, namely: Orpha Lola, born 
November 1, 1876; Glen Ira, born May 22, 
1878, and Grover Cleveland, born February 
2, 1885. 

Mr. Boiler is one of the leading Democrats 
in the eastern part of Pottawattamie County. 
In 1885 he was elected County Supervisor 
and served three years. During his term of 
office the Court House was erected, and other 
important business was transacted. Mr. 
Boiler was an efficient and popular officer. 
He has also served in townsliip offices, and 
has acted as Chairman of tlie Democratic 
Central Committee. He is a man well in- 
formed on all general topics and current 
literature, and has broad and progressive 
views. He is honorable in all his business 
dealings, and is regarded as one of the solid 
men of Pottawattamie County. His wife is 
a member of the Baptist Church. 

In regard to Mr. Boiler's family history, it 
should be further stated that of the five sons 
born to his parents, four are living: Joseph is a 
prominent real-estate dealer at Walnut, Iowa. 
Benjamin and Cyrus also live at that place, 
the latter being a contractor and builder. 
Wesley Boiler, next to the eldest, lives in 
Muscatine County, Iowa. Besides the above 
there was one sister. 



HE CITIZENS' BANK OF OAK- 
LAND was first organized by S. S. 
Rust in October, 1883; succeeded by 
Rust & Potter in March, 1884. The Bank 
of Oakland, organized in January, 1882, by 
W. H. and B. F. Freeman, continued until 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



201 



February, 1885, when it was consolidated 
with the Citizens' Rank, and called by the 
latter name, under the present firm of W. H. 
Freeman, President; S. S. Rust, Vice-Presi- 
dent; L. F. Potter, Cashier, B. F. Freeman 
retiring, and with a capital stock of $30,000. 
They have increased their stock and real- 
estate loans, and in 1885 erected a line brick 
block, 22J X 50 feet, and two stories high, in 
which they now carry on their business. 
They have a fine time-lock and automatic 
bolt-work on their safe, and also all the latest 
improvements that make a commodious and 
a thorough banking outfit. They exchange 
with Council Bluffs, Davenport, Chicago and 
New York, and have at the present time a 
cash capital of $36,000, with a surplus of 
$15,000, making a working capital of $51,- 
000. They are live, energetic and self-niade 
Mien, and by their honesty and integrity have 
won the higli place in the hearts of their 
many friends, butli in business and social 
relations. As a firm they started in their 
youth, and liave raised their business to the 
enviable rank and tile of their follow bankers. 
W. H. Freeman, the president, was born 
on a farm in the vicinity of Rockford, Illi- 
nois, October 11, 1844, the son of Daniel 
and Mary (Waller) Freeman, natives of St. 
Louis, Missouri, atid Kentucky, and of Eng- 
lish extraction. The father was a farmer by 
occupation, and our subject was also reared 
to that calling. At the age of twenty-one 
years he left home and came West. He was 
first engaged in taking contracts on the rail- 
road until he came to Oakland, where he en- 
gaged in the lumber and grain business. He 
was the first Mayor of the town, and was 
instrumental in all of the leading enterprises. 
He deals quite extensively in cattle, horses 
hogs. Mr. Freeman started with nothing 
but pluck and ambition, which liave won for 
him success. 



L. F. Potter, the cashier, was born on a 
farm near Milwaukee, Wisconsin, March 27, 
1855, the son of L. B. and Hitty (Wenzel) 
Potter, natives of New Hampshire and Mas- 
sachusetts, and of Scotch- English extraction. 
Our subject was educated in the Wauwatosa 
village schools, and completed his education 
in the Ripon and Beloit (Wisconsin) colleges. 
He taught school several terms, and in 1879 
came to Oakland, Iowa, and bought a one- 
half interest in a general store for $488, 
making the firm of Caldwell & Putter, which 
later became Potter & De Graff. This ven- 
ture, though small, proved very successful, 
and resulted in a rapidly increasing trade. 
In March, 1884, Mr. Potter sold his interest 
in the store to his partner, and became a 
partner and cashier in the Citizens' Bank of 
Oakland, which position he still occupies- 
He has been tiie active manager of the busi- 
ness since his connection with it, and the 
prosperity of the institution is due to his un- 
tiring energy. Under his management the 
bank has never lost a dollar on discounts or 
in any other way, a record unequaled perhaps 
by any other bank in Iowa. He has been 
Mayor of the town, and takes a great interest 
in her prosperity. 

S. S. Rust, the vice-president of the Bank, 
was born in Henderson County, Illinois 
February 23, 1848, the son of Jacob and Eda 
(Palmer) Rust, natives of Kentucky and 
South Carolina. He was reared to the pro- 
fession of his fatlier, a farmer and merchant. 
He came to Pottawattamie County witli his 
parents in 1855, locating in Valley Town- 
ship. He left home when he was thirteen 
years old, and was engaged in working by 
the month for several years. In 1865 he 
married Mary N. Strong, to whom his success 
in life in a large measure is due. He pur- 
chased his first land in 1872, and in 1880 
came to Oakland, and engaged in the grain 



263 



BIOGRAPHTOAL BISTORT 



and lumber business, in which he was veiy 
successful. Mr. Rust then started in the 
banking business, on his own responsibilitj^ 
and has made the different changes until he 
now occupies his present place. He also has 
a fine farm, where he raises stock, and to 
which lie gives a great deal of attention. He 
is a live, energetic and self-made man, and is 
interested in the advancement of tlie county 
as well as community, and is esteemed and 
respected by his many friends, both in social 
and business relations. 

These men have been residents, the prin- 
cipal bankers, and identified with the best 
enterprises and improvements of the town 
since its bewinninff. The bank went throneli 
the disastrous fire of May 28, 1887, without 
loss, and they immediately erected a brick 
block, sixty-six feet front, for the benefit of 
those who were burned out, and did not feel 
able to rebuild. They have also in various 
other ways aided the people to recover from 
their losses. 



--€^-5*^2-1— 



[ACOB SIMS, attorney at law, of the firm 
of Sims & Saunders, is one of the rep- 
resentative members of the bar of Coun- 
cil Bluffs. The present firm was formed 
September 1, 1890, but Mr. Sims has been a 
member of the bar of Pottawattamie County 
since January 1, 1879. His partner is Mr. 
C. Gr. Saunders. 

Mr. Sims is a native of Wisconsin, iiavlne 
been born in Dodgeville, that State, Novem- 
ber 30, 1850. His father, Kev. James Sims, 
a well known pioneer Methodist clergyman 
of that State, within whose borders he has 
preached for forty years, was until Septem- 
ber, 1890, the minister in charge at Prairie 
dn Chien, but is now a resident of Council 
Bluffs, having retired from active work in 



the ministry. He is a native of Cornwall, 
England, but came to America when a young 
man. Mr. Sims' mother is also a native of 
Eiigland. He is the oldest of eight surviv- 
ing children, and is also the only son. Two 
brothers died in early life. 

Mr. Sims entered Lawrence University at 
Appleton, his native State, at the age of 
eighteen years. After spending one year in 
the preparatory department of this institu- 
tion, he entered upon the regular classical 
college course, graduating in 1874. He then 
entered upon the profession of teaching, and 
was for a year principal of the Oconto High- 
School. Deciding to enter the newspaper 
field, he went to Milwaukee, and was for 
some time on the editorial staff of a pa]ier in 
that city. Then going to Minneapolis, he 
was engaged in the newspaper business for 
two and a half years; he then came to Coun- 
cil Bluffs and entered the law office of B. F. 
Montgomery, Esq., a well-known lawyer of 
that city, and was admitted January 4, 1879. 
He was for nearly four years associated with 
Hon. J. Y. Stone, nnder the firm name of 
Stone & Sims. Mr. Stone is the present At- 
torney General for the State of Iowa. The 
firm of Sims & Saunders is one of the promi- 
nent law firms of Council Bluffs. 

Mr. Sims is a finely educated gentleman, 
and was ever an earnest student. He took 
first honors of his class at college, being hon- 
ored with the valedictory. He ever mani- 
fests the same earnest industry in his profes- 
sional calling that characterized his career at 
college. On January 11, 1887, Mr. Sims 
was united in marriage with Miss Anna H. 
Squire, who before her marriage was a suc- 
cessful teacher for a number of years. Mrs. 
Sims is a daughter of the late Daniel Squire, 
of Ottumwa, Iowa, who died in February, 
1890. He was formerly of Rockford, Illinois, 
where his body lies buried. Mrs. Sims was 




*^, 








OF POTFAWATrAMlE COUNTF. 



:63 



born and educated in Rockford. Her mother 
is still a resident of Ottutiiwa. Mr. and Mrs. 
Sims have three children, a son and two 
daughters ^Jarnes Daniel, Mariana and Kath- 
arine. 




C. SMITH, Agency Director of the 
New York Life Insurance Company 
for Iowa and a portion of Nebraska, 
has his office at rooms 305 and 306, Sapp 
Block, Council Bluffs. This branch of the 
business was established here by him in 
1883, since whicli time he has had it under 
his control, having at the present time over 
twenty-five men in his employ; and he has in- 
creased the yearly new business in Iowa from 
$1,000,000, written in 1883, to over $4,- 
600,000, new business written in 1890, largely 
outstripping all competitors. This, however, 
is only one of the evidences of his activity 
and of the amount of work he has done. He 
has been associated with this company for 
over sixteen years, commencing in Vermont 
and operating afterward in New York State 
before coming here. 

Mr. Smith was born in St. Lawrence Coun- 
ty, New York, February 13, 1841, the son of 
Harrison and Caroline (Kennedy) Smith, 
natives respectively of New York and Ver- 
mont. His ancestry has been American for 
several generations. He was eighteen years 
of age when he went to Castleton, Vermont, 
to attend school, graduating at Castleton 
Seminary about two years later. The five 
years following he was engaged in the live- 
stock business in New York State, Vermont 
and Canada, shipping to Boston and other 
New England markets. The six years fol- 
lowing this he was engaged in general mer- 
chandising at Waterbnry, Vermont. Finding 
that business too confining and circum- 

32 



scribed for his natural inclinations, he sold 
his store and connected himself with the New 
York Life. Being a live, energetic man, he 
stands at the head of his profession in the 
West. 

He also owns and manages a lari;e stock- 
farm of about 1,500 acres in Monona County, 
this State, where he has about fifty head of 
horses, 700 head of cattle and as many hogs. 
His start at this farm occurred in this man- 
ner: In 1878 he came to Iowa in the interest 
of the company with which he is now con- 
nected; his family came in 1880, locating 
near Onawa, where he purchased a tract of 
land with the proceeds of an endowment 
policy, which he had taken out fifteen years 
previously. At different times he added to 
this tract until it reached its present dimen- 
sions. He now looks liack, attributing his 
success in acquiring this farm to that endow- 
ment policy taken early in life. His success 
in business is a sufficient guaranty not alone 
of his integrity and ability, but of the great 
company he represents. The best evidence, 
however, of its standing and worth, is its 
yearly increasing patronage, having issued 
over $175,000,000 new insurance in the year 
1890, which is more than all it had in force 
at the end of its first thirty years of existence. 

Politically Mr. Smith is a Eepublican; re- 
ligiously a member of the Congregational 
Church; and socially a member of Ivanhoe 
Commaudery, No. 17, K. T.; also a member 
of the Scottish-rite order of Masonry. 



fU. SCHULTZ, a farmer of Lewis Town- 
ship, is a native of Schleswig, Germany, 
® born January 13, 1838, the son of J. 
F. and A. M. (Rasacker) Schultz. The parents 
came to this country in 16'66, to Scott County, 
Iowa. The father, a shoemaker by trade. 



264 



BIOGRAPHICAL UlaTURY 



died in Cass County, Iowa, in 1886, and the 
mother in Chariton County, Missouri, in 
1876. They had a family of seven children, 
piz.: Maggie, wife of Chiis Leckbent, resid- 
ing in Cass County, Iowa; J. H., our subject; 
Fred, a resident of Council Bluffs, Rudolpii, 
of Cass County, Iowa; Nicholas, a fanner of 
Pottawattamie County; Dora, wife of Henry 
Koi'h, residing in Nebraska, and Augusta, 
deceased; also Christ, residing in Pottawat- 
tamie County. 

J. II. Schultz, our subject, was reared in 
hi.-' native county until lie was nineteen years 
of age. lie received his education in the 
coininon schools, and learned the trade of car- 
penter, after which he came to America and 
located at Davenpurt, Iowa, where he spent 
about twelve years. He first worked in a 
machine shop one year, and was then engaged 
in farming and carj^enter work. He had a 
farm uf lUO acres about twelve miles from 
Davenport, which he sold, and in 1870 re- 
moved to Missouri. Here he purchased a 
farm of 160 acres in Chariton County, where 
he made liis home for ten years, but owing to 
a failui-e of crops lie disposed of his farm and 
came to Pottawattamie County in 1880. Be 
rented land for about two years, and then 
purchased his present farm of 160 acres, on 
section 15, Lewis Township. When Mr. 
Schultz took possession of this place it was 
in a wild condition, but he went to work with 
a will to make a comfortable home, and to- 
day has one of the best farms in this part of 
the county. His home is surrounded with 
slmde and ornamental trees, and he has erected 
good barns for stock and grain. He has a 
double granary for corn, capable of holding 
5,000 bushels of corn, and he also has a barn 
which will shelter 100 hogs, built on the 
latest improved plan, furnished with a fur- 
nace and cook-pan for cooking feed. He has, 
in connection with his farming, done con- 



siderable carpenter work in the county; he 
now devotes most of his time to the raising 
of cattle and liogs. In political matters he 
is a stanch Democrat. 

Mr. Schultz was married January 13, 1860, 
to Mary Hansen, who was born in Schleswig, 
Germany, December 14, 1830, the daughter 
of Dudley and Sophia (Nachdigall) Hansen. 
The father died in Germany about 1863, and 
the mother died in Scott County, Iowa, in 

1868. Mr. and Mrs. Plansen were the par- 
ents of eight children, of wlnmi six died in 
the old country, and two came to America, — 
George, born in 1833, and is a resident of 
Cass County, Iowa, and Mrs. Schultz, the 
wife of our subject. Mr. and Mrs. Schultz 
are the parents of eight children, viz: John 
F., born Octol)er 19, 1859, and is a resident 
of Council Bluffs; Julius, born July 17, 1861, 
and is a farmer of Pottawattamie County ; 
George, born November 15, 1863, and is a 
farmer of Mills County, Iowa; Anna, born 
September 15, 1865, and is the wife of Charles 
Schnor, residing in Pottawattamie County; 
Edward, born December 17, 1866, residing 
at home; Margaretta, born November 25. 

1869, at iiome; and Henry, born June 28, 
1872, also at home. Mr. and Mrs. Schultz 
are membersof the German Lutheran Church, 
and are among the worthy and most respected 
citizens of the county. 



►^^S--- 



LEXANDER VALLIER, of Hazel 
Dell Township, is a native of Lobor- 
ough Township, London District, Up- 
per Canada, and was born June 26, 1807, the 
son ot Alexander and Mary (Marion) Vallier, 
natives of France. When young they came 
to Qpper Canada, wiieie they were married, 
lived and died. The father was a manufact- 
urer of potash. They had a family of seven 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNT T. 



365 



children, of whom onr subject was the eldest 
He aitd his l)rothei- Lewis are the only ones 
surviving. Mr. Vallier was reared in his 
native country until he was seventeen years 
of age, when he came tu New York, where he 
spent same five years, and where he received 
his naturalizitiin papers. fie then visited 
Canada, where he spent three years, and then 
came to Ohio, where he spent five years, en- 
gaged in farming. He afterward removed 
to Pike County, Dlinois, where he was en- 
gaged five years in farming. He then moved 
to Decatur County, Iowa, where he also spent 
five years. He moved a man from that 
county to Florence, Nebraska. In 1849 he 
was on the Nishnabotna, and while there at- 
tended an Indian war dance, when, not being 
acquainted with their cu ;toins, he feared every 
moment that his scalp would be taken. They 
had just killed seven Omaha Indians. 

In the spring of 1851 he came to Potta- 
wattamie County, Iowa, which he has since 
made his home. When he first came to this 
county he farmed one year on the Little Mos- 
quito, in Garner Township, and then removed 
to Hazel Dell Township, where he also en- 
gaged in farming one year. Mr. Vallier then 
removed to his present farm on section 28, 
Hazel Dell Township, .where he entered forty 
acres, and erected a log houe*e, 14 x 16 feet, 
where he lived for several years. He then 
built a good frame house, 30 x 34 feet, which 
was afterward destroyed by fire, and he built 
his present home 18 x 24 feet. He has added 
to his first purchase of land until he now pos- 
sesses 300 acres, the most of which is in sec- 
tions 27 and 28, and nearly all under good 
cultivation. He has always devoted himself 
to farming and stock-raising, and in con- 
structing his buildings he has assisted in the 
carpenter work. His home and surround- 
ings denote thrift and prosperity. He strug- 
gled through the early days of Pottawatta- 



mie County with the other pioneers, and 
withstood the storms and hardships and is 
now reaping his reward. He has always 
labored hard for the best interests of this 
county^ and in its social and moral welfare, 
and has by his honesty and integrity won a 
large circle of friends. He was instrumental 
in organizing the first district school in 
Hazel Dell Township, and has always been a 
lover of law and order. He is a stanch He- 
publican, having wheeled into line from the 
old Whig party. He at one time, with R. 
Bortan, cast the only Republican vote in the 
township. He has represented his township 
as School Director. 

Mr. Vallier was married in October, 1830, 
to Mary Draper, who was born in 1810, in 
Earnestans, Canada, and died in Pjttavvatta- 
inie County, May 20, 1886. They had a 
family of eight children, namely: Jane, wife 
of Virgil Mefford, residing in Harrison 
County, Iowa. They have a family of five 
children; Thomas, a resident of Hazel Dell 
Township, who has a family of five children; 
Hannah, wife of Alex. Ellioon, residing in 
Harrison County: they have a family of 
seven children; Ruth, wife of Gus Fillmore, 
also residing in Harrison County, and have a 
family of eight children; Emily, wife of 
James Robinson, residing in Monona County, 
Iowa; they have a family of eight children; 
Rozilla, wife of Amasa Bybee, residing in 
Rock Township: they have a family of nine 
children ; Daniel, a resident of Harrison 
County, and has a family of four children; 
and Lewis, residing in Pottawattamie County, 
and they have a family of two children Mr. 
Vallier again married, for his present wife, 
March 15, 1887, Mrs. Maggie Wootton, who 
was born in Sr. Louis, Missouri, May 29, 
1848, the daughter of George W. and Mary 
(Hayes) Martin, natives of England; they are 
both deceased. The mother died in 1848 



266 



BIOGRAPHTGAL UiaTORf 



and the father in 1860. They had a family 
of four children: Hannah M., Maggie, Isa- 
bella and Joseph. Maggie was reared in St. 
Louis, Missouri, and was first married to 
Henry Roberts. They had one child, Thomas 
Roberts, a resident of Hazel Dell Township. 
She was again married to John Wootton, and 
they have three children, namely: Anna, 
Emma and Harry. 

^ • ■ ^ . 3 . »; ' g" - — 



ALEXANDER L. FRIZZELL is one of 
the well-known pioneers of Center 
Township, Pottawattamie County, Iowa. 
He came to his present location in 1870, 
when this country was in its wild estate, and 
has since continued his residence here. As 
an early settler and a worthy citizen of this 
part of the county, a sketch of his life will be 
found of interest to many. 

He was born in Vermont, May 6, 1833. 
Ills father, Michael Frizzell, a native of 
Essex, Massachusetts, was a son of Elijah 
Frizzell, a descendant of French ancestors 
and a soldier in the Revolutionary war. The 
mother of our subject was nee Orpha Cree, a 
native of Vermont. His parents were mar- 
ried in the Green Mountain State, and when 
he was eighteen mouths old they removed to 
Medina County, Ohio, where the mother died 
in 1837. In 1839 his father wedded Char- 
lotte Deen. They removed to Bureau County, 
Illinois, in December, 1845, before there was 
any railroad there, making the journey in a 
wagon in the dead of winter, and were among 
the early settlers of that county. The father's 
second wife died in 1881. In 1883 he mar- 
ried Louisa Seely, and lived there until a short 
time before his death. He died at Firth, 
Lancaster County, Nebraska, at the age of 
eitrhty-three years. He had been a farmer all 
his life. In politics he was a Republican, 



and in religion a member of the Christian 
Church 

Alexander grew to manhood on his father's 
farm and received his education in the public 
schools of Bureau County. In 1860 he came 
to Iowa and for some time was variously em- 
ployed in Mills County. He operated a 
threshing machine, ran a saw-mill and, being 
a natural mechanic, was never at a loss for 
work. It was in Mills County that he be- 
came acquainted with Miss Annie McNurlin, 
whom he married August 20, 1863. She 
was born in Huntingdon County, Pennsyl- 
vania, in 1836, the daughter of James and 
Rachel (Jeffrey) McNurlin, both natives of 
Pennsylvania, the former of Irish extraction 
and the latter of English. Mrs. Frizzell was 
an infant when her parents moved to Ohio. 
From there they went to Indiana and settled 
in Wabash County, where they lived some 
years and where Mrs. Frizzell was educated 
and reared. The family subsequently re- 
moved to Mills County, Iowa. The parents 
afterward went to Cass County, Nebraska, 
where they spent the rest of their lives, both 
dying at the age of seventy-tivp The father 
was an active member of the Methodist 
Church and a class-leader in the same. Polit- 
ically he was a Democrat. 

In 1867 Mr. Frizzell moved to Cass County, 
Nebraska. Three years later, however, he 
returned to Iowa, and settled in Center Town- 
ship, Pottawattamie County, on eighty acres 
of wild land, where he continues to reside. 
He bought a log house which had been built 
by Mormons. The logs are oak, the best 
quality in the county. Mr. FVizzell moved 
this house to its present location, and here he 
has a home which for comfort and convenience 
is not surpassed by many a more pretentious 
looking structure. Here he and his good 
wife dispense hospitality in a generous way to 
friend and stranger, regardless of creed or 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



267 



doctriiiL'. Mr. Frizzell lias a line orchard and 
grove, good stables, cribs, etc., and is engaged 
in general farming and stock-raisinor. His 
farm comprises 160 acres, all under a splen- 
did state of cultivation. 

Thechildrenborn toMr.and Mrs. Frizzell are 
as t'oUows: Richard Ellsworth; Caroline, wife 
of Hugh Brown, of Center^Township, has two 
children; Minnie, wife of Warren Newton, 
Mills County, Iowa, has one child; Rachel 
Charlotte, who makes the old home more 
pleasant by her presence. 

Politically Mr. Frizzell is a Democrat. 
For four years he has serve 1 as Justice of the 
Peace, dealing out justice in an impartial 
manner to all who come before his court. 
He has also served the public as a member of 
the School Board. He is noted for his in 
tegrity, his cordiality and his hospitality. 



—, ... M^^. ; ii ; . ^ .. i -»>. — — 

L. ALDRIUGE, a prominent farmer of 
lljl Rockford Township, was born in Put 
" nam County, Indiana, November 23, 
1846, a son of John Sanford and America 
(Jones) Aldridge, also natives of Indiana and 
of English and Welsh ancestry. The iirst 
immigration to this country was in an early 
day, locating first in North Carolina and then 
in Indiana; were farmers. In the family of 
the father of John S. Aldridge were six chil- 
dren; Ruth, John, Elizabeth, Mary Ann, 
Betty and Josiah. John S., the second child, 
was born in North Carolina, June 15, 1819, 
but when young his father died. In the 
winter of 1846 he moved to Illinois, taking 
with him his mother, who afterward died, in 
1880, at the advanced age of eighty-eight 
years. Her husband, John S. Aldridge, had 
died March 16, 1849, leaving two children: 
II. L., our subject, and Mary E., now the wife 
of George Frazier. Mrs. John S. Aldridge, 



in 1853, after her husband's death, married 
Josiah Skelton, a native of Tennessee. In 
1854 they came to Pottawattamie County, 
and located upon Honey Creek, where they 
lived until his death in 1885, and are the 
parents of eleven children: John, Lewis; 
Josiah, Jane, Albert, Alice, Allen, Margaret, 
Jonas and Eddie, the two last deceased. 

Mr. Aldridge, our present subject, was 
brought up by his mother to farm life. A 
little after he was twenty years of age. April 
14, 1867, he married Margaret E. Selvy, a 
daughter of William and Mary (Foster) 
Selvy, natives of Tennessee and of Irish and 
German extraction. Her parents came to 
Missouri, and after some years moved to this 
county (Pottawattamie), and finally to Har- 
rison County, this State, where the father 
died, April 10, 1885, leaving eleven children: 
Frank M., George W., Martha, Margaret E., 
Eliza Ann, Susan, Mary, Amanda, William, 
James Edwin, and one who died in infancy. 
Margaret, the fourth child, was born in Mis- 
souri, July 6, 1850, brought upas a farmer's 
daughter, and was married at the age of 
seventeen years. After his marriage, Mr. 
Aldridge purchased forty acres of rough, 
wild land in the Missouri River bottom, in 
Harrison County, erected a log house 14x16 
feet in dimensions, and began to make the 
improvements essential to a complete home; 
but at the end of eight years, in 1875, he sold 
out and came down to Pottawattamie County 
and bought 150 acres of wild land, except- 
ing that there was a small farm house upon 
it; remained there eight years also, and then 
purchased forty-four acres of land on section 
1, Rockford Township, where he now resides. 
At that time some improvements had been 
made here, but they had greatly detei'iorated. 
He went to work and has made out of the 
place a fine home. He has now a good frame 
house, two stories high, 24x38 feet in ground 



368 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY 



area, inclnding porches, verandas, etc., a good 
orchard containing both large and small 
fruits; indeed it is one of the iinest orchards 
in the county. He has dealt also in live 
stock to a considerahle extent, taking special 
interest in honses and in Poland-Cliina hogs. 
He has added to his first purchase of land 
until he now has 290 acres, all but ten of 
which is in fine cultivation, 100 acres being 
in pasture. He has also a quantity of bees, 
doing well. He first started out in life here 
with almost nothing, but his ambition and 
energy has won for him success. Both his 
mother and his wife's mother are living with 
him, at an advanced age. Willis A. Selvy, 
a nephew of theirs, was born August 3, 1868, 
and left an orphan when young, was brought 
up by Mr. Aldridge and now resides upon an 
eighty-acre farm in Harrison County. Also 
a niece, Annie Jones, born August 26, 1872, 
was reared by him. Mr. Aldridge is a reli- 
able gentleman, independent on local issues. 
He has been Township Trustee twelve years, 
and is now Road Supervisor. He is an 
honored member of Missouri Valley Lodge, 
No. 232. F. & A. M.; also a member of the 
Mutual Protective Association, of St. John, 
of which he has been treasurer ever since its 
organization. 



;ILLIAM WHITNEY, one of the 
representative citizens of Center 
Township, Pottawattamie County, 
came to his present location in 1881. He 
was born in Ontario, March 25, 1836. His 
father, William E. Whitney, was born near 
Rochester, New York, the son of Jeremiah 
Whitney, a native of New P^ngland The 
mother of our subject, nee Mary Scott, was 
born in Niagara County, New York, Septem- 
lier 7. 1815. Her father, William Scott, 




was born in Connecticut, and her mother, 
Joanna (Crane) Scott, was a native of Eliza- 
beth, New Jersey! Mrs. Scott was a daugh- 
ter of Colonel Jacob Crane, an oflBcer under 
Washington in the Revolutionary war. Mr. 
Whitney has in his possession a pewter pan 
that was owned and used by Colonel Crane 
during the struggle for independence. It has 
been handed down to him by his ancestors, 
and is highly prized. Colonel Crane had a 
son-in-law, Crowell Wilson, a Captain in the 
British army, who received a grant of land 
in Ontario, where he settled and where 
others of the relatives also located. Colonel 
Crane also had a son-in-law in the American 
army. 

Mr. Whitney lived in Ontario until thir- 
teen years of age, when the family moved to 
Jackson County, Michigan, and later to 
Ingham County, same State. His father and 
mother had ten children, two of whom died 
in childhood. The names of those who 
reached adult age are Lucy A., William, 
Martha, F. S., Hannah E., Joanna C, D. A. 
and Sarah G-. The father was a mechanic by 
trade. He was a minister of the Gospel in 
the Free-will Baptist Church, and was a zeal- 
ous and faithful worker in the cause of his 
Master. He enlisted in the service of his 
country during the late war, and at the siege 
of Savannah lost a leg, having been shot 
through the knee. From the effects of the 
wound he died, in September, 1873, at the 
age of seventy-three years. His widow now 
receives a pension. 

The subject of this sketch was reared on a 
farm and educated in the public schools of 
St. Thomas, Ontario, Jackson and Ingham 
counties, Michigan. When a young man he 
went to Wliiteside County, Illinois, where, 
in 1862, he entered the service of his coun- 
try, enlisting in Company B, Seventy- fifth 
Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He pai-ticipated 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



269 



in the battles of Perryville, Cliickamauga, 
Lookout Moimtain, Missionary Ridt^e, Re- 
saca, Marietta, Kenesaw Mountain, Atlanta, 
Georgia, Franklin, and Nashville, Tennessee, 
and many other battles and skirmishes. 
After a service of three years lie was honor- 
ably discharged at Camp Harper, Tennessee, 
He then returned to Illinois and settled in 
Bureau County, where he lived nntil 1867. 
In that year he moved to Franklin County, 
Iowa. After a i-esidence of six years there 
he went to Cass County, same State; in 
1881, he came to Pottawattamie County. 
Here he bought eighty acres of wild prairie 
land, on which he has since made many im- 
provements. He has a good house and barn 
and suitable buildings for grain and stock, 
and a tine orchard and grove. In fact, every- 
thing about the place indicates the push and 
enterprise of the owner. Mr. Whitney has a 
good graded stock of cattle, horses and hogs. 

In Whiteside County, Illinois, October 3, 
1858, Mr. 'Whitney wedded Miss Elizabeth 
C. Berry, a native of D<irke County, Ohio, 
and a lady of intelligence and refinement. 
Her parents were Joseph and Jane (Harbi- 
son) Berry, the foimer a native of New Jer- 
sey and the latter of Ohio. They subse- 
quently removed to Bureau County, Illinois, 
where the father died, Novembei' 5, 1876, at 
the age of sixty-three years. The mother re- 
turned to Darke County and died there, in 
1883, at the age of sixty-five years. Mr. and 
Mrs. Whitney have three children: Ada L., 
Mary A., a successuful teacher of Center 
Township, and William B. 

Politically our subject affiliates with the 
Republican party. He is a member of Rob- 
ert Provard Post, No. 414, of Carson, and 
has served as chaplain of the post. He and 
his wife and two daughters are members of 
the Methodist Episcopal Church of Spring 
Creek. He has served as class-leader and 



also as superintendent of the Sunday-school. 
Mr. Whitney takes an active interest in both 
religious and educational matters. He is 
one of the esteemed citizens of the township. 



►^t-l^ 



W. SCOTT, of Hazel Dell Township, 
is a native of Cambridgeshire, Eng- 
* land, born July 16, 1843, the son of 
George and Ann (Cooper) Scott, both natives 
of England. They were married in their 
native country, came to America in 1856, 
and located in Kane Township, Pottawatta- 
mie County, where they made their home for 
twenty years, but died in Hazel Dell Town- 
ship. The father was a farmer by occupa- 
tion, having improved 160 acres of land in 
this county. Tliey were associated vvith thj 
Reorganized Church of the Latter-Day 
Saints. They had a family of twelve chil- 
dren, only five of whom still survive, and of 
whom G. W. is the second oldest child liv- 
ing. 

He was reared on a farm, and received his 
education in the common schools. He came 
to this county with his parents, and has since 
made it his home. He has assisted largely 
in building up and developing this section. 
When he was nineteen years of age he started 
out in life for himself, working out by the 
month. Mr. Sci)tt made his first purchase of 
real estate in 1873, on section 22, Hazel Dell 
Township, consisting of eighty acres of raw 
prairie. He then took up eighty acres ad- 
joining, on the same section, as a homestead, 
and on which was a small frame residence, 
which now does duty as a poultry house. In 
1883 he erected his present handsome resi- 
dence, a dwelling 28x16x18 feet, and also 
erected good barns for stock and grain and 
made many other improvements. He lias 
planted three acres of grove and two and a 



270 



BIOOBAPUICAL HISTORY 



lialf acres of orchard, and the entire place 
denotes thrift and energy, lie has added to 
his first purchase until he now owns 245J 
acres of the best land in the county. He 
devotes himself to farming and stock-raising, 
and takes an interest in all the better grades 
of stock. Politically Mr. Scott is a stanch 
Republican, taking an active part in the polit- 
ical work of the county. State and nation. 
He is also a member of the Mutual Protec- 
tion Society of Hazel Dell Township, and of 
the Farmers' Alliance. He is one of the 
wide-awake men of the county, and has by 
his honesty and integrity won a large circle 
of friends, and his life is a good example of 
what a man can accomplish who has the 
pluck to carry him through. 

Mr. Scott was married, December 31, 
1863, to Miss Frances G. Horn, who was 
born in England, July 22, 1844, and who 
came to America when quite young. They 
have a family of nine children, viz.: Anna 
.R., deceased; Ida f?., at home; Olive G., 
Lillie I., May E., Walter G., deceased, Henry 
T., at home, John F., Ivy Pearl. His grand- 
daughter, Bessie F. Barnes, the daughter of 
Anna R., resides with her grandparents, Mr. 
and Mrs. Scott. 



►4w^^— 




!ILLIAM S. EDIE, section 32, Center 
Township, Pottawattamie County, 
Iowa, is one of the enterprising and 
popular citizens of his section of the country. 
He came here in 1873, and has since made 
this place his home. 

Mr. Edie was born in Lewis County, New 
York, November 29, 1838. His father, 
William Edie, was lorn in New York State, 
of German extraction, and his mother was ?it'e 
Onor Hinkston, also a native of New York. 
When William S. was a lad ot eight years 



his parents moved to Lake County, Illinois, 
near Waukegan. The father improved two 
farms in that county, and died there at the 
age of forty-six years. Mr. Edie's mother is 
now eighty years old, and is a resident of 
Waukegan. They reared three children, 
viz.: Sarah Sanders, of Friend, Nebraska; 
William S., the subject of this sketch, and 
Marcellus Brenton, who died in Ohio. The 
father was a cooper by ti-ade, but a farmer 
the greater part of his life. He also worked 
some at the carpenter's trade, being a natural 
mechanic. Politically he was a Democrat, 
and religiously a Baptist. 

William S. was reared on his father's farm 
in Lake. County, and educated in the public 
schools. During the great Rebellion he en- 
listed, in 1864, in Company D, One Hundred 
and Forty-sixth Illinois Infantry, and served 
to the close of the war. When the conflict 
ended he returned to Lake County, and re- 
mained there until 1873. In that year he 
came to Iowa, and settled in Center Town- 
ship, Pottawattamie County. He bought his 
present farm of 110 acres, which at that time 
was wild prairie land. It is now under a 
good state of cultivation, and is devoted to 
general farming and stock-raising. Mr. Edie 
has a comfortable frame house, good barn, 
other suitable out-buildings, and a thrifty 
orchard. A modern wind-mill furnishes the 
power by which water is forced through pipes 
to the barn and feed lots, a distance of 550 
feet. In fact, everything about the place 
indicates the prosperous and enterprising 
farmer. 

Mr. Edie has been twice married. He 
first wedded Miss Lotta Synu in Lake Coun- 
ty, Illinois, March 2, 1874. She was a 
daughter of Abraiu Synn. By her he had 
three children: Jay Sylvester, MonningAbram 
and Cora Louisa. Mrs. Edie died March 21, 
1881. February 12, 1885, Mr. Edie married 




^AJhusL^dJ ^^/lOjsynsLf^ 



OF POTT AW ATT AM IB COUNTY. 



271 



Miss Nannie Calioon, an intellitrent and re- 
fined lady and a native of Gallia County, 
Ohio. Her father, William C. Calioon, was 
born in New Jersey, and her mother, Eveline 
Wood, in -Virginia. 

Mr. Edie is one of the leading Republicans 
in the county. At present he is serving as 
Township Trustee of Center Township. He 
is a charter member of Robert Provard Post, 
No. 414, of Carson. He is also a member 
of the I. O. 0. F. lodge. No. 444, of Carson. 
Both he and his wife are members of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Edie is a 
gentleman well informed on all general topics, 
and takes a deep interest in educational and 
religious matters. 



►^wf- 



fONALD MACRAE, one of the oldest 
practicing physicians and surgeons of 
Council Bluffs, — his professional labor 
dating from 1861, — is a native of Scotland, 
born in Rosshire, October 3, 1839, a son of 
Rev. Donald Macrae, of the Free Church of 
Scotland. His mother was Jessie Russell, a 
daughter of the Rev. James Russell, of Gair- 
loch, Rosshire, Scotland. Dr. Macrae's edu- 
cation was received at the University of 
Edinburgh, where he graduated from the 
medical department, in August, 1861. He 
practiced in the Edinburgh Royal Infirm- 
ary for a year and a half, after which he ac- 
cepted a position as surgeon for the Cunard 
Steamship Company, and during his four 
years' service he crossed the Atlantic Ocean 
seven tyilve times! His last trip landed him 
in New York city, where he was united in 
marriage with Miss Charlotte, daughter of 
the late Joseph Douchette, Surveyor General 
of Canada, who died in 1881, at the age of 
eighty-six years. Mrs. Macrae is a native 
of Canada, as above stated. 



Dr. Macrae came to Council Bluffs in 
March, 1867, and engaged in the practice of 
his profession, and soon built up a successful 
and lucrative practice, and lias won the con- 
fidence of all who know him. In connection 
with his extensive practice he has been iden- 
tified with the Omaha Medical College since 
1881, where he is Professor of the Principles 
and Practice of Medicine, and also Dean of the 
faculty. In 1887-'88 he was President of 
the Iowa State Medical Society and of the 
Medical Society of the Missouri Valley as 
well. At the meeting of the International 
Medical Congress held at Washington, Dis- 
trict of Columbia, he was Vice-President of 
the surgical section. He is a member of the 
A. F. & A. M., Council Bluff's Lodge, and is 
Past Master of the A. O. U. W., and a mem- 
ber of the Presbyterian Church. Mrs. Mac- 
rae is a member of the Episcopal Church. 
Dr. and Mrs. Macrae are the parents of one 
son, Donald, born January 24, 1870, who is 
now studying medicine at the University of 
Michigan. Dr. Macrae is a Democrat, but 
has had little time to attend to political issues. 
He served as a member of the School Board 
for two years, and in 1890 was elected on 
the citizens' non-partisan ticket as Mayor of 
Council Bluff's, by a large majority. 

' " "'fe * ^ ' '1*1 *' " "*^ 



fACOB ZAHNER, a prosperous fanner 
of Rockford Township, was born in 
Switzerland, October 2, 1819, the son of 
Jacob and Mary Ann (Kane) Zahner, natives 
also of that country. The father was a lum- 
ber merchant, and died in 1828. His wife, 
also a native of Switzerland, was the daughter 
of a blacksmith who died shortly after Napo- 
leon passed with his army through that 
country. In their family were six children: 
Casper Joseph, Josephine and Hersence, born 



278 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTOBT 



in Switzerland; Jacob, our subject, besides a 
son and a daughter deceased. Jacob, the 
eldest, was brought up to the trade of his 
father. At the age of twenty-nine years he 
sailed from the port of Havre de Grace for 
America, landing in New York in 1847, and 
visited or resided for a short time at the fol- 
lowing points: Sandusky, Ohio, until the 
next spring; in Michigan, in the pineries, 
one year; New Orleans a short time; Vicks- 
burg, Mississippi, until March; Sandusky 
again a short time; Michigan again, working 
for the same lumljer company as before, for 
live years; and while there, September, 1849, 
he married Catharine Mondinger, a daughter 
of Jacob and Catharine Mondinger, natives 
of Wirtemburg, Germany. She was but a 
child wlieii her parents died. She was born 
October 29, 1820, and came to America in 
1848, — residing in JSew York for a time, and 
then in Sandusky, and then in Michigan 
until she was married. A year afterward 
Mr. Zaliner moved to Dubuque, Iowa, bought 
a tract of land and resided upon it three 
years; selling out he came to Pottawattamie 
County, crossing the State by ox teams, and, 
after remaining in Council Bluffs a few weeks 
in order to look around, on both sides of the 
Missouri, he finally selected his present 
locality on section 1, Ilockford Township, 
buying eighty acres of wild prairie, covered 
in a great part with plum brush. Here he 
passed through the almost uniform experi- 
ences of pioneer life, — dwelling in a log 
house, cutting off the brush, breaking the 
prairie with oxen and suffering all the priva- 
tions and tedious monotonies of the frontiers- 
man in establishing a comfortable home for 
himself and family, and he has been thus led 
to witness all the changes in which he nas 
been an actor, and in which his neighbors 
have also participated in developing the 
country to its present high standing. He 



now has a fine residence, barns and out-build- 
ings, orchards and shade trees, etc. But in 
order to produce tiiese grand results ho has 
had to exercise his pluck and energy, with 
at least fair health. 

He is a Republican on national issues, but 
of course in the local elections he votes in- 
dependently. He has been School Director 
for a number of years. He and his family 
are members of theCatholic Church of Honey 
Creek, being zealous in the cause of religion, 
morality and education. His children are: 
Josephine, wife of Thomas Wilson, of Rock- 
ford Township; Frances, residing in Harrison 
County; Catharine, wife of Thouias Kinyon, 
and residing in Harrison County; Elizabeth, 
at home; Mary, Mrs. Ed Ryne, residing 
in Boomer Township, and Jolin, a resident of 
Rockford County. 



HARLESH. PINNEY, M. D.,ofCoun- 
^\ cil Bluffs, first established his practice 
in Omaha, March, 1866, and in Council 
Bliiffs in 1875. He was born in Elyria, Lorain 
County, Ohio, August 30, 1842. His father, 
Hurlbert Pinney, was born near Hartford, 
Connecticut, January 19, 1807. Originally 
three brothers canae from Scotland long before 
the Revolution, and participated in our war 
for independence. One of them, John Pinney, 
was the great-grandfather of our subject. 
The Doctor's grandfather was also named 
John Pinney. There are numerous descend- 
ants of this name, many of whom reside at 
Farmington, and Windsor, Connecticut. 
Hurlbert II. Pinney married Malina Abbey, 
a native of Herkimer, Herkimer County, 
New York. In April, 1832, he went to Lo- 
rain County, Ohio, when that State was still 
a part of tlie Northwest Territory, in com- 
pany vvitii his younger and only brother, Al- 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE GOUNTT. 



273 



bert, their father having died from the effects 
of a horse falling upon him while they were 
small boys. Three married sisters remained 
in Connectici;t. Mr. H. H. Pinney married 
his wife, who had moved to Lorain County, 
Ohio, from the State of New York witli lier 
parents. They had six children, four sons and 
two daughters, all of whom are still living, 
namely: Carrie M., wife of Hon. R. G. Horr, 
a prominent statesman of Michigan, was born 
December 7, 1834; Laura M., born Septem- 
ber 3, 1837, is the wife of Kev. Samuel L. 
Alexander, now of Council Bluff's; Allen W., 
a fruit-grower near Council Bluff's, was born 
August 21, 1839; the next in order of birth 
was Charles H., whose name heads this bio- 
graphical sketch, born August 30, 1842; An- 
son E., born November 4, 1847, is a iiardware 
merchant in Ithaca, Michigan; John H., 
born January 26, 1850, now resides near 
Akron, Nebraska, engaged in farming and 
stock-raising. The Doctor's parents are now 
living at East Saginaw, Michigan. 

Dr. Pinney was brought up on the home 
farm until the age of fourteen, wiien he en- 
tered the Clarkson (Michigan) Academy, and 
afterward entered the scientific department of 
the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, 
having in view ultimately a medical educa- 
tion at that university; and on graduating 
in the medical department, in March, 1864, 
and, satisfying his first ambition, he entered 
the army as a Surgeon in the Ninth Ohio 
Cavalry, joining his regiment at Decatur, 
Alabama, and serving until the close of the 
war. That regiment participated in the en- 
gagement at Decatur with Chalmers and 
Wheeler's Cavalry; then it did scouting duty 
until July 10, 1864; next it was transferred 
to the army of General Rousseau and was 
taken on a raid through central Alabama, cut- 
ting railroads, etc., and then to Rome and 
Marietta, Georgia, and then took part in the 



siege of Atlanta, and marched to the sea in 
Sherman's army, in the Third Cavalry Divis- 
ion, Third Brigade, under Kilpatrick. It 
returned with Sherman through the Caro- 
linas, driving Wlieeler and Hampton from 
Bentonville to Raleigh. The regiment was 
engaged in many hard tights, both on the 
march to the sea and through the Carolinas. 
It particpated in the very last battle of the 
war east of the Mississippi, which was after 
the surrender of Joseph E. Johnston, and on 
New Hope Creek, near Chapel Hill, North 
Carolina. In that engagement Adjutant Gen- 
eral Jenkins was mortally wounded. Dr. 
Finney's regiment was retained in the South 
to aid in the reconstruction of the State, and 
assisted the Provisional Governor of North 
Carolina in this work, rendezvousing at Con- 
cord. He was mustered out in September, 
1865, at Camp Dennison, Ohio. 

After visiting his old home in Ohio and 
also his uncle in Michigan, with whom he 
had studied medicine, he went, in the fall of 
1865, to Philadelphia, and continued his 
studies in the medical department of the 
tJniversity of Pennsylvania, graduating there 
the next spring. He then came West to 
locate in Omaha and " grow up with the 
town." In compliance with his wife's de- 
sire, be afterward transferred his residence to 
Council Bluff's, where he also has a line prac- 
tice. He was married September 15, 1870, 
to Miss Ella O. Pusey, a daughter of the 
Hon. William H. M. Pusey, born in Pitts- 
burg, Pennsylvania, and they have had tliree 
sons and a daughter: Hurlbert H., Lucile 
and Frank L. Their eldest child, William 
Henry, died at the age of four years. 

On account of his superior qualifications, 
which he acquired by his surgical practice in 
the army, he has been very successful as a 
piactitioner. He has been medical exam- 
iner and medical referee for the Mutual Life 



274 



BIOGRAPHIGAL UISTOBT 



Insurance Company of New York, since 
1880. He is a member of the Council 
Bluffs Medical Society, of which he has been 
President, and is a member of tlie State 
Medical Society, and the Medical Society of 
Missouri Valley, and is the local surgeon for 
the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railway 
Company. He is one of the leading physi- 
cians and surgeons of western Iowa. 

■ nl « l ? « 3 l ' I ' S ' " "" "• 



fURMAN MORRIS, a popular and pros- 
perous citizen of Center Township, Pot- 
tawattamie County, Iowa, came to his 
present location in 1872, when this part of 
the country was thinly settled. A sketch of 
his life will be found of interest and is as 
follows: 

Mr. Morris was born in Middlesex County, 
New Jersey, October 3, 1837. His father, 
Aaron Morris, a native of the same vicinity 
■was a son of David Morris, who was also a 
native of New Jersey and who served in the 
Revolutionary war as a drummer boy. He 
was a son of Reno Morris, who was killed on 
the old Morris homestead by a falling tree. 
They were of Scotch extraction. Our sub- 
ject's motlrer, nee Sarah Randolph, was born 
in Middlesex County, New Jersey, the daugh- 
ter of Richard Randolph, also a native of 
that State. Her grandfather Randolph was 
born in Virginia, a descendant of the well- 
known Randolph family of tiie Old Dominion. 

Aaron Morris and Sarah, his wife, emi- 
grated to Lee County, Illinois, in 1855, 
where they spent the rest of their lives, the 
father dying in June, 1889, at the age of 
eighty-two years. The Morrises are a long- 
lived people, though the Randolphs usually 
died in middle life. Aaron Morris was a 
Democrat before the war. He voted for 
General Fremont, and was a strong Union 



man. He was a member of the Baptist 
Church. By his first wife the following 
children were born to him: Joel W., a resi- 
dent of Franklin County, Kansas; Richard 
R., and Furman, both of the same township; 
Aaron F., who died in infancy; Sarah, widow 
of H. A. Jeffs, a Lieutenant of the Thirty- 
fourtii Illinois Infantry. She resides at El- 
dena, Lee County, Illinois; Rachel J., wife 
of Jerry Mostellar, a grain merchant of El- 
dena. Some time after the death of his first 
wife Mr. Morris married Alvira Smith, a na- 
tive of Massachusetts, and by her had one 
daughter, Amanda Morris. This daughter 
resides with her mother at Dixon. 

Furman Morris was reared on a New Jer- 
sey farm and received his education in the 
public schools of his native State. He was 
eighteen years of age when he went to Illi- 
nois and settled in Lee County. In 1861, in 
answer to President Lincoln's call for volun- 
teers, he enlisted in Company D, Thirty- 
fourth Illinois Infantry. He was in the 
battles of Shiloh, Stone River, | Perry ville, 
Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge and 
Ringgold, Georgia. Mr. Morris was taken 
ill with a chronic disease which disabled him 
from active duty in the field, and he was sent 
to Nashville, where he was honorably dis- 
charged. From there he returned to his 
home in Illinois. He bought a farm near 
Dixon, which he cultivated until 1872, in 
which year he came to his present location. 
He bought 160 acres of wild land and after- 
ward acquired more, now being the owner of 
240 acres. It is well improved and is de- 
voted to general farming and stock-raising. 
Mr. Morris has a comfortable frame iiouse, a 
good barn and all necessary farm equipments. 

He has been twice married, first, Febru- 
ary 20, 1866, in Ogle County, Illinois, to 
Miss Sarah Putnam, a daughter of George 
and Elizabeth (Perkins) Putnam. Tlie Put- 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE GOUNTT. 



275 



natns are relatives of old Israel Putnam of 
Kevolntionarj fame. The family <;ame from 
Vermont when Mrs. Morris was eight or nine 
years old and settled in Illinois. She died 
January 26, 1868. Mr. Morris subsequently 
wedded her sister, Miss Ellen K. Putnam, 
who, previous to her marriage, was a popular 
and successful teacher. Nine children have 
been born to them, viz.: Charles L., Louie B., 
Winnie R., Jennie M., Eoj F., Clara Vio- 
let, and Ada Pearl. Two are deceased — 
Mabel and Ida. 

Mr. Morris, iiis wife and two of their chil- 
dren are members of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church. He is a steward of the church and 
his family are workers in the Sunday-school. 
Mr. Morris is a member of Robert Provard 
Post, No. 414, of Carson. 

-'♦■■i ^ « 3i i ; « | i««~ 



fX. RISS, contractor and builder, No. 
410 North Si.xth street, Council Bluffs, 
^'^ ® is a native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 
He was born April 14, 1850, the son of An- 
thony and Anna Riss, who were of Germsfn 
descent. Mr. Riss remained in his native 
city until he was twelve years old. At that 
time, having lost his parents when he was 
quite young, he quitted Milwaukee and came 
to Council Bluffs with his uncle, Joseph 
Probstle, a harness-maker. With this uncle 
young Riss learned the trade of harness- 
making, and worked at it three years. Then 
he turned his attention to the carpenter's 
trade, which was more congenial to his taste, 
and which he has since followed. He has 
assisted in the erection of many of the houses 
of Council Blufls, and, in 1881, he com- 
menced contracting and building for himself. 
He has owned several |)ieces of property, 
buying and selling as opportunity offered. 



His anjiual business averages $5,000. Mr. 
Riss is a Republican. 

In 1881 Mr. Riss wedded Mary Ryan, who 
was born March 13, 1859. By his second 
marriage he has theee children, Nellie, Ed- 
ward and Florence. The family are mem- 
bers of the Catholic Chnrch. He is also a 
member of the Catholic Knights. 



TACY SWINGS BEVAN was born in 
Belmont County, Ohio, January 19, 
1834. His father, Stacy Bevan, and 
his grandfather, Samuel Bevan, were both 
natives of Virginia and descendants of an 
old Virginia family. Mr. Bevan's mother, 
nee Jane Robberts, was born in Lancaster 
County, Pennsylvania. Her father, Aaron 
Robberts, also a native of Pennsylvania, was a 
merchant during the war of 1812. He was 
of English extraction. His ancestors came 
to America with William Penn and were a 
prominent family in early days. Stacy 
Bevan was twice married. His first wife was 
nee Eunice Fosset, a native of Ohio. By his 
subsequent marriage, in Belmont County, 
Ohio, to Jane Roberts, he had seven chil- 
dren, four sons and three daughters, Stacy E. 
being the oldest. The father was a brick- 
layer by trade,but much of his life was passed 
on a farm. He was a Whig during the 
balmy days of that party, and he and his 
family were Friends. He died in Belmont 
County, Ohio, in 1842, at the age of fifty 
years. His widow is now a resident of Argo- 
nia, Sumner County, Kansas. She is eighty- 
three years old and is very active for one of 
her age. 

Stacy E. lived in his native county until 
he reached his twelfth year, when he went to 
Logan County, Ohio, and remained there till 
he was twenty years old. He was reared on 



276 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY 



a farm aud attended tlie common sghools, 
finisliing his education at Harkness Semi- 
narj, after which he was engaged in teaching 
for a time. In 1854 he came to Marshall 
County, Iowa, where he farmed in summer 
and taught school in winter. He was mar- 
ried in Jasper County, Iowa, November 7, 
1856, to Miss Sarah Beals, a lady of intelli- 
gence and refinement, who has proved her- 
self a faithful helpmate. She was born and 
reared in Tennessee, the daughter of David 
and Rachel (Hammer) Beals, both natives of 
east Tennessee. The i'amily came to Iowa in 
1854 and located in Jeiferson County. The 
next year they moved to Jasper County. 
Her mother died in this county August 20, 
1870 Her father is still living here, and, 
at this writing, is in his eighty-seventh year. 
Stacy E. and Sarah Revan have had ten chil- 
dren, namely: Arwilda C. and Lindley O., 
residents uf Kiowa County, Kansas; Joseph 
Addison and James E., at home; Ehna J., a 
successful and popular teacher; Aaron L. 
and Arthur B., at home. Three of their 
children are deceased: David W., a young 
mail in the prime of life, left a widow and 
one child; Charles, at the ago of ten years, 
and Julia Ann, a babe of six months. 

Our subject lived in Marshall County 
until 1869, when he removed to Clay Coun- 
ty, this State, arid bought a large tract of 
prairie and timber land at Gillett's Grove. 
He improved the farm and lived on it for 
seven years; but blizzards in winter, mosqui- 
tos in summer, aud the rainy seasons so com- 
mon there were great drawbacks to the land, 
and he sold out and came to his present loca- 
tion. Here he bought 160 acres of land and 
has since added to it 160 acres more, now 
having a tine i'arm uf 320 acres of rich land, 
weil watered and well adapted for both stock 
and grain. He has good farm buildings, an 
orchard and grove and other improvements. 



everything about the place indicating the 
prosperity of the owner. Mr. Bevan also 
owns 640 acres of valuable land in Kiowa 
County, Kansas, and eighty acres in Sumner 
County, that State, which is well adapted for 
wheat. 

Like his worthy ancestors, Stacy Bevan 
is a Friend, and a minister of the gospel in 
that church, both he and his daughter, Elma 
J., having been authorized by the Haviland 
Church of Kansas to preach aud explain the 
word of God, and also to do missionary work, 
not only in Kansas but also in Missouri and 
Iowa. They are active workers in the cause 
of the Master and have done much toward 
the advancement of his kingdom here. Mr. 
Bevan has had many years of experience in 
Iowa, is well informed on all general topics, 
and is broad and progressive in his views. 
Financially, socially and religiously, he is 
numbered among the first citizens of Potta- 
wattamie County. 



tREDERICK FORD, a native of Cam- 
bridgeshire, England, was born August 
23, 1836-, the son of James and Eliza- 
beth (Chandler) Ford, both natives of Eng- 
land, who came to America in 1855, landing 
in JSew York city December 31, 1855. 
They immediately started for the "West, by 
rail, via Cleveland and Chicago to St. Louis, 
where Mr. Ford, Sr., died, January 17, 1856, 
at the age of forty -five years. The care of 
the family then fell upon the eldest child, 
Frederick, the subject of this sketch. They 
remained in St. Louis until May, when they 
came north to Council Bluffs, Iowa, wliere 
Frederick Ford rented a small farm on the 
Little Mosquito, in what is now Garner 
Township. Here he left the family while he 
went to Omaha, Nebraska, and engaged to 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



277 



work by th^ month in a saw-mill. The fam- 
ily consisted of the mother and four children, 
only two of whom survive. The mother and 
daughter died in Utah, where they removed 
in 1860, the former in 1875, and the latter, 
who was the wife of Peter Lowe, the year 
previous. Thomas, the second child, died 
about 1874, in Utah. The two remaining 
children are Frederick, our subject, and 
Joseph, who resides in Boomer Township on 
a farm. 

Frederick worked in Omaha about six 
months, when he returned to this bide of the 
river and rented a farm for six years. He 
then purchased a tract of eiglity acres in 
Missouri, in Crescent Township, wliere he 
remained one year, but on account of sickness 
he disposed of this farm and rented for two 
years. He then purchased 120 acres on sec- 
tions 28 and 27, Hazel Dell Township. This 
was a wild tract of land, with no improve- 
ments, and only two families within neigh- 
boring distance; but he went to work to 
make a home, and in 1865 erected a small 
frame house, 14 x 18 feet, which did duty for 
a home until he could erect a larger one. In 
a couple of years he made an addition to his 
house, and in 1878 erected his present liome, 
a fine frame building 14x24 and 16x20, 
with a good brick cellar. His home is sur- 
rounded with shade and ornamental trees, 
and he also has two acres in orchard. He 
has good barns for stock and grain, and one 
of the best stock-yards, being well shedded, 
in this part of the county. Mr. Ford has 
added to his first purchase of land, and now 
possesses 350 acres, on sections 21, 22, 27 
and 28, Hazel Dell Township, all of which 
he has improved tiirough iiis own efforts. 
He has undergone the hardships of jiioneer 
life, and has seen the growth and develop- 
ment of Pottawattamie County from a wild 
and uncultivated state tu c>ne of the best in 



the United States. He has notonly stood by 
and witnessed it, Init has put his shoulder to 
the wheel and assisted largely by his honesty 
and integrity in its development. He is a 
self-made man, and was left with a family to 
care for when he was only nineteen years of 
age, but he had the pluck and energy to 
carry him through. 

Mr. Ford was married October 23, 1861, 
to Rebecca B. Horn, who was born in Eng- 
land, and came to this country with her par- 
ents. She was killed August 10, 1878, by a 
team running away. They had a family of 
seven children, viz.: Hester E., deceased; 
Fannie E., the wife of Frost Nusum, of 
Boomer Township; John J.; Joseph W., 
deceased; Amy E., deceased; Beriha H. and 
George T., at home. Mr. Ford was married 
the second time in 1879, to Hannah M. Gra- 
ham, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth 
Hayes. She was born in England, and came 
to this country when small with her parents. 

Mr. Ford has always supported the Ile- 
publican party, and has represented his town- 
ship as School Director, etc. He is a member 
of the Farmers' Alliance. 



►^+^^ 



D. PUTNAM, Commander of Eobert 
Provard Post, No. 414, G. A. R., of 
'■" Carson, is one of the early settlers and 
representative citizens of Center Township, 
Pottawattamie County, Iowa. 

Hewas born in New Hampshire, August 19, 
1834, a great nepliew of the illustrious Israel 
Putnam of Revolutionary fairie. His par- 
ents, George Putnam and nee Elizabeth Per- 
kins, the former a native of Haverhill, Mass- 
achusetts, and the latter of New Hamshire, 
reared nine children, the subject of this 
sketch being the oldest. When he was eleven 
years old the family run;oved to Vermont, 



278 



BIOOBAPniCAL HISTORY 



where lie lived on a farm and grew to man- 
hood. He received his education in the pub- 
lic schools. Later, he engaged in teaching 
and became a prominent and successful edu- 
cator. In 1852 he came West and settled in 
Lee County, Illinois, where he remained 
until the war broke out. 

In September, 1861, at the time President 
Lincoln called for " 300,000 more," he en- 
listed in Fremont's Rangers, or body guards 
for General Fremont. But when General 
Fremont was removed from his command the 
men were assigned to the Third Missouri 
Cavalry. This was one of the noted Missouri 
cavalry regiments, and the record it made 
was an honorable one. Mr. Putnam partici- 
pated in the battles of Pea Ridge, Arkansas; 
Ilartsville, Missouri; Cotton Plant, White 
Rii^er Junction, Little Rock and Camden, 
Arkansas; and went up the Red River .with 
General Banks. He also participated in 
many minor engagements and skirmishes. 
He was captured three times, but always, 
like his noted kinsman, made his escape. 
He was honorably discharged June 22, 1865, 
at Little Rock. Arkansas, as Second Lieuten- 
ant. He then returned to his home in 
Illinois. 

Mr. Putnam engaged in farming near 
Dixon, remaining there until 1871. In that 
year he came to Cen er Township, Pottawat- 
tamie County, Iowa, and was with his broth- 
er, L. R., who for live years made his home 
in this county. Our subject afterward bought 
his present farm of George Race. He owns 
eighty acres of rich land, well located and 
well adapted for stock and grain purposes. 

At Amboy, Illinois, in 1872, Mr. Putnam 
wedded Miss Emlin Stephens, a lady or cult- 
ure and refinement, who, for thirteen years 
previous to her marriage, was a successful 
teacher in Illinois. She was born in England 
of English parents, John and Peggy (Daw) 



Stephens, with whom she came to this coun- 
try at the age of four years. She was edu- 
cated at Mount Morris, Illinois. By this 
union three children were born: Arthur L., 
Katie J. and Emma. The latter died at the 
age of fifteen months. The great loss of Mr. 
Putnam's life was when his loving compan- 
ion was called away by death, March 14, 
1879. She was a worthy member of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church. Her loss was 
deeply felt by her husband, her little ones 
and her many friends. 

Mr. Putnam is a Republican. He has 
served as Assessor of the township. He is a 
friend of education and religion, and is a 
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church 
of Spring Creek, being trustee of the same. 

fOHN JACKSON RODENBOUGH, 
one of the well known pioneers of Potta- 
wattamie County, Iowa, came here in 
1866. A sketch of his life will be found of 
interest and is as follows: 

His father was George S. Rodenbough, who 
married, in New Jersey, Miss Elizabeth Jack- 
son, and had twelve children, six sons and six 
daughters. Mr. Rodenbough has always been 
a great admirer of Mr. Jackson, and when, 
June 10, 1832, the suljject of this sketch was 
born he was jriven the name of that hero. 
He was reared in his native State, receiving 
a common-school education, and learned the 
shoemaker's trade from his father. When he 
was twenty-one years of age the entire family 
removed to Warren County, Illinois. There 
the parents spent the rest of their lives, the 
mother dying at the age of seventy years and 
the father at eighty four. 

Mr. Rodenbough served for a time in the 
State militia, but was not accepted by the 




JfLA.. /3a£Su 



\ 

u. 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE GOUHTY. 



279 



United States into regimental service. He 
was married, September 4, 1859, to Mary 
Ann Axtell, a native of Warren Cuunty, 
Illinois, and a daughter of Thomas and Sarah 
(Robb) Axtell, natives of Pennsylvania. Four 
children were born to them, three of whom 
are living, viz.: Willbert E., who resides in 
Washington; George, of the same State; 
Flora, wife of Nathan Moore, Grove Town- 
ship, this county. Mrs. Roden bough died 
January 29, 1873. Two years later, Decem- 
ber 25, 1874-, Mr. Rodenbough married his 
present wife. Miss Eunice Dilly, a native of 
Mercer County, Pennsylvania, and a daughter 
of William and Mary (Axtell) Dilly, also of 
Peimsylvania. She was two years of acre 
when her parents located in Warren County, 
Illinois, where she was reared. Her father 
was a strong Abolitionist, and was a delegate 
to Springfield, Illinois, at the time Abraham 
Lincoln was nominated for President. Mr. 
Dilly now resides at Sterling, Kansas. By 
his second marriage Mr. Rodenbough has 
three children: Mary Elizabeth, William 
Herbert and Nettie May. 

Mr. Rodenbough came to Pottawattamie 
County in 1866, as already stated at the be- 
ginning of this article, and first settled at 
Silver Creek. He subsequently came to Grove 
Township, and was employed for a time on 
the R. R. I. Railroad. Previous to his 
coming West he had helped to build one of 
the first railroads in the United States, in 
New Jersey. After the death of his wife he 
returned to Illinois and remained a year, 
when he came back to this county. He is 
the owner of 140 acres of good land, which is 
well watered. 

Politically our subject is a Republican. 
He voted for General Fremont and all the 
Republican candidates for President since 
that time. He and his wife and two of their 
children are members of the Methodist 

23 



Church. Mr. Rodenbough is firm in his 
convictions of right and wrong, plain in his 
speech and manner, and honest in all his 



business dealing's. 



-.l+'w|.->-+'^(^ +.t.^ 



OHN N. BALDWIN was born in Coun- 
cil Bluffs, Pottawattamie County, Iowa, 
^ on the 9th day of July, 1857. His 
father was the Hon. Caleb Baldwin, whose 
biography is the first under head of Potta- 
wattamie County. His mother was Jane 
Baldwin, whose maiden name was Jane Barr. 

Mr. Baldwin attended the public schools 
of Council Bluffs, and in 1873, when sixteen 
years of age, went to the State University at 
Iowa City. He was in the collegiate depart- 
ment of this institution three years. In the 
fall of 1875 he entered the Columbia Law 
School at Washington, District of Columbia, 
where he had gone to remain with his father, 
who at that time was a member of the Court 
of Commissioners of Alabama Claims. Aftor 
remaining there one year he again returned 
to Iowa City and entered the law depart, 
ment there in the fall of 1876, and graduated 
therefrom with some distinction in June, 
1877. He immediately began the practice 
of law at Council Bluffs, becoming the junior 
member of the firm of Rising, Wright & 
Baldwin, the senior menjbei-s of the firm beino- 
A. J. Rising and the Hon. George F. Wright. 
Mr. Baldwin soon engaged actively in the 
practice and in a short time became one of 
the leading members of the bar of Potta- 
wattamie County, Iowa. In 1880 Mr. Risino- 
left the firm and went to Colorado, and the 
firm of Wright & Baldwin was then oro-an- 
ized, and continued until 1889, when the 
two sons of Mr. Wright were taken into the 
firm. 

Mr. Baldwin was married in December, 1878, 



081 



BIOGllAPUWAL UlSTOHT 



to Miss Lilla G. Holcomb, of Cedar Rapids, 
Iowa. They have two children, a girl named 
Genevieve, and a boj named Jolin N., Jr. 



O. GAULT was born in Wooster 

(now Wicomico) Conntj, Maryland, 
» November 7, 1849. His father, 
Archibald Ganlt, and his grandfather, Obed 
Gault, were both natives of Maryland, and 
the latter was a soldier in the war of 1812. 
The wife of Archibald and the mother of T. 
O. was nee Eliza Littleton. She was a native 
of Maryland, as also was her father, Thomas 
Littleton. Tiie subject of this sketch was 
seven years old when his mother died. Three 
years later his father moved to Ripley Coun- 
ty, Indiana, where he lived until 1862. In 
that year he moved back to Maryland, but 
returned to Ripley County in 1865. He 
is now a resident of Maryland. 

T. O. Gault was reared on a farm and edu- 
cated in the public schools of Maryland and 
Indiana. At the age of twenty-one he came 
to Iowa and located in Marshall County, 
where he was engaged in farm work the most 
of the time until 1878. In that year he 
came to Pottawattamie County and bought 
160 acres of wild prairie land in Center 
Township. This is now well improved, is 
fenced into two fields, and 150 acres are 
under cultivation. Mr. Gault devotes his 
attention to general farming and also to 
stock-raising. His residence was built in 
1888, at a cost of $650, and is well fur- 
nished. It is located on a natural building 
site and commands an extended view of the 
surrounding country. He has about three 
acres in shade trees, orchard and small fruits. 

Mr. Gault was married March 4, 1888, 
in Drury, Rock Island County, Illinois, to 
Miss Melissa Drury, a lady of education 



and culture and a native of that place. She 
is a daughter of Eli Drnry, an old settler 
and a promiiient citizen of Rock Island 
County. He has been Postmaster for over 
thirty-five years at Drury, in the above 
county. Her mother was Margaret Hub- 
bert before her marriage, a native of Bedford 
County, Pennsylvania; and her father, Eli 
Drury, was a native of Wayne County, Indi- 
ana. Both parents are now residents of 
Drury, Rock Island County, Illinois. Mr. 
and Mrs. Gault have one dauohter, Essie 
Alice. 

Politically Mr. Gault is a Republican. 
He is a member of the I. O. O. F., having 
been made such in Marshall County, Iowa, 
at Eden Lodge, No. 316, Gillman. He is 
a man well informed on all current topics, 
and is regarded as a representative citizen 
of his township. 

— -►€->^,— ^ — ■ 



fH. GREGG, of Hazel Dell Township, 
is a native of Belmont County, Ohio, 
* born December 19, 1831, the son of 
II. H. and Amy (Hoge) Gregg. They were 
reared in Loudoun and Fauquier counties, 
Virginia, and were of Scotch and English 
origin. They were married in Virginia and 
came to Ohio in an early day, locating in 
Belmont County, where they resided until 
their death. Tiie father was born February 
4, 1803, and died June 30, 1861, and the 
mother was born October 7, 1807, and died 
January 7, 1874. The father was a farmer 
and merchant and aho a buyer and packer of 
tobacco; his father before him was also a 
merchant. They were the parents of ten 
children, of whom eight grew to maturity, 
namely: Mary E., wife of Noah J. Hatcher, 
of Belmont County, Ohio; Joshua H., the 
subject of this sketch; Samuel H., who died 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY 



281 



in Warren County, Iowa, February 14, 1890; 
Hendley H., a resident of Belmont County, 
on the old homestead; Francis, a resident of 
Belmont County; Henrietta, also of Belmont 
County; William S. died February 5, 1890, 
in Benton County, Iowa; and Victoria, the 
wife of Thuiuas Rubers, and residing in 
Barnesville, Belmont County, (^hio; two chil- 
dren died in infancy. The father was reared 
in the Friends' or Quaker Church. 

J. H. Gregg, the subject of this sketch, was 
reared on a farm in Belmont County, and re- 
ceived his education in the public schools. 
He remained at home witli his parents until 
he was twenty-five years of age. October 
22, 1856, he was married, in Grundy County, 
Illinois, to Amy G. Hoge, daughter of Wil- 
liam and Rachel (iioles) Hoge, natives of 
Virginia and of Scotch and German descent. 
She was born in Fauquier County, Virginia, 
July 24, 1830, but when a child removed 
with her parents to Illinois, where she was 
reared. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. 
Gregg started for Pottawattamie County, 
Iowa, arriving November 18, 1856, at Coun- 
cil Bluffs. They immediately went to work 
to make improvements on his farm of 432 
acres, which he had purchased in January 
previous; 400 acres are on section 33 — the 
sonth-half — and the south-half of the north- 
west quarter of section — , Hazel Dell Town- 
ship and the northwest quarter of the north- 
east quarter of section 4, Garner Township. 
This was all uncultivated land when he pur- 
chased it, excepting about twenty-fiveor thirty 
acres which had been broken out. Hero he 
went to work to make a home, and in the fall 
of 1857 he erected a small frame residence, 
18 X 24 feet, and in 1878 they built an ad- 
dition, and they now have a neat and com- 
modious dwelling; the addition is 18x30 
feet and fourteen feet front, he has also 
erected barns for stock and grain, a stable for 



his cows, which is eighty feet long, and a 
good hay shed ninetv-four feet long. Mr. 
Gregg has eight acres of orchard on his home 
place, and three acres on his farm in James 
Township, where he has 236^ acres, which he 
has improved. He entered from the Gov- 
ernment 560 acres and now possesses almost 
1,400 acres, all under good cultivation. He 
has done much toward building up and im- 
proving Pottawattamie County, and is de- 
serving of all the honor and esteem which is 
accorded him by his many friends. He is a 
self-made man, having made the most of 
what he now possesses through his own 
efforts. In his political views he is a stanch 
Republican, having wheeled into line from 
the old Whig party. He has been Treasurer 
of the School Board for a number of years. 

Mr. and Mrs. Gregg are the parents of ten 
children, viz.: Ida A., deceased; Amanda V., 
residing at home; Mary E., deceased; Georgia 
A., wife of William T. Harris, of Hazel Dell 
Township; Amy E., wife of J. D. Harris, of 
Norwalk Township; Anna, deceased ; William 
A., deceased; Clara A., at home; Alcinda M., 
deceased; Henrietta A., also at home. 



frOHN RODWELL was born in Cam- 
bridgeshire, England, January 21, 1846, 
the son of John and Mary (Goodge) 
Rodwell, both natives of England. He was 
a babe when his parents emigrated to this 
country and settled in Bureau County, Illi- 
nois, near Arlington. There they spent the 
residue of their lives, the father dying in 
1850 and the mother in 1882. Mrs. Rodwell 
was a worthy member of the Methodist Epis- 
copal Church. They reared a family of three 
children: Mary, John and Thomas. They 
were reared on a farm, the father having 
been a farmer all his life, and early in child- 



282 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY 



hood were taught that industry and honesty 
were necessary to a useful and successful life. 

Joiiii received his education in the public 
schools. Wlien the great war of the Rebel- 
lion came on he went forth in the defense of 
his country, enlisting in February, 1864, in 
Company B, Fifty-seventh Illinois Volunteer 
Infantry. He participated in the battles of 
Resaca, Altoona, Bentonville, and others of 
le.-s importance. After receiving an honor- 
able discharge at Louisville, Kentucky, he 
returned to his home in Bureau County, 
Illinois, where he remained until 1876. 

In February of that year he canie to Potta- 
wattamie County and located on section 22, 
Center Township. He purchased eighty 
acres of wild prairie land, which he improved, 
and as he prospered he added to his landed 
estate. In 1880 lie bought forty acres in 
section 21, and four years later, 160 acres in 
section 15, both having been broken at the 
time of purchase, and the latter fenced. In 
1888 he bought 120 acres in section 8, which 
had been improved and on which was a house 
and other buildings. On this property his 
brother Thomas resides. Mr. Rodwell is the 
owner of 400 acres of land. On his home 
farm, which is well improved and under a 
splendid state of cultivation, he has a tine 
residence built in modern style at a cost of 
$2,000. This home, beautifully located and 
surrounded by ornamental trees and shrubs, 
forms one of the attractive features of the 
neighborhood. Mr. Rodwell has a nice grove 
and orchard, suitable barn and out-buildings 
and wind-mill; in fact, everything about the 
place attests the thrift and enterprise of the 
proprietor. From sixty to seventy-live head 
of cattle and a large number of hugs and 
horses are usually kept on the farm. 

December 29, 1869, Mr. Rodwell married 
Miss Caroline Frizzell, a native of Bureau 
County, Illinois, and one of the ten children 



of Michael and Charlotte (Dean) Frizzell. 
The father was a native of Massachusetts, and 
died in Firth, Lancaster County, Nebraska, 
at the age of eighty-three; tiie mother, a 
native of Connecticut, died in Bureau County, 
Illinois, in June, 1880, at the age of sixty- 
seven. J. O. Frizzell is a brother of Mrs. 
Rodwell and A. L. Frizzell is her half- 
brother. Mr. and Mrs. Rodwell have five 
children: Michael Eugene, Wilbert, Mary, 
Lnella and Tracy Melvin. 

Politically our subject is a strong and radi- 
cal Republican, lie has served with credit 
as Township Tnistee, as a member of the 
School Board, and is at present Township 
Clerk. He is also the present treasurer of 
the School I'oard. Mr. Rodwell is a charter 
member of the William Laton Post, No. 
358, Ct. a. R., Oakland, and has served as 
Chaplain of the Post and Officer of the Day. 
He is a member of the Spring Creek Meth- 
odist Episcopal Church, and is one of its 
liberal supporters. His family are members 
of the Center Union Sabbath school. 

Mr. Rodwell is a gentleman in the prime 
of life. In a financial way he has met with 
eminent success, and his prosperity may all 
be attributed to his enterprise, integrity and 
well directed efforts. He is regarded by all 
who know him as a worthy and upright 
citizen. 



-S-^^J-s-- 




IffiRS. ELIZABETH MACKLAND, of 
Boomer Township, was born in 
nm^ Cheshire, England, October 24, 1832, 
a daughter of Joseph and Hannah (Harrison) 
Bardsley, parents also natives of the Albion 
Isle. Her father was a weaver by trade. 
The family comprised eight children: 
Thomas, William, Mary, Martha, Josepli, 
Robert, Margaret and John, all of whom are 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



283 



now deceased. Mr. Bardsley, being tlie fifth 
cliild, was born July 15, 1800, was brought 
up in the trade of his father, but as soon as 
convenient he learned the trade of boot and 
shoe making. His wife, born July 10,1810, 
was the daughter of John and Martiia Har- 
rison, natives of England. Mr. Harrison 
was a mechanic and machinist, and his chil- 
dren were: Samuel, Hannah, John, Mary, 
Elizabeth, William and Joseph, besides one 
deceased. Mrs. M. Bardsley, being the sec- 
ond child, was married in 1830, and i-emaitied 
a resident of the old home until she died, 
March 7, 1844, leaving three children, — 
Mary and Martha, both deceased, and Eliza- 
beth, the subject of this sketch. After the 
death of the mother, the father remained in 
England until 1850, wlien he sailed from 
Liverpool for America, landing at New Or- 
leans, after a voyage of eleven weeks. He 
proceeded to St. Louis, and to Kanesville (now 
Council Ijluffs), and finally located in Keg 
Creek, where he was a I'esident until 1855; 
but in 1852 he married Mrs. Bettie Hand- 
bury, and in 1854 bought 200 acres of land 
in Neola Township, and began to make a 
home. After making many improvements 
he died, December 20, 1860, leaving his wife 
and three children: John is a merchant in 
Neola Township; Charles is still on the old 
iiotne place, and a thrifty farmer; and 
Thomas is practicing law in Walnut. Mrs. 
Bardsley is still living, near her eldest daugh- 
ter, and she has accumulated considerable 
property. 

March 26, 1852, when twenty years of 
age, Elizabeth married John Mackland, the 
son of Thomas and Ann (Union) Mackland, 
natives of England: father a brick-maker by 
trade, and in his family were ten children: 
Maria, John, Eliza, Ellen, Henry, Elizabeth, 
Phoebe and three others. John Mackland 
was born in 1829, brought up in his father's 



trade, which he followed to some extent after 
his arrival in this country. Purchasing 160 
acres of land in Neola Township, he continued 
to make many valuable improvements as a 
foundation for a comfortable home; but in 
1865 he moved into Boomer Township and 
bought a tract of land on section 34, which is 
now the old home place. Here he began 
atiew, in a wild, unbroken prairie, with only 
a log cabin and a few acres of sod turned. 
In a few years he was enabled to put up a 
giod frame house. He planted shade trees, 
etc., and made a fine residence. He died 
October 4, 1876, leaving a wife and eight 
children. The latter are: Anna, born in 
1853, now the wife of John Lay them, and 
residing in Neola; Joseph, born in 1855, and 
now residing in Boomer; Emma, born in 
1858, is now Mrs. John McGill, of Council 
Bluffs; Thomas, l)orn in 1860, and residing 
in Boomer; William Henry, born in 1862, 
still at home; Mary Ellen, born in 1865, is 
the wife df Henry Page, and living in Boom- 
er; Elizabeth, born in 1868, now at home; 
and Phoebe, l)orn in 1870, is married to Jef- 
ferson Sigler, a resident of Boomer Township. 
Mr. Mackland was a decided Democrat, a 
man who took an interest in benevolent 
societies, and earned a good reputation by his 
integrity of character. He was, as Mrs. 
Mackland still is, a member of the Church 
of Latter- Day Saints, being zealous in the 
principles of that denomination. 



►»^ 



A RON W. PEAECE is one of the well 
known citizens of (rrove Township, 
having been a resident of Pottawatta- 
mie County since 1874. 

He was born in Ricidand County, Ohio, 
September 22, 1840. His father, Dennis 
Pearce, also a native of Ohio, was a son of 



284 



BlOaR^iPHICAL HISTORY 



Aaron Pearce, who was of Irish extraction. 
In politics the Pearces have been Whigs and 
Republicans; in religion they have been as- 
sociated with the Christian Church. Dennis 
Pearce wedded Marj Pollock, a native of 
Richland Connty, Ohio, by whom he had 
nine children, four sons and five daughters. 
Three of the daughters are d ;ceased. Mrs. 
George Bolton and the subject of this sketch 
are the only ones living in Pottawattamie 
County. James II.,a twin brother of Aaron, 
resides in Adair County, Iowa. In 1852 or 
1853 the family removed from Ohio to Cedar 
County, Iowa, and were early settlers in that 
section of the country. They had been there 
only a year when the father died, leav- 
ing his widow and children to battle for life 
in a new country. The mother afterward 
married Mr. H. C. Paxson, who died in 
1870 

Aaron W. Pearce received his education in 
Richland County, Ohio, and in Cedar Coun- 
ty, Iowa. During the late war, in answer to 
Lincoln's call for " 300,000 more," he en- 
listed, in September, 1861, in Company E, 
Eleventh Iowa Infantry. He enlisted under 
Colonel Abraham Hare, of Muscatine, 
who was some time afterward succeeded by 
Colonel William Hall, of Davenport. Mr. 
Pearce was a brave soldier, and with his 
regiment took an active part in many of the 
prominent engagements of the war. He was 
returned home on a veteran furlough, and 
after it expired he joined his regiment on the 
Tennessee River. He was afterward with 
Sherman before Atlanta. July 22, 1864, he 
was made a prisoner and taken to Anderson- 
ville, marching a portion of the way and fin- 
ishing the journey by rail, arriving at the 
prison early in August. A portion of the 
time Mr. Pearce was at Andersonville there 
were 30,000 prisoners there in a field of only 
thirty acres. About one hundred dead sol- 



diers were carried out of the stockade daily. 
Much has been said and written of the hor- 
rors of that prison, but the half has never 
been told, nor can it be realized by any save 
those who passed through the terrible 
ordeal of prison life. About tlie mid- 
dle of September Mr. Pearce was moved 
from Andersonville to (.'harleston. South 
Carolina, remaining there a short time. 
He was taken to Florence, South Carolina, 
where he was held until February, when the 
near approach of Sherman's army made an- 
other move necessary, and, being placed on 
the cars, was started toward Wilmington, 
North Carolina, and on to Goldsboro, where 
with other prisoners he was paroled and re- 
turned toward Wilmington, passing into the 
Union lines near that place February 26, 
1865. Leaving Wilmington by steamer for 
Annapolis, Mai-yland, they went to Baltimore, 
where he shed his prison rags and put on the 
blue again. He soon left for St. Louis, but 
was unable to travel, and was placed in the 
hospital at Grafton, West Virginia, remain- 
ing there one month. Then he again re- 
turned home on a furlough, and rejoined his 
regiment the last day of the general review aj 
Washington. 

After the war he came back to Cedar 
County, where he resided for some time. In 
the spring of 1872 he removed to Polk Coun- 
ty, Nebraska, and took up a soldier's claim 
of 160 acres. After remaining there sixteen 
months he came to this county and located in 
Grove Township. At that time he settled on 
section 33, near where he now lives. He 
afterward traded with Thomas Conner for his 
present farm. It is in section 28 and con- 
tains 108 acres, forty of which are in timber. 
It is well adapted for stock and grain pur- 
poses, and is well supplied with all necessary 
farm buildings. A good residence situated 
on a natural building site, surrounded by 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



285 



shade and ornamental trees, makes a comfort- 
able and attractive home. 

September 11, 1866, Mr. Pearce married 
Agnes Bolton, a native of Cedar County, 
Iowa, and a daughter of William and Sarah 
(Southern) Bolton, natives of Virginia. Her 
grandfather, Henry Bolton, was a native of 
Virginia and a soldier in the Revolutionary 
war. Mrs. Pearce was reared and educated 
in Cedar County. They Imve seven chil- 
dren, namely: Merrill Edson, Myrtie C, Es- 
tella Kate, Dessie Irene, Ethel Grace, Laura 
Jane and Mary Ida. Miss Estella is a suc- 
cessful teacher in the schools of Pottawatta- 
mie County. Mr. and Mrs. Pearce lost one 
child by death, Eva L., at the age of three 
years. 

In politics our subject is a Republican. 
For the last ten years he has served as Town- 
ship Clerk. He has also served as a member 
of the School Board. He and his wife and 
three of their daughters are members of the 
Methodist Protestant Church. Mr. Pearce 
is a man of integrity, and is highly respected 
by all who know him. 




^INFIELD SCOTT MAYNE. one of 
the well-known lawyers of Council 
Bluffs, has been a member of the 
bar of Pottawattamie County, since 1875. 
Mr. Mayne is a native of Clark County, 
Ohio, where he was born October 15, 1833. 
His grandfather, Adam Mayne, was a pio 
neer of Clark County where he settled in 
1819. He was a native of Maryland, and 
represented an old family of that State. He 
was a soldier of the war of 1812. He was 
a wholesale grocer at Georgetown when that 
war broke out, and his property was burned 
by the British troops. As stated he settled 
in Clark County, Ohio, in 1819, where he 



continued to live until his death. The father 
of the subject of this sketch was Emmanuel 
Mayne, born at Georgetown, Maryland, in 
1805, having been about fourteen years of 
age when his father removed with his family 
to Ohio. He married Miss McGruder, of 
Scotch-Irish ancestry. She was born in Lou- 
doun County; Maryland. Her father, Ninian 
McGruder, was a native of the north of Ire- 
land, coming to the United States when a 
young man and settling in Loudoun County. 
He married Grace Townsend, born in Eni^- 
land, who died when her daughter, the 
mother of our subject, was but eleven years 
old. The maternal grandfather of Mr. 
Mayne lived to an advanced ao-e, dyincr in 
Loudoun County. Emmanuel Mayne obtained 
a good education in early life, and was for a 
time engaged in teaching. He settled down 
to the business of merchandisino-, which he 
followed for a number of years. He emi- 
grated with his family to Iowa in 1848, but 
two years after it became a State, remaining 
in Ottumwa until the following spring. He 
settled down on a tract of land in Van 
Buren County. Here, as a pioneer, he did 
much toward opening up and developing 
that new country. He was a prominent and 
well-known citizen. In 1851 he was elected 
County Judge, and remained in that capacity 
six years, doing all the county business as 
was customary at that time. When the war 
of the Rebellion came on, though then fifty- 
seven years of age, he resolved to enter the 
service in defense of the old flag. He ac- 
cordingly entered the army as Captain, in 
the Third Iowa Cavalry, and was killed in a 
battle with the Rebels at Kirksville, Missouri, 
August 6, 1862. His wile survived her hus- 
band until 1870, when she died at the home 
of her son, the subject of this sketch, who 
was then residing at Keosauqua, Van Buren 
County. Emmanuel Mayne and wife were 



28e 



BIOQRAPUICAL HISTORY 



the parents of five children, three sons and 
two daughters. The eldest in the family, 
Virginia, became the wife of B. C. Long, 
and. resides at London, Madison County, 
Ohio; she never removed to Iowa. Pliilan- 
der T. is a resident of Salt Lake, Utah. The 
subject of this sketch is the next in the order 
of birth. Leroy was a member of tlie Second 
Volunteer Infantry early in the war of the 
Rebellion, and later was transferred to the 
Third Iowa Cavalry, where his father was 
serving. In January, 1863, he was trans- 
ferred to the Mississippi Marine l)rigade, as 
Adjutant, with the rank of First Lieutenant. 
In April of the same year, while in com- 
mand of a dotilla and passing up the river, 
the boat of which he was aboard ran on an 
obstruction in the river, and while he was 
assisting to free the boat, he was thrown 
into the river, and, falling between two boats, 
which were nearly in contact, was drowned. 
His body was never found, or if found was 
never idetititied. Thus the fatiierand brother 
of Mr. Mayne lost their lives in the service 
of their country. The next in the family in 
order of birth is Carrie, wife of J. E. Pol- 
lock, a well-known lawyer of Bloomington, 
Illinois. 

The subject of this sketch received his 
early education in the public schools of Van 
Buren County, and later entered the Iowa 
Wesleyan University at Mt. Pleasant, where 
he yraduated in 1856, having been the first 
graduate of that institution. He began the 
study of law under Judge C. C. JN'ourse, and 
later with Judge G. G. Wright, now also of 
Des Moines. He was admitted to the bar in 
October, 1858. He began practice at Keo- 
sauqua, where he continued until 1872, when 
he located at Red Oak, where he practiced 
his profession until he came to Council 
Bluffs. At Red Oak he was associated with 
Smith McPherson. On coming to Council 



Bluffs he became associated with George F. 
Wright, and subsequently was a co-partner 
of Marshall Key. He was more recently as- 
sociated with the Hon. L. W. Ross, and 
when that gentleman was elected Chancellor, 
he took full charge of the legal business of 
the firm. Since 1884 he has been associated 
with F. M. Hunter, but since 1886 the tirm 
name has been Mayne & Hazelton. 

Mr. Mayne was married in Van Buren 
County, to Miss Ruth Ellen Mangum, daugh- 
ter of A. W. Mangum, who settled in Van 
Buren County, in 1836, where Mrs. Mayne 
was born in 1837. Mr. Mangum is still a 
resident of Van Buren County, but tbe 
mother of Mrs. Mayne diel when the latter 
was a child. Mr. and Mrs. Mayne have 
live children, three sons and two daughters. 
Joel H. is tbe eldest of the children; 
George H. was born in September, 1869. 
He studied law with his father, and grad- 
uated in the law department of the Iowa 
State University in 1889. The younger 
children are Grace, Carl and Ruth. Polit- 
ically Mr. Mayne is a Republican, and has 
always affiliated with that great political or- 
ganization, his tirst presidential vote having 
been cast for John C. Fremont in 1856. Mr. 
Mayne was Assistant Revenue Collector fur 
Van Buren County from 1863 to 1866. He 
is by all esteemed as an able lawyer and a 
progressive citizen. While in Keosaiiqua he 
joined the Masons and attained to the Royal 
Arch degree. 

... . . I .i g . ^ i i t . gi . ■•■ - 



C. BISBEE is one of the intelligent 
and enterprising citizens of Grove 
'* Township, Pottawattamie County. 
He was born and reared on the farm where 
he now lives, the date of his birth being 
February 8, 1867. He is a son of Franklin 




14i^VxuWo-i^^i- 



V 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



287 



Elijah and Hannah F. (Winsor) Bisbee. His 
father came to tliis county in an early day 
and spent the remainder of his life here, his 
death occurring J!^ovember 28, 1880, at 
about the age of fifty-six years. He was a 
member of the Metliodist Episcopal Ciiurch, 
had served as steward of the same, and was 
regarded by all who knew him as a man of 
integrity and a true Christian. Mr. Bisbee 
has been twice married, and had five chil- 
dren: Frank, the only child by his first 
wife, now resides in the West; Louis H., 
died at the age of twenty- five years at Mace- 
donia, Iowa; Fanny Florence, wife of H. T. 
Thomas, of Red Oak, Iowa; A. C, the sub- 
ject of this sketch; and Charles A., who lives 
with his mother at Macedonia, where she 
has a good home surrounded with all the 
comi'orts of life, and where she also owns 
other town property. 

A. C. Bisbee was reared a farmer. His 
education was obtained in the public schools 
of Grove Township and in the graded school 
at Macedonia. March 14, 1889, he was mar- 
ried, in Grove Township, to Miss Mary 
Chilianna Rolfe, a lady of culture and educa- 
tion and a successful and popular teacher of 
the county. She was born in Webster 
County, Iowa, and received her education 
tliere and at the Western Normal College at 
Shenaiidoah. Her parents, Aaron and Emily 
(Beem) Rolfe, are now residents of Lehigh, 
Iowa. Her father was born in Cleveland, 
Ohio, and was reared in New York. Her 
mother, a native of Indiana, came with her 
parents to Webster County, Iowa, when she 
was eight years old. Mr. and Mrs. Bisbee 
ha\e a daughter, born August 2, 1890, named 
Hattie Florence. Mrs. Bisbee is a member 
of the Christian Clinrch. 

Our subject is engaged in agricultural pur- 
suits on the old home farm, which contains 200 
acres, and which is well improved. Socially 



and financially he is regarded as a representa- 
tive citizen. In politics he is a Republican. 



AMUEL B. WADSWORTH, a promi- 
nent business man of Council Bluffs, 
was born in Grand Detour Township, 
Ogle County, Illinois, February 22, 1851, 
and lived with his father, Christopher Wads- 
worth, on the old homestead until 1868. He 
then commenced the study of law in Di.xon, 
Illinois, with the law firm of Eustace, Barge 
& Dixon, but, after two years' study, in order 
to earn a little money, he taught school 
in the country for the next three years. 
During the years 1873-'75 he attended the 
Illinois State Normal University, and at the 
same time acted as night ticket agent for the 
Illinois Central liailroad at Blooniington, Illi- 
nois. In this way he paid the expenses of his 
schooling at the university. After leaving 
the university he was appointed Superintend- 
ent of the schools at Heyworth, Illinois, 
where he taught for one year, and was then 
elected Superintendent of the city schools 
of Oregon, Illinois, which position he held 
twelve Years, and until he was elected Super- 
intendent of schools in Ogle County, Illinois, 
having defeated the Republican nominee, 
who had a political majority in his favor of 
2,300 votes. After serving for about one 
year in this latter capacity he moved to Coun- 
cil Bluffs, Iowa, where he still resides. 

Mr. Wadsworth is now acting as the gen- 
eral manager of the Union Abstract and 
Trust Company, in which capacity he has 
won the confidence of the business public. 
He is also Secretary of the Council Blufls 
Board of Trade, and one of the Bark Com- 
missi(mcrs of the city of Council Blufls. 
During the year 1883 he traveled extensivnly 
in Europe, and on his return was married to 



BIOGRAPHICAL HI STOUT 



Anna, E. Etnyre, at Oregon, Illinois, October 
11, 1883. Mr. and Mrs. Wadsworth have 
two children, viz. : Mary M., born February 
17, 1887, and Paul E., born "November 12, 
1889. 

Religiously Mr. Wadsworth is a Unita 
rian, and in politics is a Democrat; he is the 
chairman of the Democratic Central Com- 
mittee. 



» 2"! ' 



(HOMAS LEONARD, a farmer of 
fUm Hazel Dell Township, was born and 
reared in County Roscommon, Ireland, 
upon a farm. At the age of seventeen or 
eighteen years he came to America, landing 
in Boston, where he resided fourteen or fif- 
teen years. In 1867 he came to Jackson 
County, Iowa, where he remained until 1875, 
when he came to Pottawattamie County. 
While in Boston he was engaged in the 
manufacture of brick, and in Jackson County, 
Iowa, he was a farmer; and he also afterward 
was engaged in farming at Silver City, Mills 
County, Iowa. On coming to tiiis county in 
1875 he purchased a tract of 240 acres, on 
section 15, Hazel Dell Township. It was 
but partially improved, and he has dev^oted 
las earnest attention to the improvement of 
the place until he has made it one of the 
finest in that part of the county. He has a 
good frame residence 20 x 30 and 18 x 30, 
also a fine barn 40 x 64, etc. Every feature 
of his place evinces good taste as well as a 
great amount of labor. In his political prin- 
ciples he is a thorough Democrat, casting his 
first vote for James Buchanan, and ever 
since then taking an active part in the poli- 
tical welfare of the county. State and nation. 
He has been Township Trustee, and is now 
chairman of the Democratic Township Com- 
mittee. He has made all he owns by his 



industry, having had but fifty cents when he 
first landed on American shores. 

He was first married to Catherine Hoer, 
who died in 1864, in Massachusetts. Of 
their six children two are living: Thomas W., 
at home, and James, a resident of Neola 
Township. Mr. Leonard was married, this 
time, to Mrs. Margaret Turner, the widow of 
Edward Turner and daughter of Mr. Magee, 
February 14, 1867 ; by her first marriage slie 
was the mother of three children: John, de- 
ceased; Patrick, a resident of Harrison 
County, Iowa, and Anna, the wife of Thomas 
M. Leonard, and the mother of one child, 
Mary E., born December 24, 1889. They 
are members of the Catholic Church. 



««1ILLIAM GUSTIN, one of the in- 
\:\/\jl tcUigent and progressive citizens 
l*-sjfeH of Grove Township, Pottawattamie 
County, came to his present location in Jan- 
nary, 1881. 

He was born in Brown County, Ohio, May 
1, 1846. His parents are Alpheus and Polly 
(Edington) Gustin, both natives of Ohio. 
The Gustins are of Scotch extraction, and 
grandfather Gustin was a soldier in the Rev- 
olutionary war. The Edington family trace 
their lineage back to Ireland, their ancestors 
having lived near the Rhine. Mr. and Mrs. 
Gustin reared eight children, five sons and 
three daughters, William being the fourth. 
Six of them are residents of Pottawattamie 
County, namely: Edward and A. B., Wave- 
land Township; A. J., Isaac, William, and 
Eveline, wife of Crawford Cary, Grove Town- 
ship. Two sisters, Sarah and Massie Ann, 
live in Mills County, Iowa. 

When William was a lad of nine years his 
parents moved to Illinois, remaining in that 
State one year. From there they removed to 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNT F. 



389 



what was then called the far West, Mills 
County, Iowa, and settled near where Emer- 
son is now located. The Gustins were among 
the early pioneers of that district. There the 
parents spent the remainder of their lives, 
the mother dying at the age of fifty-six years 
and the father at sixty-three. William was 
ten years old when the family went to Mills 
County, and in that frontier district he grew 
up, inured to hard work and received only a 
meagre education in the common schools. 
He there engaged in farming until 1881, 
when he came to this county and settled on 
120 acres of wild prairie land. On it he 
built a comfortable fi-ame house and barn 
and made other improvements, fencing, etc. 
He also acquired more land and now has 200 
acres in one body. 

Mr. Gustin was married March 20, 1865, 
to Miss Phoebe Jane Hatchings. She was 
born in Delaware County, Indiana, and was 
ten years old when she came witli her parents 
to Mills County, Iowa. Her father and 
mother, William and Nancy (Cicle) Hutch- 
ings, both natives of Ohio, were among the 
first settlers of Mills County, where they still 
live. Mr. and Mrs. Gustin have reared six 
children, two sons and four daughters: Emma 
Olive, wife of John L. Bradley, Grove Town- 
ship; Rose Ann, wife of W. L. HoUiday, of 
Montgomery County, Iowa; Nancy Eveline, 
Theudosia Adella, William Otis and Abra- 
ham Sirvetus. They lost two children by 
deatli in infancy — -Edward Iven and Artie 
Clifford. 

In politics Mr. Gustin is a Democrat. 



;ILLIAM NIXON, deceased, late 
proprietor of the Nixon farm, of Pot- 
tawattamie County, was born in Fay- 
ette County, Pennsylvania, October 20, 1802, 




and died in Pottawattamie County, at the 
residence of his son David, in Hazel Dell 
Township, February 3, 1885. He was the 
son of Moses and Jane (Winn) Nixon, who 
were among the old families of Pennsylvania. 
He was reared to the vocation of a miller, 
which business he followed for a number of 
years, but previous to leaving Pennsylvania he 
engaged in farming, which he followed the 
remainder of his days. He was married 
March 8, 1824, to Eliza CoUins, who was 
born in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, March 
2, 1807, and died May 20, 1878. She was 
the daughter of Joseph ;)nd Margaret (Allen) 
Collins, the former of Irish and the latter of 
English extraction; the mother was the 
daughter of Colonel Ethan Allen. Mr. and 
Mrs. Nixon were the parents of nine children, 
viz.: Margaret, who died July 1, 1828; Jo- 
seph, who died October 2, 1828; Mary, wife 
of Joseph Meginess, residing in Nebraska; 
John, who died in prison during the war of 
the Rebellion: he was in Company A, Twenty- 
ninth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and died April 
29, 1864; Hannah, widow of Benjamin Me- 
giness residing in Hazel Dell Township: he 
was in Company A, Twenty-ninth Iowa Vol- 
unteer Infantry, and served two years; Moses, 
deceased, who served in the same Company, 
and lost an arm at the battle of Helena, Ar- 
kansas, he served about one year and died 
November 25, 1883; Frances, who died 
August 23, 1883, the wife of Caleb Kimball; 
Sarah, wife of W. H. Meginess, residing in 
California; he served in Company A, Twenty- 
ninth Iowa Volunteer Infantry for three 
years, and was discharged as Orderly Ser- 
geant; and David, the subject of this sketch 
and the youngest child. 

In 1858 William Nixon removed with his 
family to Pottawattamie County, locating for 
a few days near Council Bluffs, at what was 
then known as Kanesvilie. They had started 



290 



BIOGRAPHICAL niBTORT 



for California but conclnded to remain in this 
county. His tirst permanent location in the 
county was on sections 33 and 34, of what is 
now Hazel Dell Township, where he secured 
120 acres, which was a claim purchased of a 
Mr. Scott. This land contained a log cabin 
and a few acres broken, but naturally was an 
unimproved farm. Here he lived and reared 
liis family until 1878, when he removed to 
Ills son DavidV, and where the mother died, 
and where the father spent his remaining 
days. He improved some 240 acres of land 
in the county, and assisted largely in its de- 
velopment, encountering the many hardships 
of pioneer life. He was a stanch Repub- 
lican. 

David Nixon, the youngest child, was born 
in Pennsylvania, June 22, 1848, and came to 
Pottawattamie County with his parents, 
where he has since made his hom<\ He was 
reared to the life of a farmer, and received 
his education in the subscription schools. He 
remained at home nntil he was eighteen years 
of ao-e, and was then married June 24, 1866, 
to Margaret J. Williams, who was born in 
South Wales, December 25, 1849. She was 
the daughter of Daniel and Margaret (Evatis) 
Williams, natives of South Wales, who came 
to Pennsylvania, where they spent a few 
years, and then moved to Utah, remaining 
one winter, and then came to Pottawattamie 
Coimty, Iowa. Mrs. Nixon was reared in 
Wales until she was six years of age, and then 
came to this country with her parents. They 
are the parents of four children, viz.: John, 
who was born June 4, 1867, and died August 
August 8, 1867 ; Eliza J., born June 29, 1869, 
and was married February 6, 1887, to Alex- 
ander Vallier, and now resides in Hazel Dell 
Township; William, born October 8, 1871, is 
a graduate in book-keeping at the Pottawat- 
tamie Normal College; Ira, born March 29, 
1874, is at home. After their marriage Mr. 



and Mrs. Nixon located on their present 
farm, a tract of eighty acres of raw prairie. 
He first erected a stable in which they lived 
until they had completed their home, a neat 
trarae residence 16 x 28 and 12 x 28 feet. 
Here they commenced life for themselves, 
after having spent some two years at the 
home of Mr. Nixon's parents. They have a 
beautiful home, surrounded by shade and 
ornamental trees, and with good barns for 
stock and grain. He also has tiiree acres of 
orcliard. He now has in Pottawattamie 
County 280 acres of well improved land, 
which he has brought to its present state of 
perfection through his own efforts mainly. 
He affiliates with the Republican party, and 
and takes a great interest in the welfare of 
his county. State and nation. 



ILLIAM PETERS, a citizen of 
Boomer Township, was horn in Prus- 
sia, March 15, 1818, a son of Nicho- 
las and Hannah (Barrent) Peters, natives also 
of that country. Mr. Nicholas Peters was a 
farmer by occupation; was aid-de-camp for 
General Blucher in the Napoleon army dur- 
ing the Prussian war. There were nine sons 
from one family iu this war, of whom five 
were killed. A maternal grandfather came 
to America and fought in the Revolutionary 
war under General Washington, and lived af- 
terward to the advanced age of 104 years. 
He was in the employ of the Government, in 
connection with farming, and accumulated a 
large fortune. On his death he left a wife 
and five children. The children were: 
Catharine, now Mrs. Frederick, residing in 
Prussia; Christoph, deceased; William, our 
subject; and Lewie, residing in Prussia. 
Frederick and Lewie are officers in the army. 
Their grandfather served thirty-six years un- 




OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



291 



der Frederick the Great, and the generations 
followins have ranked higii in the esteem of 
the royal families. 

Mr. William Peters was reared at home 
until he was twenty-four years of age, when 
he also entered the army, as Orderly, and 
served eight years at Berlin and Potsdam. 
At the age of forty years he married Marga- 
ret Armstrong, a native of Scotland and a 
dauy;hter of William and Catharine Arm- 
strong, natives of England. Mr. Armstrong 
was a chemist by profession in England, but 
on coming to America he located in Utah, 
where he now lives, at the age of eighty- 
eight years. His first wife died early after 
her marriage, and by his second wife there 
are the following eight cliildren : John, Joseph 
Wilhelm, James, residing in Utali ; Mary, wife 
of Lewis Stuei'sbaugh, in Utah; Margaret, the 
next ill order of birth, is the wife of Mr. Peters; 
Jane, now Mrs. John Williams, of Utah; 
and Kate, the wife of Mr. Chadwick, in 
Utah. Mrs. Peters was born in England, 
November 3, 1843, received a good educa- 
tion and came to America with her parents. 
In November, 1849, Mr. Peters sailed from 
London, England, to New Orleans, went up 
the river to St. Louis, but in a short time, 
finding business dull there on account of 
Asiatic cholera, he returned to the ocean and 
was a sailor along the Atlantic coast of the 
Americas, until he obtained money enough 
to go to California. He went to the gold 
fields, followed mining about five years, and 
then was one of the first to enter Colorado 
as a miner, and was there three years mining 
and freighting. Then he spent two years in 
similar occupations in Montaiui; next he was 
employed for over two years freightiug with 

provision wagons under General , of 

theCalifornia Volunteers. He helped to build 
Fort Douglas, in Utah. While he was in 
Salt Lake, President Lincoln was assassin- 



ated, and while operating iu Utah he suffered 
many hardships and privations. He came 
thence to Council Bluffs, and four years 
afterward, namely, in 1870, he located upon 
his present farm, buying forty acres of un- 
broken prairie land. He built a frame house, 
broke and fenced the land, planted a fine or- 
chard of one and a half acres, set out shade 
and ornamental trees, etc., and has made a 
comfortable residence. His orchard is one 
of the best in the township, and every feature 
of the premises gives evidence of good taste 
as well as of much labor. Mr. Peters deals in 
a tine grade of cattle and horses, taking special 
interest in the improvement of live-stock. 
He has added to his first purchase of land 
until he now has 240 acres of land of first-rate 
order. He has also upon his premises three 
running streams of water. In fact, he has 
one of the finest farms in the county, and in 
it takes great pride. 

Politically Mr. Peters is a well settled 
Kepublican, taking an active interest in the 
principles of his party. He is a member of 
the Farmers' Alliance, and of the M. P. S. 
He has had fifteen children, namely: William 
and Louis, farmers in Boomer Township; 
Fred, N icholas, Bernhart, James and Charles, 
at home; Maggie, wife of Samuel Bateman, 

in Nebraska; Mary Ann, who married 

Burbridge, and resides in Boomer; Jane, 
wife of La Fayette Hatcher, is a resident of 
Harrison County; Caroline, Kate and Tilda, 
at home; Dora May, the next, is deceased, 
as is also Isaac, the youngest son. 



COLUMBUS REYNOLDS is another 
'JC\ one of the enterjiribing and successful 
uien of Pottawattamie County. A 
brief outline of liis life is herewith given. 
Mr. Reynolds is a native of North Caro- 



293 



BIOGRAFEIOAL HISTORY 



lina, born near Sparta, the county-seat of 
Alleghany County, November 12, 1848. His 
father, Willson Reynolds, and his grand- 
father, Thomas Reynolds, were both natives 
of that State. His mother, nee Nancy Spur- 
ling, was born in North Carolina, as also was 
her father, William Spurling. Her grand- 
father Spurling was a soldier in the Revolu- 
tionary war. "Willson and Nancy Reynolds 
reared hve children, four sons and onedaiigh- 
ter: Columbus is the only one in Iowa; the 
oldest brother resides in Nebraska; two are 
in North Carolina; and the sister died in 
that State. Willson Reynolds was a farmer 
all his life, and his death occurred at the age 
uf seventy years. His wife was a devoted 
Christian and a member of the Baptist 
Church. She died at the age of sixty-eight. 
The subject of this sketch was reared on a 
farm, and in early life was taught those les- 
sons of honesty, industry and economy which 
have been so useful to him in after life. His 
early educational advantages were limited, 
but by reading, observation, and by the prac- 
tical knowledge learned in the school of ex- 
perience he has amply supplied the deficiency 
of an early education. At the age of nine- 
teen he bade adieu to his native State and 
started out in the world to make a home and 
a fortune. He located in Whiteside County, 
Illinois, and after remaining there a year he 
came to Iowa, and worked on a farm in Har- 
din County a year. In 1868 he came to 
Grove Township, Pottawattamie County, and 
first worked by the month. Then he broke 
prairie for two seasons, which at that time 
was profitable business. In 1874 he bought 
eighty acres of raw prairie land, on which he 
now resides. He broke it the same season, 
and has made many improvements on the 
place. He built a comfcn'table story-and-a- 
half house, at a cost of $1,200; planted shade 
and ornamental trees, a grove and an orchard ; 



built a good barn and fenced his land. From 
time to time he purchased other lands until 
at this writing (1890) he is the owner of 240 
acres. One hundred and sixty acres are in a 
body in sections 17 and 18. The other 
eighty acres, which he uses as a pasture for 
his stock, are a half mile northwest from his 
home. He is engaged in general farming 
and stock-raising, feeding all the corn he 
raises to his stock and frequently buying 
more from his neighbors. 

Mr. Reynolds was married, September 16, 
1872, at Red Oak, Iowa, to Miss Sarah E. 
Wilson, a lady of culture and refinement and 
a successful teacher. She was born in Sulli- 
van County, Indiana, and was reared and 
educated in Lee County, Iowa. Her parents, 
William and Anna (Pemberton) Wilson, the 
former a native of North Carolina and the 
latter of Ohio, now reside in Nebraska. 
Mr. and Mrs. Reynolds have four children, 
viz.: Rosalie, Laura Jane, Anna Ethel and 
Isom Guy. Mr. Reynolds is a Republican and 
cast his tirst vote for General Grant. He 
and his wife are worthy members of the 
Christian Church, and take an active part in 
religious and educational matters. Mr. Rey- 
nolds is a member of the I. O. O. F., Lodge 
No. 444, Carson, Iowa. Mr. Reynolds lost 
a b)-other in the Southern army, and Mrs. 
Reynolds a brother in the Northern army. 



PARISH, a prominent citizen of Ha- 
zel Dell Townsliip, was born in Can- 
.' ada West, October 9, 1841, the sixth 
child of nine in the family of Hiram and 
Anna (Bullard) Parish, the former a native 
of Vermont and the latter of Canada. He 
was eight years of age when his parents came 
with him to Lee County, Iowa, where they 
passed the remainder of their lives. Brought 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE VOUNTT. 



291 



up to the arts of agriculture, he was at the 
early age of thirteen j'ears compelled in a 
great measure to look out for himself. He 
was in Knox County, Illinois, from the age 
of fifteen to twenty, when, during the war, 
he enlisted, in October, 1861, in Company L, 
Eighth Missouri Volunteer Infantry, but was 
soon transferred to Company I. After faith- 
ful service for thi*ee years, participating in 
the noted battles of Fort Henry, Fort Donel- 
son, Siiiloh, Corinth, Holly Springs, Lookout 
Mountain, Mission Ridge, Kenesaw Moun- 
tain, Russell Heiise, Atlanta, Jonesboro, and 
a number of shirmishes, he was honorably 
discharged, at East Point, Georgia. He was 
married October 30, 1866, to Miss Jane, 
daughter of Josiah and Margaret Nelson, who 
was born in Knox County, Illinois, in No- 
vember, 1848. After a three years' residence 
in Illinois he came to Pottawattamie County 
and purchased a tract of >' raw " prairie on 
section 3, Hazel Dell Township, of forty 
acres. Here he erected a small frame resi- 
dence, 14 X 16, in which he made his home 
for five or six years, while he was subduing 
his land to cultivation. He now possesses 
159 acres, all of which has been improved. 
He has now a neat frame residence, 26 x 24 
and 16 x 20, and barns, etc., in good style. 
He is particularly interested in improved 
breeds of stock, making a specialty of Dur- 
ham cattle. He is a self-made man, having 
risen by his own efforts to his present high 
standing, and he has also done much for the 
public welfare. He is a Republican in his 
political sympathies; he has served his town- 
ship as Constable and member of the School 
Board, Road Supervisor, and is now Town- 
ship Clerk. 

He has had twelve children, viz.: John N., 
at home; Dora B., wife of George Smith, 
and residing iti Boomer Township; Peter, 
Minnie, Mary and George, at home; Cyrus, 



deceased ; Etta, Bertha, Elmer, Cora and Ella 
Myrtle. 



HARLES F. HEAGNEY, a retired 
farmer of Boomer Township, was born 
in Crawford County, Pennsylvania, Oc- 
tober 4, 1848, a son of Dominick and Hannah 
(Scott) Heagney. Mr. Heagneys's paternal 
grandfather w^as married first to Catherine 
McBride, a native of Ireland, and had seven 
children: Margaret, Bridget, Rosanna, Mar- 
tha, Mary, John and Catherine. Afterward, 
in 1817, he married Miss Sarah Brookhouser, 
who was born July 4, 1800, the tirst-born 
child of Adam and Keziah (Mason) Brook- 
houser, natives of Pennslyvania and of Ger- 
man descent. She had five brothers and 
three sisters: Mary, Adam, Margaret, Will- 
iam, Esther, Elderson, Hiram and Isaac. The 
Heagney family remained in Pennsylvania 
until 1849 and then moved to Dubuque 
County, Iowa, settling upon a partially im- 
proved farm, where the father finally died, in 
1851, leaving a wife and nine children. The 
children are: Adam, who resides in Califor- 
nia; Dominick, the father of Charles F. ; 
the next one died in infancy; William and 
Andrew J. reside in California; the next 
born is also deceased; Sai-ah, residing in 
Sioux City; George W., living in Missouri 
Valley, this State; and James K., also de- 
ceased. In 1858 the remainder of the fam- 
ily came to Pottawattamie County and 
located upon a piece of rough, unimproved 
jirairie, made a fine home and lived there 
twenty years. In 1878 the widow disposed 
of the farm and went to Dakota, where she 
remained until 1888, and, returning, settled 
in the vicinity of Missouri Valley, with her 
son George. She is now ninety years of age. 
Mr. Dominick Heagney was born March 



394 



BIOORAPIIIGAL HI STOUT 



2, 1828, and December 31, 1847, married 
Miss Hannah, daughter ui Isaac and Catli- 
erine Scott, natives of New York State, and 
farmers, who lived in Pennsylvania in 1844- 
'49. The mother died and the remainder of 
the family oame to Iowa. In the family 
were live children: Phoebe, Hannah, Henry, 
Henrietta and Catherine. After his father 
died Mr. Heagney remained on the farm 
about seven years and then came to Potta- 
wattamie County and purchased eighty acres 
of rough, unimproved land, and made of it 
a good home. He built a residence 32 x 44 
feet and a story and a half in height. Farm- 
in'' and stock-raising were his specialties, 
and he dealt in hogs, horses and cattle, es- 
pecially the latter. He disposed of that 
farm and bought pro|)erty in Missouri Val- 
ley, where he now lives a somewhat retired 
life. He has been aT industrious and ex- 
emplary citizen. 

In his political views lie is a lively Democrat. 
August 7, 1862, he enlisted in Company A, 
Tiventy ninth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, under 
Captain John T. Williams and General Fiske, 
in the Department of the Gulf. He partici- 
pated in the siege uf Vicksburg, was stationed 
at Helena; was in the campaign from Little 
Hock to Camden, when he was under con- 
tinual tire for sixteen days; was also at Jen- 
kins' Ferry, where there was some hard 
fighting, and in the siege of Mobile. In 
1865 he was stationed at the mouth of the 
Uio Grande. On the 10th of August that 
year he was mustered out, at New Orleans. 
There were four brothers in the war, of whom 
one was killed and the other three returned 
home. Mr. Heagney, though not wounded, 
contracted a disease of tlie eye and rheuma- 
tism, from which he still suffers. He had 
seven children, namely: Charles F., our sub- 
ject; Rose, the wife W. E. Laughery and re- 
siding in Missouri Valley; Mary, the wife of 



Fred McCollongh and living also in Missouri 
Valley; Catherine, now Mr.';. John Fisher; 
Addie, wife of William E. Baldwin and re- 
siding in Fremont, Nebraska; two died in 
infancy. 

Mr. Charles F. Heagney, reared to farm 
life, at the age of twenty-one years went to 
Kansas and entered a tract of land, returned 
to Pottawattamie County, visited Dakota 
awhile and returned home again, where he 
remained until he was married, April 24, 
1877, to Miss Maggie, daughter of David 
and Mary (Phillips) Roberts, parents natives 
of Wales. Mr. Roberts, a carpenter, was 
born in March, 1808, and reared to farm life; 
lie came to the United States in the summer 
of 1855, resided lour years in Iowa City and 
then located upon his farm in this county. 
By his first wife he had one child, Bessie, 
who is now living in Wales. By liis present 
wife he had eight children, as follows: Will- 
iam, at home; David and Emma, dead; 
Rosa, at home; and Mary, wife of Thomas 
Frencli and residing in Boomer; Margaret; 
Samuel, at liome; and Harriet, the wife of 
Joseph Cusworth and residing in Boomer. 
Margaret was born August 15, 1853, and 
completed her school education in the high 
school of Council Bluffs. 

Mr. Heagney bought his present place of 
eighty acres on section 5, Boomer Township, 
when theie were but few improvements upon 
it. He has continued to add other improve- 
ments until he has made of the place an ex- 
cellent residence. He has also added to his 
land area until he now has 120 acres of fine 
land, half of which is devoted to plowed 
crops. At present he is renting the farm 
and enjoying the fruits of his labor at ease. 
He has formerly been a very hard-working 
man but for the past five years he has not 
had perfect iiealth. Principally for the sake 
of recovering his iiealth, he went in 1886 to 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNT T. 



29j 



the Black Hills of Dakota and for four 
months was engaged in building the Fre- 
mont, Elkhorn & Missouri Valley Railroad. 
He returned with his health considerably 
improved. 

He is a well-settled and intelligent Dem- 
ocrat. He has been Road Supervisor two 
years. He is a member of St. John Lodge 
of the Mutual Protection Society. Was 
reared in the Roman Catholic Church. He 
has had two children, Mary Emma, born 
January 19, 1878, and Edna, November 6, 
1887. 

[EORGE FRANKLIN WRIGHT, of 
Council Bluffs, Iowa, was born in War- 
ren, Washington County, Vermont, 
December 5, 1833, and was the eldest son of 
a family of four children, he alone surviving, 
of the late Franklin Asher Wright, born in 
Hanover, New Hampshire, September 17, 
1801, died in Council Bluffs, October 5, 
1876, — he was of English descent,— and of 
Caroline Susannah Wright, nee Tillotson, 
born in Berlin, Vermont, November 8, 1807. 
She was of Scotch and English parentage. 
They were married in Berlin. Vermont, Feb- 
ruary 27, 1833. Franklin A. Wright was 
the son of Asher Wright, of English descent, 
and of Irene Wright, 7iee Curtis, of English 
descent. ('aroline S. Wright was a daugh- 
ter of Samuel Tillotson, of English descent, 
and of Betsey Tillotson, nee Wallace, of 
Scotch descent. 

George F. Wright was reared and spent 
hfs boyhood on a farm in his native town, 
and in early life, when a mere boy, was, by 
his father, whose large business interests re- 
q^uired his continued absence from home, 
held largely responsible for the successful 
carrying on and working of his farms, the 

24 



labor of which was performed exclusively by 
hired help. This training, and the respons- 
ibility incident thereto, became in after 
years of great service to him when he became 
engrossed in the active operation of his own 
business career. At the age of seventeen he 
CO nraenced his academic education at West, 
Randolph, Vermont, under the tutorage of 
the late Hon. Austin Adams, of Dubuque, 
Iowa, who was twice Chief Justice of the 
State. During his academic training, teach- 
ing district school winters, as was customary 
with many New England boys, he completed 
his preparatory studies for, and one year of, 
his college course. He did not enter col- 
lege, however; but the spring following his 
majority, in 1855, he came to Iowa and set- 
tled in Keosauqua, Van Buren County, when 
he at once commenced the study of the law 
with the law firm of Wright, Knajjp & Cald- 
well, composed of ex-United States Senator 
George G. Wriglit, of Des Moines, the late 
Hon. Joseph C. Knapp, of Keosauqua, who 
was his uncle, and his honor, Judge Henry 
C. Caldwell, of Little Rock, Arkansas, now 
Circuit Judge for the Eighth Circuit of the 
United State.<. His law studies were pursued 
under the tutorage of Senator Wright, and as 
a member of a large class of law students 
then under his charge his advancement was 
such that he was admitted to the Van Buren 
County bar in 1857, Judge H. B. Hender- 
sholt then presiding judge of the District 
Court of said county. The same year, Senator 
Wright going upon the Supreme Bench of 
Iowa, George F., as he was familiarly known, 
was admitted to partnership with his uncle, 
.ludge Kna^jp, and Judge Caldwell, under 
the firm name of Knapp, Caldwell & Wright, 
and so continued until Judge Caldwell was 
called to the bench at Little Rock. His edu- 
cation, founded in the old-fashioned New 
England schools, and in the old-fashioned 



296 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY 



New England ways, was rounded nut under 
the training received from these eminent law- 
yers and jurists. Aided by their ripe busi- 
ness experience, by his extensive acquaint- 
ance with business affairs, and with men of 
affairs, he became a good lawyer, as well as 
an active, persevering and successful business 
man. It was in this practical way that he 
acquired the educational elements which in- 
sured his success much more effectually than 
coTdd have been attained by a university or 
college course or both combined. 

Early in 1861 he enlisted in respom^e to 
President Lineoln's call )or 75,000 volun- 
teers, and in connection with Captain, after- 
ward General, J. M. Tuttle, raised a company 
of volunteers in Van Buren County, of which 
he was elected the First Lieutenant, receiv- 
ing his commission from the hands of Gov- 
ernor Kirkwood at Davenport, Iowa. Ilis 
company rendezvoused at Keokuk, and after 
being some time in camp, the first call being 
full, the company was accepted in the second 
call for volunteers and became a part of the 
Second Regiment of Iowa Volunteers. Im- 
mediately before this occurred. Judge Cald- 
well having enlisted and having been elected 
Major of the Third Iowa Cavalry, the busi- 
ness of their iirm demanded his return to 
Keosauqua. Immediately ou his return he 
raised a company of State militia, was elected 
Cai)tain thereof, and tendered the same to 
Governor Kirkwood for the protection of the 
Iowa border in Van Buren County. His 
company was accepted, was equipped with 
Surino-field rifles and furnished with the 
necessary munitions of war. This organis,a- 
tion was kept intact, being frequently called 
to the border and into the State of Missonri, 
until the rebels were driven out of that State, 
when most of his company enlisted in and 
became a part of the Fifteenth Regiment of 
Iowa Volunteers. 



On October 26, 1863, he was married ,in 
the city of Chicago, to Ellen E. Wright, nee 
Brooks, of iVorthfield, Vermont, born in 
Hancock, Vermont, Sejitember 21, 1830. She 
was the daughter of the late Josiah Prentice 
Brooks, born April 5, 1797, in Alstead, New 
Hampshire, died in Northtield, January 10, 
1883, of English descent, and the late Bet- 
sey Parker Brooks, nfe Robbins, born Au- 
gust 16, 1797, in Hancock, Vermont, died in 
Northfield, Vermont, November 4, 1885, and 
was of Entilish descent. 

During their residence in Keosauqua there 
wL've born to them three sons, the oldest dy- 
ing in infancy, and after their removal there- 
i'rom, two daughters, all now living, viz.: 
Frai;klin Prentice Wright, born March 2, 
1866; George Spencei- Wright, born Janu- 
ary 21, 1868; Eliza Caroline Wright, born 
June 1, 1870, and Ellen Elizabeth Wright, 
born December 7, 1872. 

In the spring of 1868 he moved with his 
family to Council Bluffs and formed a law 
partnership with the late Jadge Caleb Bald- 
win, and the law iirm of Baldwin & Wright 
at once became one of the leading law firms 
of the State. The firm at once took high 
rank among the profession as practicing at- 
torneys, and as the several railway companies 
representing the trunk lines made their ter- 
mini in Council Bluffs, this firm became 
their local attorneys, and has ever since re- 
tained that relation toward them. This law 
connection continued up to the time when 
Judge Baldwin was appointed by President 
Grant as one of the Judges of the Court of 
Commissioners of Alabama claims, requiring 
his res'dence in the city of Washingto'i, 
when the firm was dissolved. 

He then associated with himself Hon. 
Amos J. Risingr, now Judge of the District 
Court of Arapahoe County, Denver, Colo- 
rado, and John N. Baldwin, Esq., the second 



OF POTl'AWATrAMlE COU-NTT. 



29! 



son of the late Judge Caleb Baldwin. After 
several years of successful practice Judge 
Rising retired from the firm, removing to 
Colorado, and the Urm became and has since 
remained as Wright & Baldwin, they having 
lately associated with themselves the two sons 
of Mr. Wright. 

He early identified himself with the poli- 
tics of his county, the State and the nation, 
and has always been a stanch and active Re- 
publican, and for many years a leading worker 
in his party. During his residence in Van 
Buren County he was repeatedly tendered 
the nomination for member of the Legisla- 
ture from that county, whicli was then equiv- 
alent to an election, but invariably declined 
the honor. In 1875 he was elected Senator 
from the Ninth Senatorial District of luwa, 
composed of the counties of Pottawattamie 
and Mills. After serving as Senator in the 
Sixteenth and Seventeenth General Assem- 
blies he was again elected Senator, |in 1879, 
in the Nineteenth Senatorial District of Iowa, 
comprising Pottawattamie County, his place 
of residence. He served as Senator of the 
Nineteenth District in the Eighteenth and 
the Nineteenth General Assemblies. During 
his Senatorial career, his reputation as a law- 
yer, and his energy and ability won for him 
substantial influence in that body. He was 
from the first a member of the Judiciary 
Committee, and being an earnest, industri- 
ous worker, he was enabled to prevent fhe 
enactment uf many bad laws, as well as to aid 
the passage of good ones. He was ever vig- 
ilant and faithful to the trust imposed on 
him, never allowing personal feelings to 
swerve him from the path of duty and strict 
justice. He rendered the State and liis con- 
stituency faithful and competent service, 
and in such manner as to reflect great credit 
on himself and honor to his State. 

Soon after taking up iiis residence in Coun- 



cil Blufl^s he began to engage in active busi- 
ness afl>iirs outside of his profession, and in 
1870 and immediately following, he, with 
his associates, organized companies and con- 
structed and put in successful operation large 
plants for the manufacture and supply of 
coal illuminating gas in the cities of Council 
Bliiifs, Ottumwa, Mt. Pleasant, Cedar Eajjids 
and Sioux City, in Iowa, and in the cities of 
Eltrin and Evanston in Illinois. Ue was 

o 

elected President of the Council Bluffs com- 
pany, which position he held for over twenty 
years. In 1868 he, with Judge Baldwin and 
associates, constructed and operated the 
Council Bluffs Street Railway lines, the first 
street railway in Council Bluffs, and was the 
President of said company until it [>a8se(l 
under the conti'ol of the Unioti Pacific Rail- 
way Company. In 1881 he was elected Sec- 
retary and Treasurer of the Union Elevator 
Comjiany, of Council Bluff's, composed of 
six trunk line railway companies terminating 
therein, and had the supervision and con- 
struction of its Union Elevator building in 
said city, which has the largest capacity of 
any grain elevator west of the city of Chicago. 
In 1883, as one of the originators, in connec- 
tion with his associates, he organized and put 
in successful operation the Nebraska & Iowa 
Fire Insurance Company, of Omaha, Ne 
braska, now known as the Nebraska Fire In- 
surance Company, of Omaha, and at the 
same time organized and became president of 
the Iowa & Nebraska Fire Insurance Com- 
pany, of Council Bluffs, Iowa, which in 1885 
removed to Sioux City, Iowa, and is now 
known as the Western Home Insurance Com- 
pany of that place. He is still largely inter- 
ested in both of said parties. 

In 1886, in connection with his asso- 
ciates, he orcranized the Omaha & Council 
Bluffs Railway A; Bridge Company, procured 
from Congress a franchise for a combined 



298 



BIOORAPUICAL II1S2 0RT 



railway and wagon bridge across the Mis.-ouri 
Kiver between the cities of Council Bluffs and 
Oinaiia; and during the next two years the 
Omaha & Council Bluff's Railway & Bridge 
Company, of which he was elected Secretary, 
erected one of tlie finest and most expensive 
Bteel bridges over said river, and in connec- 
tiun therewith constructed and put in suc- 
cessful operation over said bridge between 
said cities the first Electric Street Railway 
line ever constructed in the States of Iowa 
and Nebraska. 

In 1889, in connection with his associates, 
he organized a company and constructed and 
put in operation in the city of Ottawa, Illinois, 
the first Electric Street Railway ever con- 
structed in said State. 

As a lawyer Mr. Wright is prominent, 
leading and able, never seeking to deceive 
court or jury, but in an open, manly, earnest 
contest endeavoring to secure the rights of 
his clients. Gifted with sound judgment, 
endowed with great, good common sense, and 
being a fine analyzer of character and the 
motives of men, lie is ever ready to meet his 
adversary on compromise grounds, confident 
in his resources and ability to secure better 
results for his clients by negotiation than by 
prolonged and expensive litigation. 

As a business man, he is possessed of fine 
executive ability, is untiring and energetic, 
continually adding to the cares and burdens 
of his life new enterprises, which by his con- 
tinued activity and the vigor of his never 
faltering energy he pushes to successful pro- 
portions and satisfactory results. 

As a citizen, he is active, progressive, pub- 
lic-spirited and liberal, and since he came to 
Council Bluffs he has ever been loyal to her 
best material interests, advocating all meas- 
ures that the beSt elements therein strove to 
establish. Of strict and upright manhood, 
he constantly labors for her welfare and is 



always found in the line of the best citizen- 
ship. 

As a friend, lie is true, honest, faithful and 
sacrificing to all who show themselves worthy 
of his friendship, generous in his praises, 
slow in his criticisms, and happy in contrib- 
uting to the wanti^ and needs of his fellows. 

As a man, he is amiable, temperate, hon- 
orable, benevolent, just and upright, with 
fine literary tastes and broad culture. 



L. RANKIN is one of the intelligent, 
enterprising and successful citizens of 
" Grove Township. He has been a 
resident of Pottawattamie County and iden- 
tified with its best interests for the past sev- 
enteen years, having come to this place in 
1873. 

He was born in Allegheny County, Penn- 
sylvania, February 27, 1849. His father, 
Archibald Rankin, was born in Pennsyl- 
vania, and grandfather Rankin was a native 
of Ireland, horn of Irish parents. His 
mother, nee Jane Brewster, also a native of 
Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, was of 
Irish ancestry. Mr. and Mrs. Rankin were 
the parents of nine children, three sons and 
six daughters, all of whom are now (1890) 
living except two daughters, and all are in 
Allegheny County except John and S. L., 
who are in Grove Township, tliis county. 
The parents passed their lives in Pennsyl- 
vania and died there, the father at the ase of 
iifty-two and the mother at the age of sixty- 
four years. Mr. Rankin was an iionest tiller 
of the soil all his life, and in politics he was 
a Democrat. His wife was a member of the 
United Presbyterian Church and reared her 
children in the Christian faith. 

S. L. Rankin worked <m the farm and re- 
ceived his education in the public schools of 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE G0UNT7. 



3»9 



his native county. In 1868, at the age of 
nineteen years, he came West and settled in 
Iroquois County, Illinois, where he engaged 
in farm work. In that county he married 
Miss Linda Downey, a lady of intelligence 
and refinement, who was born in Wayne 
County, New York. Her parents, Titus and 
Sally (Cole) Downey, both natives of Ver- 
mont, were married in the Green Mountain 
State and subsequently removed to St. Law- 
rence County, New York, and afterward 
went to Wayne County. When Mrs. Ran- 
kin was about six j-ears of age they removed 
to Oneida County, same State, where they 
passed the rest of their lives, the mother dy- 
ing at the age of forty-eight years and the 
father at sixty-seven. The Downey family 
were Methodists. Mr. Downey was an iron 
manufacturer, and in politics he was a Re- 
publican. Mrs. Rankin removed to Illinois 
one year previous to her marriage. 

In 1873 the subject of this sketch settled 
on his present farm when the land was wild. 
Here he has since resided and has tnade many 
improvements in his property. He now owns 
213 acres of land, of which 143 acres are in 
Grove Township and the rest in Carson 
Township. His comfortable frame houf-e is 
situated on a natural building site and is 
surrounded by shade trees. He is engaged 
in general farming and stock-raising, and his 
farm is well supplied with suitable out- 
buildings and modern improvements for con- 
ducting agricultural pursuits in the most ap- 
proved manner. 

Mr. and Mrs. Rankin have four children: 
Warren, Edna J., Lulu May and Edith Belle. 
May Eleanor, their fii-st born, died at the 
ape of three years and seven months; and 
Samuel, the second child, at the age of six- 
teen months. 

Mr. Rankin is a man in the prime of life; 
is frank and cordial in manner and address 



and honorable in all his business transactions. 
Politically he is a Democrat. 



EORGE BOLTON was l)orn in the 
Territory of Wisconsin (now Iowa), De- 
cember 9, 1840. His father, William 
Bolton, was one of the seven men who first 
settled in Cedar County, in 1836. His grand- 
father, Henry Bolton, when a lad in his teens, 
was kidnaped and brought to America from 
his native country, Germany. He made his 
escape and a short titne afterward enlisted in 
the cause of the colonies and fought in the 
Revolutionary war under General Washing- 
ton. His son, William Bolton, was born in 
Virginia, and was married in that State to 
Sarah Southern, also a native of the Old 
Dominion and a descendant of one of the old 
Virginia families. He subsequently became 
a pioneer of Cedar County, Iowa, as already 
stated, and there passed the remainder of his 
life, his death occurring at the age of fifty- 
seven years. His wife lived to be eighty 
years old and died at the home of her son 
George in Pottawattamie County. Mr. Bol- 
ton and his wife were earnest Christian people, 
and were members of the Methodist Ciiurch. 
He spent his life as an honest tiller of the 
soil; was a Jackson Democrat, a strong Un- 
ion man during the war, and cast his vote 
for President Lincoln. This worthy pioneer 
couple reared a family of eight children, viz.: 
J. A., a resident of Jasper County, Iowa; 
Oliva, of Oregon; Louisa, who is deceased; 
Virginia Vanmeter, of Cass County, Iowa; 
George, the subject of this sketch; John, 
Cedar County, Iowa; Agnes, wife of A. W. 
Pierce, Grove Township, this county; and 
Grace, wife of Frank Emmons, also of Grove 
Township. 

The son of a pioneer farmer, George w'as 



300 



BIOGRAPUICAT. HISTOR Y 



early in life inured to hard work, and was 
taught those lessons of industry and honesty 
which have served him so well in after life. 
Hie early advantages were limited. What 
education he received was obtained in the 
primitive log school-house of that period. 
He was married November 8, 1860, to Miss 
Hannah JM. Pierce, who was born and reared 
in Ohio, the daughter of Dennis and Mary 
(Polick) Pierce, both natives of Pennsyl- 
vania. The following children have been 
born to Mr. and Mrs. Bolton: Charles E., 
who is married and lives in Grove Township; 
A. W., also married and a resident of the 
same township; Ida M., wife of D. W. Magee, 
sheriff of Banner County, Nebraska; Nellie 
G., Albert, and James A., at home. Three 
of theirchildren died of diphtheria, — Luke, at 
the age of eight years; Minnie, ten years of 
age; and Frank, six. 

Mr. Bolton lived in Cedar County, Iowa, 
until 1877, when he came to iiis present loca- 
tion and bought the farm on which he resides 
of Isaac Denton. Some improvements had 
been made on the place previous to its pur- 
chase by Mr. Bolton, but he has since en- 
hanced its value by building, fencing, etc 
He built a comfortable residence, a story and 
a half high, surrounded it with shade and 
ornamental trees, and also planted a grove and 
orchard. He built a commodious barn, 40 x 
66 feet, which is well arranged for grain, hay 
and stock. A modern wind-mill furnishes 
the power, by which water is forced through 
pipes up to the yards and feed lots, a distance 
of forty rods. This farm contains 320 acres, 
and its flourishing condition at once indicates 
the thrift and prosperity of the owner. Mr. 
Bolton is engaged in general farming and 
stock-raising. Among his stock are Short- 
horn cattle and Clydesdale horses. 

Our subject is one of the wheel-horses of 
the Republican party in Grove Township. 



Pie has served nearly fifteen years as Town- 
ship Trustee. He has also served with credit 
ss a member of the School Board. He is an 
active worker in and a trustee of tlie Chris- 
tian Church, of which his wife and two of 
their children are also members. Socially 
Mr. Bolton is connected with 1. O. O. F., 
Lodge, No. 421, of Macedonia. He is re- 
garded by all who know him as an honorable 
and worthy citizen. Since he took up his 
residence here he has identified himself with 
the best interests of the community, and 
every enterprise that has for its object the 
promotion of good finds in him an earnest 
supporter. 

-'■ g ' ] . C - S" - 



ffOHN E. "WILLIAMS, a farmer and 
stock-raiser of Hazel Dell Township, was 
born in South Wales, October 22, 1841, 
the son of Daniel and Margaret (Evans) Will- 
iams, of Welsh extraction. The parents, 
natives of Wales, came to America in 1856, 
sailing from Liverpool February 14, and lo- 
cating in Luzern County, Pennsylvania, at 
Pittston, and four years afterward they re- 
moved to Utah, but remained there only one 
year; then they located in Audubon County, 
Iowa, for one year, and finally, in 1863, they 
settled in Pottawattamie County. The father 
died in September, 1862, at the age of forty- 
eight years, in Audubon County. The widow 
and her children then moved to this county, 
locating near the Bluffs, in Kane Township, 
where they spent a year, and then moved to 
what is now Garner Township and resided 
there four years. During this latter period 
Mr. Williams married Elizabeth Peterson, a 
native of Sweden, who was but four year? of 
age when brought to America. His mother 
now resides in Merrick County, Nebraska. 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COITNTT. 



301 



and is now seventy-four years of age. In her 
family were eleven children; five died in 
Wales, and six caine to this country, namely: 
Daniel J., a resident of Hazel Dell Township; 
John E. was the next; Kutli, a resident of the 
Pacific slope; Margaret, wife of David Nixon; 
Samuel, now residing at Grand Island, Ne- 
braska; Annie, now Mrs. John Robinson, of 
Clarkesville, Nebraska. Their, father was a 
stone and brick mason by trade, but turned 
his attention to various occupations. 

Mr. Williams, our subject, remained but a 
short time in Garner Township, when he 
came to Hazel Dell Township, April 18, 
1867, and purchased 120 acres on sections 7 
and 18, then absolutely wild land Upon this 
place he moved a small dwelling about 14 x 16 
feet in dimensions and occupied it one sum- 
mer. In the fall he erected a residence 
14x15, i;i which, with some additions, he 
resided until he erected his present dwelling, 
in 1884, a two-story frame 16 x 28 and 
18 X 15, on a modern plan. It is one of the 
nicest residences in that part of the country. 
Good barns and other neat enclosures orna- 
ment and add value to the place. There is also 
an orchard of about 150 good trees, besides 
shade and ornamental trees. Mr. Williams 
now owns 200 acres of fine land, all in one 
body, which he has been enabled to purchase 
by his own industrious efforts. By his first 
marriage he had five children: Mary, now the 
wife of Jacob Konkler, and residing at Coun- 
cil Bluffs; Samuel E., a resident of Garner 
Township; Josephine, wife of Edward Jones, 
of Council Bluffs; George, residing in Garner 
Township; and Daniel, residing in Boomer 
Townsliip. Mr. Williams lost his first wife 
in May 18, 1872, and he was married a third 
time January 23, 1887, to Mrs. Rachel How- 
land, widow of H. H. Howland and daughter 
of John and Cincinnati (Dunkerson) Ballew, 
natives of Kentucky and of French and Ger- 



man origin. Her father died April 7, 1882, 
at the age of sixty-two years, and her mother 
is still living near KansasCity. Missouri. Mrs. 
Williams was born in Mercer County, Missouri, 
December 18, 1848. By her first marriage 
she was the mother of two children: Hattie, 
wife of C. C. Greene, of Council Bluffs; and 
Frank, at home. By the preseat marriage of 
Mr. Williams there is one child, John A., 
who was born September 16, 1888. 

Mr. Williams is a Democrat, and he has 
served as a member of the School Board. 



LAY D. REEL, a miller on Pigeon 
Creek, Pottawattamie County, was born 
in Crescent Township, this county, July 
21, 1867. His grandparents came from Vir- 
ginia to Indiana in 1822, were farmers by 
occupation and remained resident in Indiana 
the rest of their days. Mr. Perry Reel, 
Clay's father, was born in Putman County, 
that State, July 9, 1839, and came to Potta- 
wattamie County with his parents in 1852, 
they having taken up claims which they 
afterward bought. Mr. Reel re-iiained here 
until his death, leaving seven children, viz.: 
Mary, Martha, Ella, Nancy (deceased), Sarah, 
Perry and William, who resides in Montana. 
Mr. Reel was married in 1862, to Miss Mil- 
lie, daughter of Jonathan Branson; she was 
born in 1846. Leaving home, Mr. Reel 
bought a grist-mill an Pigeon Creek, which 
he ran in connection with his farm. The old 
home place he brought to its present perfec- 
tion. He lield all the offices of the township 
with satisfaction to his fellow-citizens, was a 
straight Democrat, was elected Sheriff and 
re-elected in 1869. His term expiring in 
1872 he returned to his farm, and in 1873 
was elected County Treasurer, and re-elected 
once. In 1877 he was again elected Sheriff, 



802 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTOBT 



and re-elected to tliis office again. He was 
without exception the most prominent man 
in the county, upriglit in his dealings and 
liberal, and too much cannot be said in liift 
praise. He had a line farm, well stocked. 
He died in political life, December 10, 1889, 
having had five children: Dora, Emma, Clay, 
Rose and Perry. 

Mr. Clay D. Reel completed his school 
course in Councill Bluffs. At the age of 
twenty-two years, April 1, 1890, he mar- 
ried Miss Annie, daughter of William L. 
Walker, a native of Pennsylvania, who ulti- 
mately removed to Iowa. He had eight 
children: Annie, John, Harry, Maria, Effio, 
Orval, Bessie and Kittie; the last mentioned 
is deceased. Mrs. Reel was born August 15, 
1869, finished her education in the high 
school at Des Moines and taught school three 
years. After his marriage, Mr. Reel rented 
a house in Crescent Township near the old 
home place, where he now lives. He is en- 
gaged in running a flouring-mill on Pigeon 
Creek, which now has the roller process and 
all the latest improvements. At the time of 
his father's death he was enjoying a private 
retired life where there was a fine orchard of 
four acres. Lately a postoffice named Reel 
has been established at that point. Mr. Reel 
is a high-minded and popular citizen. 



W. BORUFF is one of the leading 
citizens of Macedonia Township, Pot- 
* tawattamie County. Ho was born 
near Bloomington, in Monroe County, Indi- 
ana, April 18, 1845. His father, Samuel 
BorufF, was of German extraction and a na- 
tive of Tennessee. He married Elizabeth 
Butcher, also a native of Tennessee, and soon 
after his marriage came with his wife to 
Monroe County, Indiana. In the midst of 



the forest he cleared and improved a farm, on 
which he and his wife reared a large family 
of children and on which they spent the re- 
mainder of their days, his wife dying at the 
age of fifty-four years and he at the ripe old 
age of eighty-five. In politics he was a Jack- 
son Democrat, and he and his wife were con- 
sistent members of the Christian Church. 
Of the sixteen children born to this worthy 
couple the subject of this sketch is the young- 
est of the fifteen who grew to adult age. 

He was reared on the farm and received 
his education in the public schools of Mon- 
roe County. At the age of eighteen he went 
to Logan County, Illinois, where he worked 
at farm work. In May, 1864, lie enlisted in 
Company C, One Hundred and Thirty-Third 
Illinois Infantry, and served about four 
months, the regiment being stationed at Rock 
Island, guarding rebel prisonei-s. After his 
discharge he returned to Logan County, 
where he remained until 1876. In that year 
he came to this county and bought eighty 
acres of wild land, where he now lives, pay- 
ing $12.50 per acre. Here he built a good 
one-story-and-a-half house, surrounded it 
with pines and other evergreens; planted a 
grove and orchard; built a barn 30 x 40 feet; 
has a modern wind pump; in fact, everything 
about the place indicates the good taste, the 
thrift and the enterprise of the owner. Mr. 
Boruff owns 120 acres of land located a half 
mile from the village of Macedonia. Amonsr 
his cattle are some fine Holsteins and Jerseys. 
He also has some graded hogs. 

Mr. Boruff was married in Logan County, 
Illinois, January 16, 1873, to Miss Josie 
Hoblit, a lady of intelligence and refinement, 
who was born, reared and educated in that 
place. Her parents, L. M. and Eveline 
(Haughey) Holbit, came from Ohio to Illi- 
nois and settled in Logan County previous to 
her birth. Mr. and Mrs. Boruff have one 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



303 



child, Otis D., born March 2, 1887. Mr. 
BorufE is a Democrat, and is one of the lead- 
ing members of that party in his township. 
He has served the public as Township Trus- 
tee. He is a member of the Masonic fra- 
ternity, associated with Ruby Lodge, No. 415, 
of Macedonia; and Chapter No. 159, of 
Glenwood. He is also a member of the An- 
cient and Accepted Scottish Rite for U. S. of 
A. T. T. and D. thirty-second degree. 

— •->^';»; n; . ? i» <« — 



MRVING M. TREINOR, the present 
fi Postmaster of Council Bluffs, Iowa, was 
^ born in this city, on the 26th day of 
November, 1857, and is the second son of 
Thomas F. Treynor, now a prominent and 
successful farmer of Pottawattamie County. 
Mr. Treynor's earlier years were spent in 
the old log cabin where he was born, his 
father having moved to this county at an 
early date, in fact, when the now thriving 
city of Council Bluffs was only a straggling 
village, known as Kanesville. 

At the age of four years the subject of 
this sketch began his educational career in 
the public schools of this city, and remained 
until he had attained the age of fourteen, 
when he entered the Iowa State University, 
at Iowa City. There lie remained for three 
years, and, returning liome, assumed the 
position of assistant to his father, who was 
postmaster of Council Bluffs, from March, 
1869 to May, 1877. Here he remained for 
two years, when, having received a flat- 
tering offer from the Chicago, Rock Island 
& Pacific Railway, he entered tlic service of 
that company as freight clerk. His recog- 
nized ability brought him rapidly to the 
front, and in a comparatively short space of 
time he iiad reached the responsible position 
of cashier and chief clerk at this point. 



In 1884, desiring to embark in business 
for himself, he severed his connection with 
the railroad Company, and with Messrs. Or- 
cutt and French, organized the Council 
Bluffs Carpet Company. By common con- 
sent, he was made the financial manager of 
the concern, and the successful building up 
of a large and weU-established business at- 
tests the wisdom of the choice which the 
members of the firm made in this direction. 

Mr. Treyiior has always taken a lively in- 
terest in musical matters, and the reputation 
which Council Bluffs now enjoys in this line 
is in no small measure due to his untirino- 

o 

energy and unselfish devotion, as well as to 
his generous contributions of time and 
money toward the development of a high 
order of musical culture. He lias given 
much of his leisure time to the study of 
vocal music, and his voice (a robusto tenor), 
has been heard quite frequently, in church, 
on the stage, and in various gatherings in 
this and other places. He has sung the 
leading tenor roles in a number of lieht 
operas and oratorios. At the present time, he 
is a member of the Apollo Club of Omaha, 
Nebraska; is a trustee of that organization, 
and holds the responsil)le position of chairman 
of the musical committee of that society. 
Mr. Treynor is a pi'ominent member of 
the Royal Arcanum; one of the founders 
and a trustee of the Council Bluffs and 
Omaha Chautauqua; an active member of 
the Rowing Association, and one of the 
leaders of the Board of Trade. Religiously 
he believes in the doctrines of the Episcopal 
Church, is a member of St. Paul's, and has 
served in the vestry of that religions organ- 
ization. Politically lie is a Republican of 
the stalwart type, and has been a delegate to 
nearly every Republican State, Congressional 
and Judicial convention which has been held 
during the past twelve years 



304 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY 



In Spteinber, 1889, he was appointed 
Postmaster of Council Bluffs by President 
Harrison, succeeding lion. Thomas Bowman. 

Mr. Treynor was married on the 4th day 
of November, 1880, to Miss Kittle E. Ob- 
linger, daughter of Captain H. G. P. Oblin- 
ger, of this city. Albert McKune Treynor, 
is the only issne ot this union. 



fAMES KILLPACK, a prominent farmer 
and stock-raiser of Neola Township, was 
born in Leicestershire, England, Sep- 
tember 6, 1830. His father, John Killpack, 
was a wheelwright and marble-cutter, and 
had a brother and sister, Martha and Fannie, 
who are now deceased. On attaining man- 
hood Mr. John Killpack established himself 
in the mercantile business, including drugs, 
and continued therein ten or twelve years, 
and then was in the marble trade the remain- 
der of his days. His wife, whose maiden 
name was Elizabeth Day, died some ten years 
previously, in 1841, leaving twelve children, 
as follows: John, born, October 2, 1824,died 
August 2, 1851; Mary Ann, born August 
29, 1826, died October 21, 1847; Elizabeth, 
born November 6, 1828, resides in England; 
James, our subject, is the next; William J., 
born February 6, 1832, resides in Utah; 
Jonathan, born October 2, 1833, died July 1, 
1890, in California: Charles, born February 
7, 1835, died March 16, 1836; Rachel, born 
xVugnst 16, 1836, lives in England; David, 
born October 25, 1838, resides also in Eng- 
land; Emma and Edward are deceased. 

James, the subject of this sketch, was 
brought up to the profession of his father. 
At the age of twenty-three years he left 
home and sailed on the International from 
Liverpool to New Orleans, being ten weeks 
on the voyage. Landing soon at Keokuk, he 



came thence by ox teams to Council Bluffs 
and went on to Utah, being eleven weeks in 
crossing the plains to that Territory. In 
Manti City, Utah, he was engaged in farm- 
ing, but, the grasshoppers destroying his 
crops, he entered the Government Survey in 
1855-'56. August 15, 1855, he married 
Miss Salina, daughter of Samuel and Sarah 
Harcott, natives of England, and Born re- 
spectively in 1801 and 1806. They had 
seven children: Mary, Lucy, Rosa, Sarah, 
Louisa, William and Salina. The last men- 
tioned was born December 15, 1839. Their 
father, a fashionable dyer, died at the age of 
forty-six years. Their mother afterward 
married Jacob Pochin, a native of England 
and a carpenter by trade, who came to Amer- 
ica in 1851, to New Orleans, and thence to St. 
Louis and to Utah in 1851, and died there in 
August, 1854. The widow then returned to 
this county, and remained with her daughter 
in Hazel Dell Township until her death, 
March 19, 1870. 

After his marriage Mr. Killpack returned 
to Council Bluffs in June, 1857, clerked in 
a grocery store, then followed the same busi- 
ness in St. Louis; afterward was engaged in 
a furniture and wagon establishment; next 
he moved to Maries County, Missouri, took 
up eighty acres of land; but the bushwackers 
were so bad that he returned again to Coun- 
cil Bluffs, by means of ox teams. Here he 
was in the employ of a grocery firm. April 
7, 1864, he moved upon his farm in Boomer 
Township. A year afterward he purchased 
forty acres in the same township, where there 
were but few improvements. He added by 
further purchases until he had a total of 220 
acres of good land, most of which was in 
meadow and pasture, and the premises were 
equijjped with a good outfit of the usual ap- 
purtenances. Desiring to increase his facili- 
ties for raising live stock, he sold this place 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



305 



and purchased 320 acres of rough, unimproved 
laud, prairie and hazel brush, and be- 
gan anew. He put up a fine two-storj 
frame house 18x36, with kitchen 16x15, 
porches, etc. In orchard and ornamental 
trees he has a total of about ten acres. 
Amono; his cattle the choice breeds are the 
Jersey and Red Poll. He has now 200 acres 
of fine land, mostly in Neola Township; 
eighty acres are in Boomer Township. 

Mr. Killpack is a thorough-going Repub- 
lican. Was once elected a Justice of the 
Peace, but would not serve, lest he might 
make an enemy. He has been a School Di- 
rector. 

His children are: Emma E. born in Salt 
Lake, December 23, 1856, and now the wife 
of Moulder Clark, in Boomer Township; 
Rachel Alice, born in St. Louis, January 5, 
1859, died December 2, 1863; Mary Ann, 
born September 7. 1861, died September 28 
following; John James, born in Council 
Bluffs, May 20, 1863; William Henry, born 
in Boomer Township, July 9, 1865; Lucy 
Ann, born November 17, 1867, died April 3, 
1874; Charles, born January, 1870, died in 
infancy; Louisa Alice, born in Boomer Town- 
ship, May 17, 1871; Grace May, born also in 
Boomer, May 9, 1873; David Marion, born 
in Boomer, July 18, 1876, and George Frank- 
lin, born also in Boomer, January 27, 1880. 

— | ' 3"; ' ^ '--~ — 



^HARLES M. HARL, of the law firm 
of Harl & McCabe, of Council Bluffs, 
was admitted to the bar of Pottawatta- 
mie County in 1876. Hr. Harl was born in 
Sandusky City. Ohio, November 13, 1856, the 
son of John W. and Margaret (Smith) Harl. 
The former was born in Virginia, and the 
latter was a native of Ohio. The Harl family 
were early Virginians, having settled in that 



then British colony prior to the Revolutionary 
war. The family is of Irish origin. The 
maternal ancestry of the subject of this 
sketch removed from the State of New York 
to Ohio during the early settlement of the 
latter State, but previous to their residence in 
New York they had resided in Canada. John 
W. Harl went to Ohio from his native State 
when a young man, and after marriage settled 
at Mt. Vernon, where the family of his wife 
had lived for many years. Later Mr. Harl 
removed with his family to Sandusky. In 
1858 they went to Council Bluffs, where the 
father died April 6, 1881. His wife survived 
until February 6, 1886. The subject of this 
sketch is the only survivor of five children; 
three died in childhood, a son and two daush- 
ters. Edward, the second of the family in 
order of birth, enlisted early in the war of 
the Rebellion in an Iowa battery; after serv- 
ing for a time and becoming broken in 
health, he was discharged for disability; but 
recovering his health he again enlisted in the 
service of his country, becoming a member of 
Company A, Twenty-ninth Iowa Infantry, 
and was killed at Helena, Arkansas, July 4, 
1863. 

The subject of this sketch was educated in 
the public schools of Council Bluffs, gradu- 
ating in the high school of this city in the 
class of 1874. He began studying law im- 
mediately after leaving school, with Judge 
Caleb Baldwin, and was admitted February 
18, 1876. In June following he formed a 
partnership with Smith & Carson, which con- 
tinued until 1886, when Carson was elected 
District Judge, and the firm became Smith 
& Harl, which continued for two years, when 
Mr. Smith retired to become President of 
the State Board of Railroad Coinmissionei-s, 
and was succeeded by James McCabe. 

Mr. Harl was married in Council Bluffs, 
to Miss Lottie Oblinger, a native of Indiana. 



306 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY 



They have two daughters: Nellie and Ruth. 
They lost their eldest daughter, Margaret. 
Mr. Harl is a Republican in politics. lie has 
a fine practice and is recognized as one of 
the leading members of the bar of Potta- 
wattamie County. 

Mr. Harl was for five years, 1882 to 1887, 
Secretary of the Board of Education, of Coun- 
cil Bluffs. In 1888 he was presented to the 
Republican Congressional Convention of the 
Ninth Congressional District as a candidate 
of Pottawattamie County for Congress, de- 
feating Mr. Lyman, the then Congressman, 
in the Pottawattamie convention. A number 
of candidates were presented by other coun- 
ties, and as a result and compromise Judge 
J. R. Reed was Tiominated, he being sup- 
ported by Mr. Harl and friends when the 
nomination of the latter was found to be im- 
possible. 

Mr. Harl is the Past Master of Excelsior 
Lodge, No. 259, A. F. &. A. M.; First High 
Priest of Star Chapter, No. 47, P.. A. M.; 
and the present Eminent Commander of 
Ivanhoe Cominandery, No. 17, K. T., all of 
Council Bluffs; also First Vice President of 
League and delegate to the last National 
Convention of said clubs at Nashville, of Re- 
publican clubs of Iowa; and member of the 
board of trustees of the Broadway Methodist 
Episcopal Church. 

•" "I * 3 i ' ! • ! '» ♦" — • 



fOSEPH P. BOULDEN, a farmer of 
Hazel Dell Township, was born in Piqua, 
Miami County, Ohio, August 11, 1819, 
the son of William L. and Nancy (i'atterson) 
Boulden, natives of Delaware and of Scotch 
and Irish extraction. He was the third in 
order of birth in a family of seven children, 
only three of whom are still living. The 
other two are John R., of Rockford Town 



ship, and Mary J., widow of Levi G. Bran- 
don, living in Des Moines. 

On attaining his majority Mr. Boulden 
married, in November, 1839, Susan Lee, who 
was born in Licking County, Ohio, in 1822. 
They had two children: John W., now re- 
siding in California.'and Mary E., residing in 
St. Louis, Missouri. Mr. Boulden was mar- 
ried again in 1848, to Mary Lee, who wat> 
born in Licking County, Ohio, August 13, 
1826, and died February 25, 1887. There 
were two children by this marriage also, 
namely: Joseph P., a resident of Hazel Dell 
Township, and Benjamin F., deceased. Mr. 
Boulden made his home in Ohio until 1849. 
The first business in which he was engaged 
after he arrived at the age of twenty-one 
years was that of boating on the Miami Canal 
for some five years. In 1849 he came to 
Illinois, where he was a miller for three years. 
May 14, 1853, he arrived here in Pottawatta- 
mie, locating first at Council Bluffs, where he 
engaged as a mill-sawyer, manufacturing the 
first lumber that was ever turned out at this 
point, as he operated the first saw-mill here. 
At the end of about two years he went to 
Omaha and engaged in saw-milling there a 
year, turning out also tlie first lumber at that 
point. Returning to this side of the river he 
operated a mill for the Jeffrej' Brothers, 
northwest of Council Bluffs, for about half a 
year, when he located upon his present farm. 
He first purchased 200 acres of unimproved 
land on section 32 of what is now Hazel Dell 
Township; and here he has since resided with 
the exception of two years in Utah and 
Nevada. He was one of the first settlers in 
that part of the county, and suffered the usual 
privations and hardships of pioneer life. 
Courage, guided by cool judgment, has 
guided him on in the improvement of his 
place until he now has a comfortable 
home, where he can spend the remainder of 



OF I'OTTAWATTAMIB COUNTY. 



307 



his life in contentment. His first dwelling 
was a structnre 16x22 feet; and his present 
residence, also a frame, 18 x 24 and 16x20? 
was erected in the midst of a natural grove. 
General farming and stock-raising are Mr. 
Boulden's specialties. He takes pride in the 
rearing of the better grades of live-stock. 
He now possesses one of the finest horses in 
the county, a Morgan. He has also done 
much for the material interest of his com- 
munity, and his dealings ever command the? 
highest respect. He has disposed of his real- 
estate by a distribution to his children, and 
he now makes his home with his ton J. P. on 
the old home place. 

Politically Mr. Boulden is a decided Re- 
publican, ever taking a leading part in the 
political affairs of the county. He was 
Coroner four years, member of the Board of 
County Supervisors three years, Justice of 
the Peace, Township Trustee, member of the 
School Board, etc. In his manner he is cor- 
dial and affable, in disposition kind. 

His son, J. P., was married to Miss Mag- 
gie Dial, and they had two children : Ida M., 
deceased, and Benjamin F., a resident of Cali- 
fornia. He was again married March 10, 
1887, to Anna Anderson, who was born in 
Sweden in 1870, and they have one child, 
Mary G. 

^.. ? . S ,, ; . ? ,.^ 



IIARCOUPtT is the proprietor of the 
Harcourt Nursery, which is becoming 
* well known, reliable and popular. It 
is located in Grove Township, in the eastern 
part of Pottawattamie County, and was start- 
ed in 1885. At present twenty acres are de- 
voted tu nursery stuck and small fruits. By 
care, observation, experiments and the ex- 
penditure of much time and money, Mr. Har- 
court has been successful in placing before 



the people of this county hardy and product- 
ive nursery stock, which is well adapted for 
the soil and climate of southwestern Iowa. 
For the earnest efforts put forth in this di- 
rection he is entitled not only to a large 
patronage but also to the grateful thanks of 
all who are interested in fruit culture in 
this part of the State. Mr. Harcourt has 
10,000 trees of the best and most popular 
varieties ready for spring trade. The fact 
is an assured one that southwestern Iowa for 
fruit is not excelled in the West. 

Mr. Harcourt was born in Green County, 
Wisconsin, April 2, 1846, the son of Daniel 
and Margaret (Conner) Harcourt, both na- 
tives of Indiana. lu 1850, when he was 
four years old, the family moved to Jasper 
County, Iowa, and were early settlers there. 
At that place he was reared on a farm, and 
received his education in the public schools. 
In 1871 Mr, Harcourt removed from Jasper 
County to Pottawattamie County, and set- 
tled in Grove Township, where he has since 
resided. He had bought the land on which 
he resides in 1870. At that time there were 
but two houses between this point and Wal- 
nut, and to the north but one house could be 
seen i<iv miles. Mr. Harcourt owns eighty 
acres, a fourth of which is devoted to his 
nursery. It is his intention to increase the 
size of his nursery and give his whole atten- 
tion to it. His farm is well improved. He 
has a comfortable cottage home, a barn, good 
fences, etc. 

In 1866, in Jasper County, Iowa, Mr. Har- 
court wedded Miss Sarah Hill, a native of 
Indiana. They have eight children, viz.: 
Frank E. ; Arthur W., a successful teacher 
of Grove Townt-hip; Joshua J., John li., 
Katty, Jessie, Inez and Ward. Three of 
their children died in infancy. 

Politically Mr. Harcourt is a Republican. 
He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal 



308 



BIOGBAPEICAL HISTORT 



Church, and is an earnest and active worker 
in the cause of religion. It was by his 
efForts and labor that Spring Creek Church 
was organized and established in Center 
Township. He has served as class-leader, 
steward and trustee of the church. Mr. 
Harconrt is a man in the prime of life, is 
a good converser, a pleasant companion and 
a popular citizen. 



I^^ARRISON MONTGOMERY, section 
10, Grove Township, is one uf the well- 
known and much respected citizens of 
Pottawattamie County, Iowa. He came to 
this place in 1870 and has since made it his 
home. Mr. Montgomery was born in Picka- 
way County, Ohio, September 27, 1839, the 
son of Moses and Elizabeth (Jones) Mont- 
gomery, the latter a native of Pennsylvania. 
His father was a strong and radical Whig 
and a great admirer of General Harrison, 
and when tlie subject of this sketch was 
born he was named after the hero of Tippe- 
canoe. Mr. Montgomery was a babe when 
tlie family removed to Wells County, Indiana, 
and when he was seven years old his father 
died. His mother and her children subse- 
quently removed to Winnebago County, Illi- 
nois. At the age of twelve years Mr. Mont- 
gomery came to Jasper County, Iowa, where 
he trrew to manhood, and received a fair edu- 
cation in the public schools. Of his brothers 
and sisters we state tiiat John went overland 
to California, and died in the land of gold; 
James E., who served four years during tlie 
war in Company I, Tenth Iowa Infantry, 
lives in Cheyenne County Kansas; Delphia 
Dewitte Jives in Grove Township, Pottawat- 
tamie C<)Ui\ty, Iowa; Eliza Seek resides at 
liockford, Illinois; Anna died when a cliild. 



Their raotlier is now ninety years of age and 
lives in Kansas with her son James. 

The subject of this sketch was married in 
Jasper County in 1857, to Miss Mary Jane 
Mills, who was born in Indiana and reared 
and educated in Jasper County, Iowa. She 
is a daughter of William and Elizabeth 
(Burkhalter) Mills. Her mother died in 
Jasper County, and her father lives in Sher- 
man County, Kansas. The following named 
children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. 
Montgomery: Ella, wife of John Walker, of 
Carson Township; Emma, wife of Thomas 
Marsiiall, Lincoln, Nebraska; Hatty, wife of 
Charles Wood, Grove Township; Irvin, who 
lives in Sarpy County, Nebraska; Casin, 
Sadie, Tillie May, John, Pearly, Laura and 
■Clarence L., all at home. Two of their chil- 
dren died in infancy. 

Mr. Montgomery came to this county in 
1870 and bought fortv acres of land. He 
now has a well improved farm, a story and a 
half house, suitable out-buildings and good 
fences. His house is situated on a natural 
building site, and is surrounded by shade and 
ornamental trees. He has an orchard and 
grove. Mr. Montgomery is a trustee and 
steward of tlie Christian Church. His wife 
and two of their children are also members. 
Politically he is a Republican. Mr. Mont- 
gomery is a man in the prime of life, and by 
all who know him he is regarded as an up- 
right and worthy citizen. 

f' ^ .p '5) 

~^ % - ^"S ' |" -" — 



RTHUR S. HAZLETON, attorney at 
i^A law, and of the firm of Mayne & Ha- 
zelton, has been a member of the bar 
of Council BlufEs since April 6, 1886. Mr. 
Ilazleton is a native of Plymouth, New 
Hampshire, where he was born November 7, 
1855. His father, Charles Hazleton, died at 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



309 



Plymoulh, April 1, 1881, where the mother 
of the subject of this sketch still lives. The 
family consists of three sons and one daugh- 
ter. The eldest of the family, Martha F., 
resides at Plyinuuth, New Hampshire. The 
eldest of the brothers, Charles W., is a civil 
engineer, and resides at Turner's Falls, 
Massachusetts. Henry is teller in the Coun- 
cil ElnfTs Savings Uank. 

The subject of this sketch is the youngest 
of the family. He prepared for college at 
Kimball Academy, and entered Dartmouth 
College in 1877, graduating in 1881. He 
studied law in the office of Blair, Burling & 
Adams, the first mentioned being the Hon. 
Henry N. Blair, United States Senator from 
New Hampshire. He attended law school at 
Boston University, and at Columbia Law 
School in New York city. 
• Mr. Hazleton paved the way through col- 
lege with money which he earned, and met 
the expenses of a law course while in New 
York by teaching during the forenoons, and 
attending lectures in the after part of the 
day. On September 5, 1884, Mr. Hazleton 
arrived in Council Bluffs, and for one year 
was principal of the high school in that city. 
As he was obliged to read law one year in 
Iowa before engaging in practice, he entered 
the office of Jacob Sims, Esq., where he pur- 
sued a year's course of study in law before his 
admission to the bar. The present partnership 
was formed on May 1, 1880. Mr. Hazleton, 
by his own energy and industry, has obtained 
a liberal literary education, and his legal at- 
tainments have been reached by the same 
means, and they are very thorough. He is 
still a young man, but has already taken a 
prominent place at the bar of Pottawattamie 
County, and is esteemed as an enterprising 
and progressive citizen. Politically he is a 
Republican, and is a worlhy member uf the 
order of A. F. & A. M. 



He was married May 16, 1888, to Miss 
Emma Higham, of Keokuk, and they have 
one son, Charles S. 

•°' "S ' S '« i ' ^" -^ 




ILLAED DeWITT is one of the 
representative and enterprising cit- 
izens of Grove Township. He came 
here in 1876, and has since made this place 
his home. 

Mr. DeWitt was born in Montgomery 
County, New York, November 29, 1826. 
His father, Willard DeWitt, Sr., was born in 
Massachusetts and lived to be 105 years old. 
He was of French ancestry, and fought in 
the war of 1812. His mother, nee Eliza- 
beth Mosier, was also a native of Mont- 
gomery County, New York. Mr. DeWitt is 
one of a family of twelve children, six sons 
and six daughters. When he was seventeen 
years of age the family removed to De Kalb 
County, Indiana, where his parents spent the 
remainder of their lives, the mother dying 
at the age of seventy-six years. Mr. DeWitt, 
Sr., was politically a Whig but subsequently 
became a Hepublican and Abolitionist. For 
twenty-five years he was a strong and zealous 
Methodist class-leader. 

Willard DeWitt, Jr., was reared to farm 
life, and was early taught those lessons of in- 
dustry and honesty which were so useful to 
him in after life. At the age of twenty-one 
he removed to Winnebago County, Illinois, 
where he resided several years and where he 
became acquainted with the lady whom he 
afterward married. January 18, 1850, he 
wedded Miss Delphia Montgomery, who was 
born in Springfield, Ohio, March 9, 1834, 
and was reared in Wells County, Indiana. 
She was the daughter of William and Eliza- 
beth (Jones) Montgomery, who were natives 
of Pennsylvania. For several years the father 



310 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY 



was a successful teacher, and he afterward 
became a hotel manager. He died in La 
Porte, Indiana, at tlie age of forty years. 
The mother, who is now over ninety years of 
age, resides with her son in Cheyenne County, 
Kansas. Mr. and Mrs. DeWitt lived in Win- 
nebago County, until 1855, when they re- 
moved to Charles City, Floyd County, Iowa. 
In 1861 they removed to Jasper County, 
same State. They lived in Monroe five 
years, Mr. DeWitt being engaged in team- 
ing and freighting, which at that time was a 
profitable business. 1866 he moved on a farm 
which he improved and on which he lived 
until 1876. In that year he sold out and 
bought 160 acres of Sam Osier, where he 
now resides. This place was improved by 
Silas Wheeler, an old pioneer of tile town- 
sliip, it being one of the first farms settled 
on in this part of the county. At the time 
of its purchase by Mr. DeWitt about the 
only buildings on it were an old house and a 
S7nall granary. In 1884, at a cost of $1,600, 
he erected a comfortable two-story house 
witli porches and bay windows. It is sit- 
uated on a natural building site and is sur- 
rounded by shade and ornamental trees. Mr. 
DeWitt has a tine grove of three acres and 
an orchard containing between 600 and 700 
fruit trees: apples, plums and small fruits. 
He has good fences and suitable out-build- 
iugs for his stock. His farm is devoted to 
general agricultural pursuits and stock-rais- 
ing. Among his stock are some fine spec- 
imens. 

Mr. and Mrs. DeWitt have five children, 
viz.: James Willard, who is married, has 
three children, and lives in Cedar County, 
Nebraska, George Lincoln, at home; Leti- 
cia, wife of M. F. Price, of Center Town- 
ship, this county, has two children; P. Grant, 
who is married, has one child, and lives in 
Grove Township; and John Harrison, at 



home. Four of their children died in in- 
fancy, namely: Antionica, in her twelfth 
year; John H., in his tenth year; William 
H., in his fifth year; and Cora May, at the 
age of thirteen months. 

Politically Mr. DeWitt was rocked in a 
Whig and Abolitionist cradle, and under such 
teaching grew to be a strong and radical Re- 
publican. He never aspired for public office, 
although he has served as president of the 
School Board. He is a man well informed 
on general topics and is one of the respected 
and honorable citizens of the township. By 
good management and industry he has ac- 
quired a good property. He owns 240 acres 
of land in Grove Township, all under good 
state of cultivation. 



- •■ ^2 M t - ^ '-- 

tSAAC HANSEN, anative of Li Uehedinge, 
Denmark, was born August 2, 1838, the 
■=?5- son of Hans and Kesten (Anderson) Han- 
sen. The father died in Denmark, and the 
mother is still living, at the age of ninety- 
one years. They had a family of eight chil- 
dren, of whom Isaac was the sixth child. He 
was reared to farm life, and received his 
education in the public schools. He remained 
at home until he was thirty-one years of age, 
when he left his native country for America, 
in 1869. He came direct to Pottawattamie 
County, Iowa, which he has since made his 
home. He at once made a purchase of sixty- 
four acres of unimproved land, on section 6, 
Hazel Dell Township. He afterward pur- 
chased 130 acres of land in Boomer Town- 
ship, but has disposed of all this land except 
forty-four acres wliich he still retains. After 
his marriage Mr. Hansen purchased a farm 
of 160 acres on section 1, Hazel Dell Town- 
ship, to which he has since added until he 
now possesses 320 acres. In 1887 lie erected 




-^c' 



^ 
\ 



^ 

^ 




1 

I 



OP POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



311 



a fine frame building, 26 x 34 feet, two stories 
high, with an annex 20 x 34, one story high, 
and also barns for stock and grain, the main 
one being 42 x 50 feet, and erected in 1883. 
His house is surrounded by shade and orna- 
mental trees, etc. He is principally engaged 
in farming and stock-raising, and in the lat- 
ter quite extensively. Mr. Hansen has done 
much toward the building up and improve- 
ment of this county, and he stands among 
the well-to-do citizens of this community. 
He is a trustee of the Farmers' Alliance of 
Weston. In his political views he is non- 
partisan. 

Mr. Hansen was married, November 1, 
1875, to Maria Peterson, who was born in 
St. Taaroie, Denmark, June 2, 1842. They 
have four children, namely: Victoria M., 
born September 2, 1876; Vig.(0, born March 
21, 1879; Peter, January 15, 1881, and Carl, 
September 9, 1884. The family are members 
of the Lutheran Churclv of Boomer Town- 
ship, and Mr. Hansen is a trustee of the 
same. 



— » ;^ ' S " ! ' ^" <" — 

;ANIEL B. CLARK, of Council P.lufEs, 
is numbered among the early ssttlers of 
Pottawattamie County, the date of his 
location being May 10, 1852. He at that 
time settled on a claim which he purchased 
of a Mormon in Kane Township before the 
land was in market. A few improvements 
had been made, a log cabin having been 
built and a small part broken, but no essen- 
tial improvements had been made. In 1853 
the land came into market. Mr. Clark en- 
tered the land and resided on it about thirty- 
two years. 

He was born near Batavia, Genesee County, 
New York, January 4, 1819. His parents 
were Eli K, and Eunice (Brown) Clark, both 

25 



born in Connecticut. The paternal grand- 
father of the subject of this sketch was also a 
native of Connecticut, and of English origin. 
He was a shoemaker by trade. Our subject 
possesses a memento or heirloom, consisting 
of a shoe-hammer used by his grandfather, 
and by request was given to the father of our 
subject as the eldest son of his father, and for 
the same reason Daniel B. Clark, being the 
eldest son of his lather, came into possession 
of this heirloom, and it will thus descend to 
the eldest son of our subject. The mother of 
Mr. Clark also descended from an early Con- 
necticut family. The maternal grandfather 
of Mr. Clark was Daniel Brown, after whom 
he was named. Eli K. Clark and wife were 
married in their native State, in 1817, and 
the following year emigrated to Genesee 
County, New York, which was then regarded 
as the " far West." There he settled on a 
farm, where he continued to live until 1832 
or 1833, when they removed to Ashtabula 
County, Ohio, and settled on a farm, where 
they remained until death. The father was 
born June 22, 1794, and died October 14, 
1868, at the age of seventy-four years. The 
mother was born December 24, 1799, and 
died April 30, 1852. They were the parents 
of eleven children, ten of whom attained 
mature years: a son, Jerome, died at the age 
of eight years. Six of their children are still 
living, at this writing. The subject of this 
sketch is the eldest. The second of the family, 
William H., died September 21, 1872; Piercy 
Ann is the wife of Thomas Lyman, and re- 
sides at Downer's Grove, Illinois; Huldah L. 
became the wife of Joseph Carpenter, and 
died March 29, 1864; Willard F. died April 
6, 1860; OraE.,the second surviving brother, 
resides in Michigan; Jerome W. was the 
next in order of birth; Phebe J. married, and 
died March 7, 1856; Altyn D., who resides 
in Iowa: Lois married Rev. Lyman Catlin, 



312 



BIOGRAPHICAL BISTORT 



now of Waterloo, Iowa; Arista O., is married 
and resides in Michigan. 

Daniel B. Clark, the subject of this notice, 
was reared to the occupation of farmer. He 
lived in Orleans County, New York, for about 
eight years, and then removed to Peoria 
County, Illinois, where he continued to reside 
until he came to Iowa in 1852, as already 
stated. Mr. Clark has long been one of the 
well-known citizens of Pottawattamie County. 
He enlarged the place where lie first settled, 
and made of it a beautiful home, where he 
lived for many years. He became the owner 
of much valuable land elsewhere, and although 
he has sold the homestead he still owns a tine 
farm of 300 acres near the city of Coui]cil 
Bluffs. In the spring of 1884 Mr. Clark 
retired from the active duties of farm life 
and removed to this city, where he and his 
wife have a pleasant home. Politically he is 
a Republican, and is an esteemed and worthy 
citizen of Pottawattamie County. He served 
his country in the war of the Rebellion, en- 
tering the army in 1861. He raised a com- 
pany of which he was commissioned Captain 
byUuvernorKirkwood. His command became 
Company H, of the Fifteenth Regiment Iowa 
Volunteer Infantry. He served his country 
faithfully until his health failed, and he was 
discharged for disability at Corinth, Missis- 
sippi, in June, 1862. His eldest son was a 
soldier in Company D, Furty-fourtli Reo-j- 
ment Iowa Volunteer Infantry. Three broth- 
ers of Mr. Clark also served in the war of 
the Rebellion, viz.: Ora E., who was a mem- 
ber of Battery G, First Michigan Artillery; 
Altyn D. served in Company D, First Regi- 
ment Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry; Aresta 
D., a member of Company B, Twenty-third 
Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry. 

Mr. Clark was married at Ridgeway, Or- 
leans County, New York, October 4, 1840, to 
Miss Eleanor Bates, who was born in Madi- 




son County, New York, December 22. 1819, 
and they have had ten children, four only 
of whom attained mature years. The eldest, 
Edwin J., died January 30, 1873, in the 
thirty-second year ot his age; Ora is a farmer 
of Red Willow Coimty, Nebraska; Emma J. 
is the wife of George W. Bartlett, of Red 
Willow County, Nebraska; and Samuel W. 
is a resident of the same county. Mr. and 
Mrs. Clark are faithful and consistent mem- 
bers of the Metliodist Episcopal Church. 



fm, P.PETERSON was born in Sweden 
June 13. 1841, the only son and 
** one of the four children of Peter 
and Hannah (Hawkins) Peterson. He at- 
tended school until he was thirteen years old 
and then worked at farming for a time. 
When he was eighteen he attended college 
one year. Having, received a good education 
in his native language, he again turned his 
attention to farming, at which he worked 
until he was twenty-two. Then he bade good 
by to home and friends and started for Amer- 
ica. Leaving Malmo he swiled for Copeti- 
hagen, thence to Hull, England, thence to 
Liverpool, and from there across the ocean to 
Quebec, Canada. He came by rail and 
steamer to Chicago, then on to Henry County, 
Illinois, arriving at the latter place in 1864. 
In October of this year he enlisted in Com- 
pany I, Eighth Illinois Infantry, and joined 
his regiment at Memphis, Tennessee, from 
which place they marched to White River 
Landing. He was taken sick and confined in 
the hospital tor some time. The latter part of 
February, 1865, he was removed from New 
Orleans by hospital boat to New York, and 
from there was sent West. Again he was 
taken sick, and he remained in hospital at 
Columbus, Ohio, for a time. 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



sia 



After an houorable discharge he returned 
to Henry County, Illinois, from whence, in 
1867, he came to Council Bluffs, Iowa. 
Here he was variously employed until the 
spring of 1874, when he obtained a position 
on the C. B. & Q. Railroad, as a labor and der- 
rick iiand. He was soon promoted, and con- 
tinued work as a stone mason for several 
years. In 1880 he bought his farm of 160 
acres, which was then partly improved. 

March 7, 1882, Mr. Peterson married 
Nellie Anderson, daughter of Andrew and 
Blanda (Rombeck) Anderson. Five children 
have been born to them, viz.: Hannah Pau- 
line, Robert Henry, Harry Martinus, Lilly 
Ann and Clara Amelia. Mr. Peterson and 
his wife were reared Lutherans and to this 
faith they still cling. He is a man well 
informed on all general topics; is kind and 
affable in his manner; and is highly respected 
by all who know him. Politically he is a 
Republican. 

In connection with Mr. Peterson's family 
history it should be further stated that he 
and his sister, who resides at the old home 
in Sweden, are the only surviving members 
of the family, his father and mother having 
passed their lives and died in their native 
land. 



fRANK COLLARD, one of the substan- 
tial farmers of Valley Township, was 
born at Mineral Point, Wisconsin, Au- 
gust 25, 1855, a son of Royal Collard, who 
came from England to America in 1848, and 
settled on a farm in Wisconsin. To Mr. and 
Mrs. Collard were born four children: Eliza- 
beth, who was born in England; Walter, born 
in Wisconsin; Frank and Charles. Politi- 
cally Mr. Collard was a Republican, and 
religiously a member of the Methodist Epis- 



copal Cliurch. He died at the age of forty- 
Iwo years, and was a hard-working and indus- 
trious man, respected by all who knew him. 
Frank Collard, our subject, was reared to 
farm life, and in 1876 came to Iowa, settling 
on his present farm, then consisting of 240 
acres, and on which his brother Walter had 
made some improvements three years before. 
He has since added to this place until he now 
owns 320 acres of tine farm land. He is a 
practical farmer and stock-raiser. He was 
married in the fall of 1880 to Lizzie Martin, 
and they have two children: Irvin R. and 
Zella L. Politically Mr. Collard is a Repub- 
lican. 



M. ROBBINS is the owner of 160 
acres of land in section 13, Washiug- 
^J * ton Township, Pottawattamie County, 
where he has resided since 1878. An out- 
line of his life is herewith given: 

He was born in Herefordshire, England, 
February 19, 1853, son of Thomas and 
Georgenia (Morgan) Bobbins, the former a 
native of Herefordshire and the latter of 
Gloucestershire. His mother died when he 
was six years old, and his father still lives in 
Eno-land. Our subject was educated in the 
common schools of his native land 'and re- 
mained there until he was eighteen years old. 
While a boy he was for two years employed 
as a florist. At fourteen he engaged in the 
stock business, and continued to buy and sell 
stock for four years. In 1872 he came to 
America and settled near Davenport, in Scott 
County, Iowa, where he conducted a meat 
market for some time. Later, lie engaged in 
farming near Davenport. In 1878, as already 
stated, he came here and purchased his pres- 
ent farm. It was then wild prairie land, but 
under his judicious management and well 



314 



BIOORAPUICAL UlbTORY 



directed efforts it lias assuined a different 
appearance, now being one of the best farms 
in the vicinity. He has a good story and a 
half house, 16 x 24 feet, [coated on a natural 
building site, surrounded by a grove and 
orchard. His stables, fences, modern wind 
pump, and the whole premises all denote the 
prosperity of the owner. Big Silver Creek 
flows through his farm, affording an abund- 
ant supply of water for stock. This season 
Mr. Robbins is feeding forty-one head of 
steers, and has some tine cattle and good 
horses. 

Mr. Robbins was married, in Scott County, 
Iov\-a, December 21, 1876, to Miss Maggie 
Harris, a native of Washington County, Iowa, 
reared atid educated there. Her fatlier, 
Henry Harris, was a native of the South, was 
a soldier in the late war, and died at Mem- 
phis, Tennessee, of disease contracted in the 
service. Her mother, nee Mary Tucker, was 
born in Des Moines County, Iowa, daughter 
of Hon. B. F. Tucker, one of Iowa's first 
Representatives. She is now a resident of 
Wichita, Kansas. Mr. and Mrs. Robbins 
have one son, Eddy K. Mr. Robbins is a 
member and trustee of the Evangelical 
Church, and tea.cher of the Sabbath-school. 
Politically he atiiliates with the Republican 
party. 



[EORGE WRIGHT, deceased, formerly 
a farmer of Hazel Dell Township, was 
born in Thnrcaston, Leicestershire, En- 
gland, April 12, 1819, learned the trades of 
brick- mason and plasterer, was married Jan- 
uary 16, 1842, to Elizabeth Wooleuton, who 
was born in the town of Tiirusinton, Leices- 
tershire, May 30, 1821, and after hii mar- 
riage was employed as gardener and florist. 
In December, 1847, he emigrated to Amer- 



ii.-a, locating flrst at St. Louis; in a few years 
he removed to Genoa, Nebraska, whence he 
was driven two years later by the Indians 
back to the Missouri River. In the spring 
of 1860 he settled on eighty acres of wild 
prairie land on section 3, Hazel Dell Town- 
ship, this county, improved it and remained 
upon it until his death, which occurred Octo- 
ber 13, 1876. Mrs. Wright is still living 
on the old home jjlace. Mr. Wright was, 
and Mrs. Wright still is, a member of the 
Reorganized Church of the Latter- Day Saints. 
In their family are six children, namely: 
Frederick, who was born January 2, 1843; 
Emma E., born November 18, 1844, now the 
wife of A. B. Smith, residing in Pottawatta- 
mie County, Iowa; George, born March 11, 
1847, also residing in this county; William, 
born October 2, 1852, is also a resident of 
Pottawattamie County; Sarah A., born Jan- 
uary 18, 1857, died August 15, 1858; and 
Mary J., born September 13, 1860, now the 
wife of George Duncan, of this county. 

George Wright, Jr., the subject of this 
paragraph, the third born in the above fam- 
ily, is a native of Leicestershire, England, 
came with his parents to this country and 
was brought upon a farm, assisting in open- 
ing up the home place just mentioned. Alter 
his marriage he located upon his farm on 
sections 3 and 4, consisting of 116 acres of 
uncultivated land, which he has since greatly 
improved, making a tine place, where he is 
devoted to general farming and stock-raising. 
He is a self-made man, having risen from 
the bottom round of the ladder to the prebcnt 
comfortable station which he enjoys, by his 
own unaided efforts. He is a zealous Demo- 
crat, and lias served as a member of the 
School Board, etc. He and his wife are 
members of the Reorganized Church of the 
Latter-Day Saints. October 9, 1872, he 
married Miss Alice E., daughter of William 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



315 



and Elizabeth (Holder) Gilsou, who was 
born in Pennsylvania, May 11, 1852, and 
came to Iowa with her parents. In this 
family are live children: Lydia A., horn 
August 5, 1873; George W"., February 16, 
1876, and died April 1, 1878; Frank B., 
June 30, 1878; Adolph B., July 9, 1884; 
and Gracie E., March 5, 1890. 



fM. COONS, proprietor of the Willow 
Dale Farm on section 18, Macedonia 
** Township, is one of the most enter- 
prising and successful farmers in that com- 
munity. He was born in Marion County, 
Iowa, January 20, 1853, a son of Lindsey 
Coons, a native of Highland County, Ohio, 
and of German ancestry. The mother of 
J. M. was before marriage li. J. Connaughey, 
of Irish ancestry. Mr. Lindsey Coons and 
wife were married in Highland County, 
Ohio, and in 1851 came to Marion County, 
Iowa, locating there as early settlers. The 
father resided in that county until his death 
in Ohio, while on a visit in 1867. He was a 
merchant for many years in Knoxville, 
Marion County, where his widow still re- 
sides. 

Mr. Coons, our subject, received a good 
education at Knoxville, served in his father's 
store for a time, and in 1875 came West to 
Mills County, this State, and engaged in 
farming, as that vocation was better suited 
to his nature than in-door work or even an 
out-door trade. At first he was employed 
by the month; then he rented land and fol- 
lowed agriculture upon his own account for 
awhile, and in 1880 bought sixty-two acres 
of wild prairie. This he has improved, and 
he has also purchased more land until he 
now owns 300 acres, all well improved and 
furnished with the necessary and convenient 



buildings and enclosures. He is engaged in 
general farming and the rearing of live- 
stock, and enjoys success in these callings. 

Mr. Coons is a Democrat in his political 
principles. Has served as Township Trustee 
with acceptability. Is a member of Ruby 
Lodge, No. 415, of Macedonia. Both him- 
self and wife are members of the Christian 
Church at Lone Star, in Silver Creek Town- 
ship. He was married March 16, 1879, in 
Mills County, Iowa, to Miss C. E. Harbert, 
a lady of culture, who was born and reared 
in Mills County, and they have five children, 
viz.: Harbert Clive, Mary J., James Kay, 
Leona J. and Lindsey D. Mrs. Coons is a 
daughter of Parens and Mary (Hulick) Har- 
bert. 



F. HARBERT, a worthy citizen re- 
siding on section 18, Macedonia Town - 
** ship, first came to this county and 
settled upon that place in 1881. He was 
horn July 6, 1853, in Peoria County, Illi- 
nois, a son of Parens Harbert, a native of 
Johnson County, Indiana, and of English 
and Scotch ancestry. Parens Harbert mar 
ried Mary Ann Hulick, a native of Indiana, 
and moved to Illinois in 1853. Some time 
afterward he returned to Indiana on a visit, 
and then in 1854 he came West with his 
family and settled in Mills County, Iowa, in 
pioneer times. He died in Glenwood, in 
1865, and his widow is now residing with 
her son, the subject of this sketch. They 
reared five children: America, now the wife 
of Joseph Cramer, of Wayne County, Ne- 
braska; B. F. was the next born; Katie, now 
the wife of J. M. Coons, of Macedonia Town- 
ship; Michael, who lives in Mills County; 
and John, a resident of Carson Township. 
Mr. Harbert was brought up a farmer; 



316 



BIOGRAPHICAL BISTORT 



was but ten years of age when his father 
died, and, being the eldest son, greater re- 
sponsibilities fell upon him. He now owns 
a line farm of 180 acres. In politics he is a 
Democrat, and in religion a member of the 
Christian Church. He was married March 
4, 1880, to Miss Cynthia A. Cramer, who 
was born and reared in Mills County, a 
dauo-hter of John and Elizabeth (McMullin) 
Cramer. 

H I i i?^ » 3i ' S * S" ' " ' 



N. COPELAND, a prominent farmer 
■fjpK of Rockford Township, was born in 
« North Carolina, April 27, 1811, son 
of Hugh and Martha (Wilson) Copeland, 
natives also of North Carolina and of Irish 
ancestry. Hugh Copeland, left an orphan 
when young, was reared by a tanner, whose 
trade he learned. At the age of twenty- 
one years he was married, given a set 
of tools, bought a piece of property and 
commenced business for himself, which he 
followed for a number of years. He after- 
ward moved to Jackson County, Indiana, 
where his wife died in 1820, leaving five 
children: T. N. (our subject), Tirzah, Soph- 
ronia, Elizabeth and Armstrong; all deceased 
excepting our subject. After the death of 
his wife Mr. Hugh Copeland resided at sev- 
eral places in Indiana, then settled in Bu- 
chanan County, Missouri, taking up claims. 
In the spring of 1853 he bought a farm in 
Fremont County, Iowa, and lived upon it 
several years. In the meantime he married 
his second wife, who died in 1875, leaving 
nine children : W. B., John F., Hiram, Hugh, 
Abner, Hester, Asenath, Martha and Amos. 
After her death Mr. Copeland sold the farm 
and made his home in Sidney, Iowa, where 
his daughter kept house for him until his 
death in 1880. 



I Mr. T. N. Copeland, the subject of this 
j sketch, was brought up on a farm. From 
the age of twenty-two years he worked four 
years in a mill, in the meantime being mar- 
ried. He next bought a tract of heavy tim- 
ber land, which he improved for fifteen years; 
and then, in 1852, he came to Pottawattamie 
County, and has ever since resided in Rock- 
ford Township. There he first bought a 
claim and entered 800 acres of the present 
place, which was then wild land, prairie and 
timber; but a few acres were cleared, and 
here he began anew, built a residence thirty- 
two feet square and two-stories high and 
making all the buildings necessary for a com- 
fortable and convenient home, including an 
orchard of two acres, a line grove of orna- 
mental trees, etc. The premises denote pros- 
perity and good judgment. At the present 
time be has 240 acres of line land, on section 
3, township 77 north and range 44 west, in 
the vicinity of Loveland. In actual culti- 
vation there are 150 acres, while the remain- 
der is in hay, pasture and timber. He gave 
the site for a grist-mill, afterward bought a 
half interest in the mill and ran it for ten 
years. He also dealt extensively in cattle, 
horses and hogs, but not recently. Also he 
was tor a time an extensive dealer in OTain, 
with considerable profit. Now, in his old 
age, he is enjoying the well-earned results of 
an industrious and honorable life. 

Politically his first vote was cast for the 
old Whig leader, Henry Clay, for President 
of the United States, and he has been a re- 
liable Republican since the organization of 
that party, having done much efficient work for 
the advancement of its primary principles. 
He has been treasurer of his township twenty 
years, and school director for a number of 
years. 

October 15. 1835, Mr. Copeland married 
Miss Barbara, daughter of Thomas and Mary 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE VOUNTY. 



J17 



(Shater) Frazier, parents natives of Tennes 
see and Pennsylvania, respectively, and of 
German and Irish ancestry. They had eiglit 
children, as follows: Chapman, who resides 
in Harrison Connty, this State; Levina; 
Lewis Christian, residing in Buchanan, Mis- 
souri; James, in this county; John, deceased; 
Sarah, wife of Francis Frend, in Illinois; 
Malinda, wife of W. B. Copeland; and Eliz- 
abeth, now Mrs. Reuben Coffee. Mrs. Cope- 
land, the third child in the above family, 
was born May 12, 1816, and was married 
when past nineteen years of age. The chil- 
dren of Mr. and Mrs. Copeland have been 
ten in number, namely: John Fletcher, who 
died in infancy; Mary Sophronia, now Mrs. 
John Goss, in Harrison County; James Arm- 
strong, now deceased; Sarah, wife of David 
Henderson, in Harrison County; William 
Mead, deceased; Tirzali, married Jay Hutch- 
inson and resides in Rockford Township; 
Henry Clay, a resident of this county; and 
Hugh and Martha, deceased. Tiie family 
are members of the Methodist Episcopal and 
Baptist churches. All the children are set- 
tled in the vicinity, and all the grandchildren 
attend the same school. 

'-^■■ 4 - S " S ' ^ ^- 

SREDERICK WRIGHT, the first child 
of George and Elizabeth Wright, noticed 
elsewhere, was born in Leicestershire, 
England, January 2, 1842, and came to this 
country with his parents in 1846. He was 
brought up to farm life in the pioneer West. 
Onattainingto manhood he engaged injvarious 
occupations at Council Bluffs for seven years, 
saving up some money, with which he pur- 
chased a small farm in Boomer Towmship, of 
forty acres of wild prairie. There he erected 
a residence, but soon after .vard he returned 
to Council Bluffs and November 25, 1868, 



married Miss Francis E. Hough, a daughter 
of J. R. and Cedelia Hough, and born in 
this county September 30, 1848, supposed 
to be the first white female child born in 
Pottawattamie County. After his marriage 
he settled upon his farm, where he made his 
home until 1883, when he came to his pres- 
ent place on section 3, Hazel Dell Township. 
This tine place comprises 120 acres. He 
also owns a tract of six acres of timber land 
in Rockford Township. His farm he has im- 
proved from a wild condition; has erected a 
neat frame residence 26x38 feet, with barns, 
etc. His place is devoted to general farm- 
ing and the rearing of live-stock. He is an 
energetic farmer, standing in the front ranks 
of the yeomanry of this enterprising section 
of the country. Politically he is not a part- 
izan, as he casts his vote for the best man of 
any party. He is a member of the Mutual 
Protection Society, is always ready to assist 
in anything tending to the public welfare, 
and is a popular man. His two children are: 
Ada, born August 21, 1870, and Joel R., 
born May 14, 1876. ■ 



■ — "'■ ' ■ ^ • 3 " I ' ^ ' " " 

tOVRIDGE SAMUEL AxX:TELL, now 
a prominent farmer of Boomer Town- 
ship, was born November 24, 1832, at 
Sheakleyville, Mercer County, Pennsylvania. 
His grandfather was Thomas Axtell, born in 
New Jersey in 1750, was a Revolutionary 
soldier, and settled soon after the war in 
Washington County, Pennsylvania. He first 
married Mary Tuttle, and they had eight 
children: Nathan, Hannah, Sally, Cecilia, 
Polly, Phoebe, Ruth and Samuel. After his 
wife's death he was again married, to Nelly 
McLain, and they had two sons: Charles and 
Thomas. Samuel Axtell, above mentioned, 
the father of the subject of our biography. 



318 



BIOORAPUIGAL HISTORY 



was born about 1794, was reared on a farm, 
graduated at Washington College, and then 
took a thorough course in the profession of 
medicine. He married Mary Lovridge, the 
youngest of three daugliters (the only chil- 
dren) of John Lovridge, a German farmer of 
Washington County, Pennsylvania. Soon 
after their marriage they moved to Sheakley- 
ville, Pennsylvania, where the Doctor had a 
large and successful practice for nearly fifty 
years. They raised ten children, namely: 
Bethsheba (a mute), wiio married Peter Bur- 
nett (also a mute); William Harvey, a physi- 
cian of Sheakleyville, Pennsylvania; Permelia, 
wife of G. W. Lord, of Meadville, Pennsyl- 
vania; Jane, wife of Louis Burson, of Spar- 
land, Illinois; Hannah, wife of Dr. J. M. 
Dillie, of Cooperstown, Pennsylvania; Milton 
Blochley, M. D., of Pepin, Wisconsin; Abijah 
Clinton, M. D., of Youngsville, Pennsyl- 
vania; Lovridge Samuel, the subject of this 
sketch; Nathan Hutton, minister of a Meth- 
odist Episcopal Church at Chicago, Hlinois; 
Joseph Monroe, whose biography will be 
found elsewhere in this' volume. Of this large 
family all but one, Permelia, have raised 
large families, and are at this date still living. 
L. S. Axtell had the advantage of a good 
common-school education, and also attended 
Allegheny College during the seasons of 
1850-'51-'52, teaching during the winters. 
In 1854 he was chosen, in connection with 
Dr. Owens, of Conneaiitville, Pennsylvania, 
as agent for a colony of about 200 families in 
Western Pennsylvania, who proposed remov- 
ing to Kansas, and as such agent he made an 
extensive tour through Kansas in the fall of 
that year. He was one of the judges of 
election appointed by Governor Reader at the 
first general election ever held in Kansas, 
March 30, 1855, when the polls of his pre- 
cinct, now Burliiigame, were forcibly taken 
possession of by a horde of Missourians, and 



Colonel Younger, of Jackson County, Mis- 
souri, a relative of the notorious Younger 
brothers, was elected to the Kansas Legis- 
lature. During 1855 Mr. Axtell taught 
school at Lee's (postoffice), now Lee's Summit, 
in Jackson County, Missouri. September 
14 of that year he married Sarah, daughter 
of Ira Ilalloway, a farmer of New Ver- 
non, Pennsylvania, and both were employed 
at the school above referred to until July, 
1856, when they removed to Council Bluffs, 
Iowa. Here Mr. Axtell was employed about 
a year by J. P. Williams at carpenter work, 
a trade he had partially acquired during liis 
minority. 

At Council Bluffs a daughter. Flora, was 
born, and a few months later, April 24, 1857, 
the mother died, to l)e followed the succeed- 
ing fall by her babe. After the death of his 
wife and child, Mr. Axtell commenced teach- 
ing the public school, then the only onp, in 
Council Bluffs. It was taught in a large log 
building on Madison, now First street, that 
had been erected by the Mormons as a church, 
and afterward appropriated by the gentiles as 
a court-house. There Mr. Axtell labored 
hard, and under the circumstances success- 
fully, with an average daily attendance of 
eighty-five pupils and a highest daily attend- 
ance of 105. April 17, 1862, Mr. Axtell 
married Frances Sarah Wade, daughter oi 
Henry and Mary (Carter) Wade. Her parents 
were natives of England, emigrating in 1850 
to St. Louis, Missouri, and removing in 1854 
to Council Bluffs. Mr. Wade raised five 
children, all daughters, namely: Mary Ann, 
Frances, Roseanna, Isabella and Elizabeth. 
Frances, with whom we are esjiecially inter- 
ested, was born January 16, 1841. 

With the exception of about a year spent 
in the Colorado gold mines, near Black Hawk, 
Mr. Axtell taught almost continuously in 
Council Bluffs until the spring of 1865. 




<^ 



v^ 




(^ 



f 



^t 






^^j^JtMt. ..M-axi^^ 




cyftfCt^L ^ ^ "^yyu/^^^ 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE GOUNTT. 



319 



During the latter portion of this time he 
taught the high school, and was also Superin- 
tendent of schools for the connty. His 
health being seriously impaired by his long 
confinement in the school-room, he removed, 
in April, 1865, to his present place of resi- 
dence in Boomer Township, and commenced 
his farm life. Mr. Axtell has Iteen more than 
ordinarily successful. His original farm of 
120 acres has grown to about 400, and sup- 
ports a large stock of hogs, cattle and horses. 
His buildings, reared by his own hands, are 
large, neat and commodious. Mr. Axtell has 
been very successful, too, as a fruit-grower. 
His orchard, commenced over twenty years 
ago, has by later additions grown to be over 
ten acres and has never failed for a single 
season, since large enongh to bear, to yield a 
plentiful supply of fruit. 

Politically Mr. Axtell has from early man- 
hood, especially since his Kansas experience, 
acted with the Republican party. He repre- 
sented this county in the Legislature of 
1873-'74, and was very appropriately made 
Chairman of the Committee on Schools. 
July 30, 1874, he was stricken with paralysis 
of the right side, subsiding gradually into 
the riffht letj. From this attack he has but 
partially recDvered, going about with diffi- 
culty by the help of a cane. 

In religious matters Mr. Axtell, though for- 
merly a member of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church, is now considered liberal, or skep- 
tical. While retaining a reverent belief in 
the existence and beneficence of God and a 
strong hope of future life, he lias lost all 
confidence in so-called revelation or proph- 
ecy and the conflicting dogmas of human 
creeds. 

Mr. Axtell and his estimable wife are enjoy- 
ing in comfort the quiet evening of their 
active lives, surrounded by a pleasant family 
to whom their highest ambition is tu leave a 



character unsullied and an example worthy 
of their imitation. They have eight children, 
born and named as follows: Lovridge Hutton, 
born April 9, 1864; Charles Monroe, May 7, 
1866 ; Ida Permelia, October 4, 1868 ; 
Aggie Jane, January 4, 1871; Henry Wade, 
September 25, 1874; Frank, P'ebruary 13, 
1876, died one year later; Walter Gar- 
field, born May 7, 1879; and Spencer Bur- 
son, August 27, 1882. 

HRISTOPHER O. MYNSTEK, a pio- 
neer of Pottawattamie County, was born 
in the city of Copenhagen, Denmark, 
June 24, 1796. He was reared to the busi- 
ness of merchandising, and married Miss 
Maria Jensen, who was also born in the capi- 
tal city of Denmark. Their son, Wilhelm, 
was born in 1843. In 1846 Mr. and Mrs. 
Mynster, with their only child, came to 
America and located in the city of Washing- 
ton, District of Columbia, where Mr. Myn- 
ster engaged in merchandising. When the 
gold fever in California broke out, Mr. Myn- 
ster formed plans for going to the Pacific 
coast, and started westward in the summer of 
1850. Reaching Council Bluffs, he was 
favorably impressed with the appearance of 
the country, and with the promises that real 
estate gave he decided to stop here. He 
accordingly bought a large number of claims 
of Mormon residents who were about to 
leave. Returning to Washington, he brought 
out his family in the spring of 1851, and 
settled at Council Bluffs. But he did not 
long survive, becoming a victim of that fatal 
disease, cholera, his death occurring on the 
16th of August, 1852. The sudden death 
of Mr. Mynster and the consequent unsettled 
state of his business served as an opportunity 



320 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY 



for unprincipled men, who, taking advantage 
of circumstances, "jumped" most of the 
claims that Mr. Mynster had purchased, and 
deprived the family of much of the lands 
that properly belonged to them. Mrs. Myn- 
ster, however, deprived by the death of her 
husband, took charge of his business and 
soon proved that she possessed remarkable 
business capacity, although not able to retain 
much of the land that her husband had pur- 
chased. She bought the land that now con- 
stitutes the Mynster Addition to the city of 
Council Bluffs, which she laid out and real- 
ized much therefrom. In 1882 she erected 
in the city what is known as the Mynster 
Blocks, on each side of Broadway. 

The Mynster Park, where she now resides, 
is a most beautiful locality. The place com- 
prises several hundred acres of timber land, 
which she obtained iu 1860, and also a num- 
ber of beautiful and remarkable springs, 
some of which contain valuable medicinal 
properties; and they, together with the 
beautiful surrounding scenery, promise in 
the near future to make a popular resort. At 
this writing she is about to lay out Mynster 
Park into lots, with an avenue 100 feet wide, 
and has obtained from the city a charter for 
a street car or motor line through the same, 
and by the time this sketch is published it 
will be built and many handsome residences 
erected on the same. W. A. Mynster, her 
only son, is a very prominent lawyer of 
Council Bluffs, and the father of four sons 
and one daughter. 

Mrs. Mynster was much younger than her 
husband, having been born in 1823, and is 
certainly a lady of marked ability and busi- 
ness capacity. Though Mr. Mynster did not 
long survive after his removal to Iowa, yet 
he lived long enough to establish the charac- 
ter of an upright, honest and energetic citi- 
zen. He was a consistent member of the 



Lutheran Church, a kind husband and father, 
and in all respects an estimable citizen. 

^^ ' ; • | '^>^^ 



LEX. OSLER, a member of the Board 
of Supervisors of Pottawattamie County, 
is a popular and esteemed resident of 
Grove Township and an early settler of the 
county. He came here in 1864 and has since 
made this place his home. 

Mr. Osier was born in Randolph County, 
Indiana, February 6, 1850, the son of Or- 
niau and Louisa (Banta) Osier. His father 
was born iu Maryland, near Baltimore, of 
German extraction, and his mother was a 
native of the Buckeye State. They were 
married in Randolph County, Indiana, and, 
in 1856, moved to Benton County, Iowa. 
They made their home in that county until 
1864, when they came to this place. Here 
the father improved a farm and here they 
both spent the remainder of their days, both 
dying in the spring of 1872, the father at 
the age of fifty and the mother forty-five. 
They left eiglit children, five sons and three 
daughters. Alex, spent his youth at farm 
work and obtained his education in the pub- 
lic schools of Benton and Pottowattamie 
counties, Iowa. In 1873 he located on the 
laud which he has since improved and which 
is now under an excellent state of cultivation. 
Mr. Osier erected a good frame house on a 
natural building site, planted a grove and 
orchard, built a barn, has a modern wind- 
mill, and his farm is well fenced. He is 
here engaged in general farming and stock- 
raising. 

Mr. Osier was married, April 22, 1872, to 
Miss Hannah E. Johnson, a native of Ohio. 
Her father, John R. Johnson, came to this 
county in 1871, and resided here until his 
death occurred. 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE GOUNTY. 



331 



Mr. and Mrs. Osier liave two children: 
Benjamin Adrian and Ethel Louisa. Their 
first born, Orraan, died at the age of six 
years. Politically the subject of" this sketch 
is a Republican. He is one of the stanch 
members of that party in his county. He 
has served as a Justice of the Peace and in 
other minor county offices. As a member of 
the Board of Supervisors he is an efficient 
and popular officer, filling the position with 
credit to himself and also to his constituents. 
Mr. Osier is a gentleman in the prime of life. 
He is frank and cordial in his manner, is 
noted for his integrity, and is honored and 
respected by all who know him. 

-^^^^-f*-- = 



fR. HOUGH, a farmer and raiser of live- 
stock in Hazel Dell Township, was 
® born in Oswego County, New York, 
Angust 7, 1821, the son of Joel and Sally 
(Stilison) Hough, natives of Connecticut, and 
of Irish and German ancestry. After their 
marriage the parents moved from Connecti- 
cut into the State of New York; in 1841 
they came to Lee County, Iowa, where they 
spent the remainder of their days, the mother 
dying October 19, 1842, and the father about 
1844. J. R., the youngest of their children, 
and the only one now living, was reared in 
his native State, and was nineteen years of 
age when he came to Iowa with his parents. 
April 5, 1842, he married Miss Cedilla P. 
Spinnings, who was born in Oneida County, 
New York, June 30, 1824, the daughter of 
Edward H. and Eliza (Darling) Spinnings, 
natives of the Empire State and of German 
and Irish descent. Mrs. Hough is the eldest 
of their three children. She has one brother 
and one sister, the former in Colorado and the 
latter in California. After his marriage Mr. 
Hough located in Lee County, just men- 



tioned, and in 1848 he removed to Pottawat- 
tamie County, locating in what is now Hazel 
Dell Township. Two years afterward he 
moved into Harrison County, and two years 
after that again he returned to this county, 
residing near Council Bluffs a year, and finally 
he purchased a claim of about eighty acres 
on section 8, Hazel Dell Township. He has 
since entered 120 acres adjoining and pur- 
chased more, until he now has a total of 326 
acres, on sections 8, 9, 4 and 5. When he 
first settled there the only improvement was 
a log cabin and five acres fenced , and he has 
since thoroughly improved the place and 
made a home as attractive as any in that part 
of the county; but he had to undergo many 
hardships and suffer much and long before 
he reached the topmost round of the ladder. 
Besides thus earning his own prosperity he 
has also done much toward the improvement 
of the community. His present commodious 
residence, a frame 28 x 20 with an addition 
of fourteen feet square, was erected in 1867. 
Beautiful sliade trees ornament the grounds, 
and good barns, etc., which he has erected for 
his stock and grain. 

Politically he has been an active Demo- 
crat, taking a zealous and intelligent interest 
in public afi^airs. He has l)een Township 
Trustee, member of the School Board, etc. 
Not only has he witnessed the growth of the 
county from its primeval state to its present 
high stage, but he has put his own " shoulder 
to the wheel " and aided in the processes 
which have been so effectual, and thus has 
won for himself a large circle of friends. He 
is a member of the Farmers' Alliance. He 
hag had eight children, namely: Morris A., 
George R., Frances and Adelbert, all residents 
of Hazel Dell Township, Frances being the 
wife of Frederick Wright; Edgar B. and 
I;aura Ellen, both deceased. The latter was 
the wife of Henry Cafferty, a resident of this 



322 



BIOORAPEICAL HISTORY 



township; Seraph C, also deceased, the wife 
of Epliraiin Ross, of Harrison County; Ida 
A., wife of Isaac Goodwin, of Colorado. 



►^^^f- 



H. KELLER is one of the intelligent, 
enterprising and successful citizens of 
'* Grove Township, Pottawattamie 
County, Iowa. He came to this place in the 
fall of 1880, and has since made it his home. 
Mr. Keller was born near Newark, Licking 
County, Ohio, February 4, 1848. His fath- 
er, H. M. Keller, also a native of Licking 
County, is a son of Jacob Keller, a Pennsyl- 
vania Dutchman, who came to Ohio from 
Pennsylvania in 1796, and was one of the 
early settlers of eastern Ohio. The mother 
of our subject, nee Anna Henton, was born 
in Fairfield County, Ohio. Her father, John 
Henton, was a native of Virginia and a de- 
scendant of an old family of that State. Mr. 
and Mrs. Keller still reside in Licking Coun- 
ty, where they have a competence. They 
reared a family of three sons and three 
daughters, the subject of this sketch being 
the third born, and the only one in the State 
of Iowa. He was reared on a farm and re- 
ceived his education in the public schools. 
He learned the trade of plasterer, at which 
he worked at intervals for a number of years. 
In 1880 Mr. Keller came to this county 
and bought his present farm of Henry Eise- 
man. Since that time he has spent much 
money in the improvement of his place, hav- 
ing built a house and done a large amount of 
fencing. His house is situated on a beauti- 
ful building site; is 16 x 30 feet, two stories 
high, and has an addition 20 x 26 feet. It is 
surrounded by a grove and orchard compris- 
ing four acres. The whole farm is well cul- 
tivated and everything about the place shows 
the thrift and good taste of the owner. Of 



the 200 acres in his farm, 160 acres are in 
section 8 and forty acres are in section 20. 
Mr. Keller feeds to his stouk all the grain he 
raises, usually keeping about forty head of 
cattle besides hogs. 

September 29, 1870, is the date of Mr. 
Keller's marriage with Miss Emma R. De- 
bolt, a native of Licking County, Ohio. She 
is the daughter of William and Barbara 
(Moore) Debolt, the former a native of Penn- 
sylvania and the latter of Virgima. To them 
were born six daughters and four sons. Mrs. 
Debolt died in Ohio, and Mr. Debolt is still 
living in that State. Mr. and Mrs. Keller 
have six children, viz.: Maud, Benjamin, Ina, 
Viola, Clyde and Oliver. Mr. Keller, his 
wife and eldest daughter are members of the 
Christian Church. He is a Republican and 
has served the public as a member of the 
School Board. He is a man of the strictest 
integrity, and is frank and open in his man- 
ner. He is cor.sidered socially, morally and 
financially one of the best citizens of Grove 
Township. 



fG. GARNER, of section 33, Macedonia 
Township, was born in Carroll County, 
* Illinois, near Cherry Grove, March 16, 
1859, the son of J. F. and Mary (Curry) Gar- 
ner; the former was born in Jackson County, 
Illinois, and was the son of Frank Garner, 
one of the first settlers of Cherry Grove, Illi- 
nois; the latter was born in Missouri, but was 
roared in Grant County, Wisconsin, near 
White Oak Springs. They reared ten chil- 
dren, of whom F. G. was the fourth child of 
six sons and six daughters. Our subject re- 
sided for twenty two years in the same house, 
engaged at farm work, receiving his educa- 
tion in the public schools and at Georgetown, 
Illinois. He came here in 1882, and pur- 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNT T 



323 



cliased his present farm of 160 acres of his 
uncle, 1. G. Garner, who had partly improved 
the land. It is located two and one-fourth 
miles west of Macedonia. 

He was married, March 19, 1889, to Miss 
Nettie A. Wright, who was born in Grant 
County, Wisconsin, the daughter of David J. 
and Nettie M. (Park) Wright, the former a 
native of New York, and the latter of Ches- 
ter, Randolph County, Illinois. The mother 
was one year old when her father died, and 
she was a graduate of theMt. Morris schools. 
Mrs. Garner was seven years of age when her 
parents removed to Cliicago, Illinois, where 
they resided four years, and then removed to 
Dubuque. The father died there in April, 
1890, and the mother still resides at that 
place. Mr. and Mrs. Garner have one son, 
Charles W., who was born May 7, 1890. 
Politically Mr. Garner is a Democrat. Mrs. 
Garner is a member of the Baptist Church, 
having been connected with the Second 
Baptist Church at Dubuque. 



"♦' "^ ♦ ji * S ' ^ i'"~ 

fAMES ROBINSON, on section 30, 
Macedonia Township, is a native of 
Yorkshire, England, born April 3, 1848, 
the son of James and Martha (Rainbow) 
Robinson. He was a boy of four years when 
his parents first came to America and settled 
in Wayne County, New York, where they 
resided four years, and then moved to John- 
son County, Iowa, in 1856, where they set- 
tled and resided eight years, and then moved 
to Iowa County. The father died May 12, 
1886, and the mother died June 20, 1886. 
They raised nine children, six sons and three 
daughters, of whom James was the sixth 
child. Ill 1875 our subject visited the Paci- 
fic coast at Oregon, Washington and Califor- 
nia, and remained until 1876, when he 



returned home. He bought 120 acres of 
wild laud in this county, and in 1877 moved 
on the same. He is one of the pioneer 
threshers of the county, and was one of the 
first to use a steam thresher, and is a prac- 
tical and experienced engineer. 

Mr. Robinson was married in Jefferson 
County, Iowa, February 1, 1882, to Emma 
Summers, who was born and reared in Iowa, 
and was the daughter of William Summers. 
They have four chldren: Grace Ethel, James 
Walter, Benjamin Roy and Inez Beryl. 
Politically Mr. Robinson is a Republican, and 
is a member of the I. O. O. F., lodge No. 
421, and <<>f the Ruby Lodge, No. 415, F. & 
A. M., at Macedonia. 



•^M^ 



W. SNYDER, business manager of 
the Council Bluffs Nonpareil, was 
® born in Luzerne County, Pennsylva- 
nia, in 1841, and in 1859 emigrated to Dixon, 
Illinois. At the breaking out of the war he 
enlisted in the Thirteenth Illinois Volunteer 
Infantry, the first three-years, regiment sworn 
into service for the war. He had a continu- 
ous service of five years lacking only twenty- 
six days. In the first attack on Vicksburg, 
lasting three days, which was ended by the 
charge at Chickasaw Bayou, he was wounded 
and taken prisoner, and was dropped from the 
rolls of his regiment for four months as 
•' killed in action." He was made Brevet 
Major for meritorious service in the field. 

Returning from the war in March, 1866, 
he came to Iowa and located in Cedar Falls, 
where he engaged in journalism, becoming 
editor of the Cedar Falls Oazette,&\\^ retain- 
ing that position for thirteen years. He was 
also Postmaster for over eight years, resign- 
ine the office in 1883. He then moved to 
Red Oak, where he was publisher of the Ex- 



334 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY 



press for seven years; and finally, in Decem- 
ber, 1889, he purciiased au interest in the 
Conncil Bluffs Nonpareil and became its 
manager. This paper was established thirty- 
six years ago. It is the only morning paper 
in the city, and has the associated morning 
and evening francliise. It is one of the lead- 
ing dailies of Iowa, is widely read, and is 
known as a progressive, enterprising paper. 
It is edited by Carl Snyder. 

The snbject of this sketch married Miss 
Fannie Knott at Waterloo, and they have one 
sou, named Carl. 

'■^'•' I ' ^ ' S ' I '-^ 



[R. C. B. JUDD, of Council Bluffs, is 
perhaps best known abroad by the great 
success to which he has attained in the 
mannfacture of voltaic and galvanic belts, 
which from their intrinsic value and remark- 
able curative properties have attained a wide 
reputation. Dr. Judd is known at home, 
both for the fact above mentioned and as a 
successful business man and enterprising 
citizen. He was born at Loudon, New 
Hampshire. lie has made his own way in 
life from early boyhood. He lost his mother 
wiien a young lad, and left the parental roof 
when but nine years of age. He was pos- 
sessed of a somewhat roving disposition, and 
at the age of fourteen years we find him on 
the Pacific coast, struggling to secure a liveli- 
hood and also to obtain some knowledge of 
buoks, as he even then had an ambition to 
qualify himself for the medical profession. 
He succeeded by unceasing effort, and in 1875' 
graduated at the Pacific Medical College. 
Soon after entering upon the practice of his 
profession his health failed, and he therefore 
resolved to give up his practice and resume 
travel. Going to old Me.xico, he was so un- 
fortunate Ai to lose what capital he had 



accumulated, and also suffered from an attack 
of yellow fever. It was there he conceived 
the idea of manufacturing electric belts, for 
which he has since become so noted. He is 
quite an inventor, having originated thirteen 
different devices. He came to Council Bluffs 
in 1882, and immediately began the manu- 
facture of electric goods. It is safe to say 
that his electric belts are second to none 
manufactured. Their use is not confined to 
our own country, but he also sends many to 
Europe. He makes four kinds of belts, as 
well as trusses, etc. Dr. Judd has also an 
ofiice in Chicago, the location being at 70 
Madison Street. He employs about 200 
agents to introduce and sell his goods, all of 
which is manufactured at his work-rooms in 
Council Bluff's. Dr. Judd is also one of the 
leading real-estate dealers of this city. The 
firm in that branch of business being Judd, 
Wells & Co., of which Dr. Judd is president; 
and he is also president of the Real-estate E.\- 
change, and is engaged in many other enter- 
prises. Not less than 200 houses were erected 
by this firm in 1889. The success to which 
Dr. Judd has attained is due to his inherent 
energy and enterprise. 

Dr. Judd was married in Conncil Bluffs, 
to Miss Anna Bryant, of this city. 



LBERT NORDYKE is one of the well- 
known citizens of Grove Township, 
=#=■ Pottawattamie County, Iowa. He was 
born near Kokomo, Howard County, Indiana, 
June 27, 1850, son of John Nordyke, a 
native of Ohio. His grandfather, Daniel 
Nordyke, was born in Tennessee, and was of 
German extraction. Mr. Nordyke's mother, 
nee Anna Moon, was born and reared in 
Ohio, the daughter of Jesse Moon, a native 
of Tennessee. When Albert was five years 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



335 



of age his parents removed to Clinton 
County, Ohio, and wlien he was sixteen years 
old thev went to Lewis County. Missouri. 
From that place they removed to Macon 
County, Missouri ; thence to Caldwell County, 
same State; and thence to Marshall County, 
Iowa. The father was a farmer all his life, 
and died in Marshall County. His widow, 
a well preserved lady for her years, makes 
her home with her son, Albert. 

The subject of this sketch was reared to 
farm life, and obtained his education in the 
public schools. In the spring of 1879 he 
came from Marshall County to his present 
location. In 1883 he purchased from Rev. 
Samuel Smith the farm on which he now 
lives. It consists of seventy-seven and a 
half acres of rich prairie soil. Fifteen acres 
are in timber. A school-house is located on 
the southeast cortier of the farm, which is 
four miles and a half east of Carson. Mr. 
Nordyke is here engaged in general farming 
and stock-raising, and also makes a specialty 
of the manufacture of sorghum, having suc- 
cessfully operated a mill for fourteen seasons. 
His factory is well arranged with all the 
modern conveniences — brick fire- vault and 
modern pans for boiling and skimming. He 
is able to manufacture as good syrup as can 
be made in western Iowa, and his output is 
from 1,100 to 2,000 gallons per annum. He 
finds local sale at good prices for all he can 
make. 

Mr. Nordyke was married in Caldwell 
County, Missouri, December 29, 1875, to 
Miss Mary E. Moorman, a native of Green 
County, Ohio, and a daughter of Thomas 
and Rebecca Moorman. Six children have 
blessed this union, namely: Myrtle, Carrie, 
Dalton L., Alma, Ada, and babe, Ralph A. 
Mrs. Nordyke is a member of the Christian 
Church. Politically Mr. Nurdyke affiliates 
with the Republican party. He is a man in 



the prime of life, and is regarded by all who 
know him as an honorable and upright 
citizen. 



fOHN GREEN JONES, a prominent 
farmer of Rockford Township, was born 
in Putnam County, Indiana, March 28, 
1834. His parents, Hardin and Asenath 
(Deweese) Jones, were natives of Kentucky, 
whose ancestry remotely were Dutch, Irish 
and Welsh. Hardin Jones was born in 
Kentucky, September 17, 1810, and removed 
to Indiana, where his father died in 1853, 
leaving a wife and fourteen children. The 
children were: Malinda, married Hugh 
Adams, and afterward died; Hardin was the 
second; Lucinda, married Hugh Adams, and 
afterward died; Ewing G., deceased; Sarah, 
who married Luke Sales, and died in Illinois; 
Rebecca, now the widow of Thomas Sales, 
and residing in Appanoose County, Iowa; 
William M. and Jonathan, both deceased; 
Leanna, who married Luke Sailes, and is now 
deceased; Allen, who lives in Mills County, 
this State; Elizabeth, who married Joseph 
Skelton, and both are now dead; America, 
now the widow of Josiah Skelton, and re- 
siding in Pottawattamie County; James S., 
a resident of Rockford Township; and Har- 
riet, who died in infancy. 

Mr. Hardin Jones in 1882 married Asenath 
Deweese, a native of Kentucky, who was 
born January 1, 1810, the daughter of David 
and Elizabeth Deweese, who were the parents 
of a large family, and moved to Indiana, 
where they both died. Mrs. Jones was the 
youngest of their ciiildren. After marriage 
he purchased a farm of 160 acres, heavy 
timber land, and improved it until the fall 
of 1855, which he sold and moved to Iowa, 
when he settled in Rockford Township, this 



336 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY 



county, upon 230 acres of prairie and timber 
land, which he purchased of G. Beebe, which 
had a cabin on it and twenty-five acres broken, 
and then proceeded to improve it. He after- 
ward erected a frame house, 28 x 32, and one 
and a half stories high, built substantial out- 
houses, etc., and followed both grain and 
stock farming until his death. His first 
wife, already mentioned, died in 1859, and 
he then married Mary Skelton, in October, 
that year, and she died March 9, 1881; and 
he next married, in October, same year, Bru- 
Tietta Moss, who survived her marriage only 
about eighteen months. In February, 1883, 
he married Eliza Mullennix, and she died 
July 10, 1886; but lie survived her death 
but a sliort time, dying March 20, 1887. 
He was Judge of Pottawattamie County, 
and took an active part in the political aff^airs 
of the community. Was Justice of the Peace 
twenty-one years. Deputy Sheriff for several 
terms, and held other official relations. He 
was a member of the regular Primitive Bap- 
tist Church, and the clerk for forty years. 

In his family were the following children: 
Malinda Jane, born May 26, 1833, and since 
died; John G., tlie subject of this sketch; 
Martha E., born January 11, 1836, married 
A. L. Jones (since deceased), and now resides 
in Harrison County, this State; Amanda A 
E., born April 29, 1837, married John A. 
Reel, and they reside in Harrison County; 
Mary J., born November 16, 1838, married 
Jdseph Moss, and they live in Rockford 
Township, this county; Ruth A., born Feb- 
ruary 6, 1841, married John A. Mace, and 
died, leaving five children; and Silas H., 
born July 26, 1847, and died in infancy. 

John G. Jones, with whose name the 
sketch opens, is the second child in the above 
family, and the oldest living;' was married 
at the age of twenty years, December 7, 1854, 
to Mary Ann Mace, the daughter of Nicholas 



and Cynthia (Luster) Mace, natives of Ten- 
nessee. Nicholas Mace was born in Tennes- 
see, January 25, 1808, of English, Welsh, 
Irish and German extraction, and at the age 
of twenty-four married a lady who was born 
in Tennessee in 1811, and whose parents 
died when she was very young, when the 
daughter was brought up by an acquaint- 
ance. She was married at the age of twenty- 
one years. After that Mr. and Mrs. Mace 
moved to Indiana and resided until 1856, 
and then came to Rockford Township, this 
county, settling upon a quarter section of 
wild prairie. Here she died, April 18, 1863, 
leaving five children, as follows: Mary Ann, 
John A., who resides in Oklahoma; Millie 
Jane, wile of Benjamin Spencer, in Boomer 
Township; David A., a resident of Harrison 
County; Elias M., now deceased. Mary Ann 
was born in Tennessee, November 12, 1833, 
and was married at the age of twenty-one 
years. Mr. Jones, after his marriage, was 
deeded by his father ninety acres of land on 
sections 14 and 15, partially improved; and 
he set out vigorously to work in completing 
improvements. He first erected a log house, 
18x20 feet, farm building--, built fences, 
etc., and followed grain and stock farming. 
He also set out an orchard of large and small 
fruits, planted shade and ornamental trees, 
and beautified the premises generally. He 
prospered and in 1872 he erected a fine two- 
story frame house, 28x28 feet, including a 
veranda in front. He has added to his first 
purchase until he now has 700 acres of fine 
land, of which 400 are under cultivation and 
the remainder is in timber, meadow and 
pasture. He has been a hard-working and 
energetic fanner. 

As to political issnes he is a stanch Demo- 
crat, takincr a zealous interest in national 
affairs; of course in local matters he votes 
for the candidates whom he judges pei-sonally 






^h1 



OF POTTAWATrAMIB COUNT T. 



to be the best fitted. He lias been Road 
Supervisor, Township Trustee, a member of 
the Board of Education, etc. He and liis 
wife are members of tlie Primitive Baptist 
Church of Loveland. 

Mr. Jones' children are ten in number, 
born and named as follows: Nelson, born 
February 17, 1856, married Martha A. Mat- 
tox, and Theodore, September 1, 1859, mar- 
ried Mary A. West, both residing in this 
county; Parks D., May 20, 1861, still at 
home; Elias A., May 8, 1863, married Sarah 
J. Case; and John G., September 19, 1865, 
married Martha A. Deal, both in this county; 
the next two died in infancy; Emery and 
Anna (twins), born August 20, 1870, — Emery 
died November 8 following, and Anna F'eb- 
ruary 27, 1871; and Clarissa Jane, born 
June 25, 1873. 

- ■■£0 "t - g 



^AVID DEVOL was born in Chatham, 
New York, November 27, 1805, son of 
Joshua and Martha (Gifford) Devol, of 
French extraction, and natives of Massachu- 
setts. David was the youngest of a family 
of five children, and is the only one now liv- 
ing. His father died when he was a small 
child, and at the age of eleven lie began to 
learn the trade of carding wool and dyeing 
and dressing cloth, at which he worked until 
after he was married. October 20, 1830, in 
Canaan, New York, he wedded Delia Toby, 
who was born in that State, January 12, 
1812. They located in Chatham, and a year 
later he engaged in the general mercantile 
business, which he continued nine years in 
that town and in West Stockbridge, Massa- 
chusetts. After that he came West and set- 
tled at Nauvoo, Illinois, where he made his 
home five years. In 1846 he continued his 
way westward, spent the first winter on the 

il6 



Des Moines River, and in 1847 came to 
Council Bluffs, where he has since continued 
to reside. The first two years of his resi- 
dence here he was variously employed, then 
clerked three years, after which, until 1861, 
his occupation was diversified. In that year 
liis son, P. C, opened a stove and tinware 
store, and he has been associated with him 
since that time. 

Mr. Uevol has officiated in various capaci- 
ties: as Justice of the Peace, Assessor, Dep- 
uty District Clerk, etc. He was elected Jus- 
tice of the Peace in 1852. He affiliates with 
the Republican party. 

To him and his wife ten children were 
born, five of whom grew to maturity. Their 
names are as follows: George, deceased; 
Harriet wife of William N.Green, of Coun- 
cil Blufis, diei in 1889; P. C, a sketch of 
whom appears below; Emily, Martha, David, 
Cliarles, all deceased; Delia, wife of W. R. 
Vanghan of Omaha, Nebraska; and William, 
deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Devol have reached 
an advanced age, but are well preserved con- 
sidering their many years of pioneer life and 
the hardships through which they have 
passed. 

P. C. Devol, one of the oldest business 
men of Council Bluffs, is a native of New 
York State, born January 10, 1836, son of 
of David and Delia (Toby) Devol. He was 
five or six years old when the family removed 
to Illinois. Three or four years later, after 
a short stay in eastern Iowa, they crossed the 
State with ox teams and located at Kanes- 
ville, or what is now Council Bluffs, which 
has since been the home of our subject. He 
was educated in the public schools, and has 
since acquired much valuable information in 
the school of experience. Until eighteen his 
time was variously employed. At that time 
he began to learn the tinner's trade, which 
he followed until 1861, when, in company 



BIbOHAPUi CAL III 87VIi }' 



with Milton Rodgers, he opened a stove and 
tin store at the stand he now occupies. They 
continued in business together for two years, 
at the end of which time Mr. Devol pur- 
chased his partner's interest and conducted 
the business alone until 1883. Then he 
formed a partnership with W. S. Wright. 
They opened a jobbing house, which they 
conducted two years, atter which they entered 
into a stock company under the firm name 
of Rector, Wilhelmie & Co., at Omaha, Ne- 
lu-aska, transferring their jobbing department 
from Council Bluffs to Omaha, and leaving 
the tin and stove store in this city. Mr. 
Devol is president of tlie company and Mr. 
W light is the secretary. They carry a large 
stock of hardware, tinware and stamped ware, 
to the value oi some $125,000, and employ a 
large force of men in the house and on the 
road, while the business of Mr. Devol, 504 
B.roadwayand 10 Main street, Council Bluffs, 
has grown from a small establishment of 
$;1,300 or $1,400 to its present magnificent 
size, some $20,000. He carries a full line of 
hardware, tinware, stoves, etc. He has a 
shop connected witli his store, employs eight 
or nine men all the time, and does an annual 
business of about $75,000. 

Mr. Devol is a self-made man, having 
started at the very bottom. Shortly after 
coming to Council Bluffs he was ambitious 
to earn and save something, so he went 
about it in this way: He secured a space of 
some six feet in width between two buildings 
and kept a small stand, selling pies, cider, 
etc., to the etnigrants who were on their way 
West, His life for a time was varied, and 
he saw some of the rough side of pioneer 
experiences. 

The subject of our sketch was married in 
1868, to Miss Catharine Swobe, who was 
boru in New York State, daughter of 
Michael Swobe. They have iiad five chil- 



dren: Hattie, Mary, Paul C, William Roy 
and Arthur. The last named is deceased. 
Politically Mr. Devol is a staunch Republi- 
can. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., No. 
49, Council Bluffs Lodge, having passed all 
the chairs. The family are associated with 
the Presbyterian Church. Previous to iier 
marriage Mrs. Devol M'as engaged in teach- 
ing school in this county two or thi-ee years. 

— •—€•!■■; ' S "- — 



fOHN DOHANY was born in Lebanon, 
Pennsylvania, in 1826, the son of John 
and Margaret (English) Dohany, natives 
of Ireland, who came to America about 1820, 
locating first in Pennsylvania, and afterward 
removed to JNew Jersey, where the father 
died in 1833; the mother died in Pennsyl- 
vania in 1836. 

Our subject came west to Indiana in 
1837, where he made his home until he was 
seventeen. Then in 1842 he came west to 
St. Louis. In 1846 he went to Dubuque, 
Iowa, spending the time until 1851 in Du- 
buque and Jackson counties. In the spring 
of 1852 he went to southern and central 
Missouri. In 1856 he came to Council 
Bluffs, and he has done as mucli as any other 
man in the city toward building it up. He 
was one of the few who were instrumental in 
having the terminus of the Union Pacific 
Railroad in Council Bluffs, and in many 
ways has done much to his credit that will 
stand as a monument of his true worth long 
after he is gone. 

He has always been associated with the 
Democratic party. 

He was married December 31, 1849, to 
Clara Noble, of Bellevue, Iowa, born in Illi- 
nois in 1828, of Puritan extraction, and died 
in Council Blutl's in 1885. They had five 
children: Ada, wife of Martin G. Griffin, of 



OP POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



32a 



Portland, Oregon; Margaret, wife of W. H. 
Maurer, of Council BluflPs; Adella, at home; 
Julia, wife of William A. Keelind, of Coun- 
cil Bluffs; John, a resident of Portland, Ore- 
gon. They are nienibers of the Catholic 
Churcl). 



— « " » i> 



' I t^ l ' l "' 



S. PLEAK, of section 32, Macedonia 
Township, was born in DecaturCounty, 
" Indiana, October 14, 1857, and was 
the third son of Stuban Pleak, who was also 
born in Decatur County, and was reared and 
married there. His orandparents were early 
settlers in that portion of Indiana, and were 
of German origin, and when they first came 
to America they spelled their name Blake. 
The wife of Stuban, and mother of D. S., 
was Elizabeth (Woolverton) Pleak, who was 
born in Decatur County, and was a daughter 
of John Woolverton, of Scotch ancestry. 
They reared six children. The parents lived 
until their death in Decatur County. 

D. S. Pleak resided in Indiana until 1879 
when he came to Pottawattamie County, and 
the same fall bought his farm of Ely Carter, 
whicii had been improved by his son, Elijah 
Carter. The farm consists of 160 acres, and 
contains a grove, orchard, buildings for stock 
and grain, feed lots, yards and stock scales. 
It is divided into cultivated fields of pasture 
and meadow. His horses are of a high 
grade, and among them are five Dilliard 
colts which give promise of being valuable 
horses, lie owns a one-fourth interest in an 
imported Percheron-Norman horse. 

Mr. Pleak was married August 29, 1889, 
to Miss Alice Olney, a daughter of J. J. and 
Mary (Morrison) Olney. She was educated 
at the Iowa Normal at Shenandoah, and was 
a successful and popular teacher prior to her 
marriage. She was born in this county in 



1866. Politically Mr. Pleak is a Republi- 
can, and is at present Township Supervisor. 
He is a member of Ruby Lodge, No. 415, 
F. & A. M., at Macedonia. 



.. ^ . 3 ,, ^ >g♦^ 



W. JOHNSON, a farmer and worthy 
citizen of Hazel Dell Township, was 
** born at Hillsboro, Washington County, 
Pennsylvania, June 25, 1832, the son of 
William and Mary (McFadden) Johnson, 
natives of Virginia and Pennsylvania re- 
spectively, and of Puritan and Irish an- 
cestry. The father belonged to the old 
Johnson family of Indian war fame, and was 
a soldier in the war of 1812, in the Commis- 
sary department. He served through the 
entire war. At one time he was surrounded 
by the Indians, and was relieved by his kins- 
man. Colonel Richard M. Johnson, of his- 
torical fame. 

During his younger days Mr. Johnson 
was engaged in freightitig by wagon train 
from New York to Baltimore and other 
points, and after his service in the war of 
1812 he was engaged in taking contracts for 
building and in the construction of pikes, 
including the national pike. About 1839 or 
1840 the family removed to Ohio, spent one 
winter in Knox County, and then removed 
to Licking County, same State, where the 
jmrents finally died. Mr. Johnson, the sub- 
ject of this sketch, was the ninth of the ten 
children of the above family. At the age of 
fifteen years he began the trade of glove- 
making, and continued in the same for three 
years, meanwhile devoting a part of his 
time to the art of tanning, and these trades 
he followed until 1869, at Mt. Vernon, Ohio. 
In 1870 he came to Council Bluffs, arrivino; 
March 23. Renting land in Hazel Dell 
Township, he followed farming there for 



oJU 



BWGRAPUICAL HISTORY 



three years, and tlieii purchased a tract of 
eighty acres on sections 29 and 82 of that 
Township, all unimproved prairie, built a 
house there and began improvements which 
he has continued up to date, thus making a 
beautiful home. On the premises is a good 
orchard of about 125 trees, and there are 
also many shade trees. Mr. Johnson is an 
industrious and judicious fanner and stock - 
raiser; has also done much in building up 
the interests of this county; is a decided Re- 
publican, and has held the otiice of Constable. 
He is a self-made man, having risen to his 
present position by his own unaided efforts. 
lie and his wife are exemplary members of 
the Wesleyan Methodist Church. 

He was married in Ohio, October 4, 1854, 
to Miss Ellen IJarl, a daughter of Tramel 
and Elizabeth (Wilson) Harl, natives of Vir- 
ginia, and of English and Scotch origin. 
Her mother died in Mt. Vernon, Ohio, and 
her father in 1885 in Pottawattamie. They 
had a family of eleven children, Mrs. John- 
sou being tlie fourth. She was born in Mt. 
Vernon, Ohio, October 10, 1836. Mr. and 
Mrs. Johnson are the parents of six children, 
namely: Hamilton, deceased; Richard M., 
who died at the age of nineteen years, March 
15, 1874; George W., born December 27, 
1858, and is now a resident of this county; 
William T., born June 17, 1861, and now 
also a resident of this county; Charles M., 
born May 15, 1865, and now residing in 
Custer County. Nebraska; and Mary E., 
born February 14, 1876, and is at her 
parental home. 



jNDREW MARTIN, lumber merchant, 
and the agent of the Green Bay Lum- 
ber Company, of Des Moines, Iowa, is 
one of the reliable business men of Walnut. 



He was born in Schleswig-Holstein, Ger- 
many, July 11, 1858. His father, Captain 
Andrew Martin, is a naval officer of Ger- 
many, and is now on the retired list. He 
was the father of two children, Andrew and 
Almo. 

Andrew Martin, the subject of this sketch, 
received a high-school education in Ger- 
many. At the age of twenty-three, in 1889, 
he came to America, and having learned the 
English language in Germany, he soon ac- 
quired the correct speech. Mr. Martin came 
directly tt> Davenport, Iowa, and the same 
year to Walnut, and purchased a farm of 130 
acres of land in Monroe Township, Shelby 
County, and farmed for two years, and then 
he engaged in his pre?ent business, owning 
an interest. 

In 1884 he married Margaretta Kleingarn, 
a native of Germany, and they are the par- 
ents of three children: Bertha, Waldmar and 
Otto. In religions belief Mr. and Mrs. Mar- 
tin are Lutherans. In political opinion Mr. 
Martin is a Democrat, and socially a member 
of the Odd Fellows and United Workmen. 
He is a man well known as a straightforward 
business man of integrity and ability, and 
has the confidence of the business men of the 
county. 



§G. JON ES, a farmer of Rockford Town- 
ship, was born in Rutman County, 
** Indiana, August 8, 1841, the son of 
Nathan and Abigail, Dewese (Jones). The 
parents were natives of Kentucky and of 
Dutch, Irish and Welsh extraction. Nathan 
was brought up in Kentucky as a farmer's 
son, moved to Indiana and bought a farm of 
200 acre*', one-half improved and the re- 
mainder in heavy timber. There he built a 
house and made many valuable improvements. 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



331 



III 1856 he sold oat and moved by emigrant 
wagon to Appanoose County, this State, 
driving a herd of cattle, and locating upon a 
tract of 340 acres of prairie and tiinlier, 
which lie subsequently divided up among his 
sons and son-in-law, keeping 120 acres for 
himself. He resided there nine years, making 
improvements, and then sold out, and in the 
fall of 1865 settled where he now resides, 
upon 150 acres of land. There the next 
autumn his wife died, leaving seven children, 
namely: W. L., who now resides in Harrison 
County; Mary Jane, who married Henley 
Mnllenix, and is now deceased; David A., of 
Nebraska; Parks, who died in infancy; L. G., 
the subject of this sketch; Cenif and Cerina, 
twins; Cenif is the wife of William Williams, 
Rockford Township, and Cerina, of Newton 
Moreland, in the same township. 

L. G. Jones, the fifth child and youngest 
son in the above family, was brought up to 
farm life. At the age of twenty-one years, 
he married Miss Elizabeth Martin, June 18, 
1863. She was tiie daughter of Raleigh and 
Elizabeth Martin, natives of Indiana, whore- 
removed to Adair County, Missouri, and died 
there. They had seven children: French, who 
resides in Missouri; Nancy, wife of John 
South, and now residing in Lee Connty, Iowa; 
Henry, deceased; George, in Missouri; Eliza- 
betli was the next; Lucinda, wife of James 
Heinline, of Missouri; and Coleman, a resi- 
dent of Council Bluffs. Mrs. Elizabeth Jones 
was born September 5, 1841, and was married 
at the age of twenty. 

After his marriage Mr. Jones rented a 
farm and raised one crop, and then came to 
Rockford Township, remained one winter, 
and the next spring purchased a farm of 120 
af.res in Harrison County of land entirely 
unimproved, and remained upon it four years. 
Selling it, he purchased "a saw-mill, which he 
successfully ran for six years; next lie rented 



another farm for one year, and then bought 
200 acres of wild, rough prairie, which he 
now occupies as a highly developed farm, all 
the itnprovements being his own design and 
execution. His house is a frame 26 x 28 
feet, and a story and a half in height, with 
verandas. He has also a tine barn and other 
out-buildings, about two and a half acre-s of 
orchard, in fruit both large and small, has 
fine shade and ornamental trees, all of which 
besjieak thrift, prosperity and energy. He 
follows both grain and stock-farming. 

On national questions Mr. Jones is a well 
settled Democrat, taking an interest in public 
affairs. He has been Township Trustee for 
eleven years, excepting an interval of one 
year, serving the people satisfactorily. His 
tliree children are: Elizabeth; Abigail, now 
the wife of O. L. Lucas, in Clay Center, Clay 
Connty, Nebraska: she was born October 21, 
1866; David Walter, born February 29, 1876, 
died seven weeks afterward; Melvil Curtice, 
born January 3, 1879. 



fOHN G. TIPTON, attorney at law 
Council Bluffs and Omaha, has been a 
resident of Pottawattamie County since 
February, 1878. He was born in Fulton 
County, Illinois, in 1849. He was educated 
at Abingdon, in his native State, graduating 
at the college at that place in 1871. He then 
engaged in teaching and reading law. He 
also read law with Robert G. Ingersoll, was 
admitted by the Supreme Court of Illinois 
at Ottawa, October 20, 1874, and practiced 
at Bloomington until 1876. In that year 
he was the Democratic candidate for State 
Attorney, his opponent being the present 
Governor of that State, Fifer. He was de- 
feated by but 386 votes in a district that was 
largely Republican. In 1877 he went to the 



333 



BIOORAPHICAL BISTORT 



Black Hills, and was there when the first 
court was held in that district, at which court 
Judge Bennett presided. He located at Coun- 
cil Bluffs immediately on his return, and has 
been engaged in law in this city since that 
time, and is now also practicing in Omaha. 

The father of the subject of this notice was 
John Tipton, who was killed by a falling tree 
March 23, 1869. His mother died while on 
a visit to her children in Pottawattamie 
County, July 21, 1879. Samuel S. Tipton, 
the elder, is a publisher and resides in New 
York city. Thompson is in the live-stock and 
commission business in Chicago. He has five 
sisters, viz.: Mrs. Mary Swigert, the eldest, 
resides near the old homestead in Illinois; 
Mrs. Hannah Combs resides at Burlington, 
Kansas; Mrs. Sarah Swigert and Mrs. Lydia 
C. Ramsey are residents of Illinois; Mrs. N. 
H. Meeker lives at Greenwood, Nebraska. 

Mr. Tipton was married in Council Bluffs, 
to Miss Annetta Bryant, daughter of Wil- 
liam Bryant, of Edina, Knox County, Mis- 
souri, and a niece of Judge A. S. Bryant. 
Mr. and Mrs. Tipton have two sons: Thomp- 
son R. and John W. Mr. Tipton has a 
fine residence at 1027 t'ifth avenue, where 
he resides. He has done much toward pro- 
moting the growth and progress of Council 
Bluffs since he has been a resident of this 
city, and is esteemed as a worthy and enter- 
prising citizen. 

The father of the subject of this sketch was 
a native of Maryland and of Scotch- Irish an- 
cestry. When an infant he was taken by his 
parents to what is now Columbus, Ohio, 
where he was reared and learned the trade of 
a carpenter. He assisted in building the first 
State House in the city of Columbus. There 
he married his wife, whose maiden name was 
Eliza Crawford. In 1840 he removed to 
Fulton County, Illinois, where he took up a 
homestead, which he improved and on which 



he lived imtil his death, which occurred as 
already stated. He was an honest, upright 
man and a worthy citizen, and, while not a 
member of any religious body, was ever lib- 
eral in the support of the church. He was a 
man of decided views on the chief issues of the 
day, and was much in public life. He was at 
one time Treasurer of Fulton County, and 
was for many years a member of the County 
Board of Supervisors. Besides the surviving 
children of John Tipton and wife already 
mentioned, several are deceased: Thomas, at 
Columbus, Ohio, before the family removed 
West, dying at the age of nine years; Eliza 
Jane and Elizabeth in infancy. Isabel mar- 
ried John Dyer, and died in Fulton County. 
Samuel, the eldest son, was a soldier in the 
war of the Rebellion, as a member of the One 
Hundred and Third Regiment, Illinois Vol- 
unteer Infantry. He was Adjutant, and for a 
time served on the staflf of General Grant. 

fOHN R. BOULDEN, a farmer of Rock- 
ford Township, was born in Miami 
County, Ohio, November 20, 1825, the 
son of William L. and Nancy (Patterson) 
Boulden. The parents were natives respect- 
ively of Maryland and Delaware, and of 
Scotch and Irish ancestry. The father was 
born and brought up on a farm. On attain- 
ing the stature of manhood he drove a stage 
coach between Baltimore and Philadelphia. 
In 1811 he was detailed by the Government 
to take his team to Fort Mcllenry, where be 
was made wagon-master, and was there dur- 
ing the bombardment. He served through 
the war of 1812-'14. In 1817 he came 
Westward over the mountains by wagon to 
Wheeling, Virginia, where he placed his 
family on a flat-boat and floated down to 
Cincinnati, while he with the horses came 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



333 



overland through Ohio to that point. In 
1810, in Philadelphia, he had married the 
daughter of Joseph Patterson, who had 
served in the Revolutionary war, and was 
engaged in thirty-two different battles. Out 
of 700 of the regiment he was one of only 
thirty-five who came out under command of 
General De Kalb, who fell at the battle of 
Camden. He had marched from Delaware 
to engage in the siege of Boston; he was also 
at the battle of Brandywine and many other 
hard-fought battles of the Revolution. Af- 
terward he was sent South under the com- 
mand of Gates. After the war was over he 
returned to his native home in Elktown, 
Delaware, where he died July 4, 1798; He 
was intimately acquainted with General 
Washington. At his death he left his wife 
and five children, ot whom Abraham, Jemi- 
ma and Benjamin are dead, and Nancy was 
the wife of the late Mr. Eouldeii, and Sida- 
vant was the wife of Jerome Bonaparte. She 
was known as Lady Bonaparte in Baltimore, 
where she survived the death of iier husband 
a short time. Mr. William L. Boulden had 
but one sister, Rachel, who married Roltert 
Moody, both of whom are now deceased. 
When he moved to Miami County he bought 
a tract of heavy timbered land there and 
cleared and made many valuable improve- 
ments; and there he made his home until his 
death, September 18, 1830, leaving a wife 
and five children, namely: Lewis, born in 
1813, died in March, 1866; William H., 
born March 16, 1816, and died in October, 
1857; Joseph P., born August 11, 1819, 
residing now in Pottawattamie County; 
Mary Ann, born September 7, 1822, and died 
a year afterward; John R., the subject of 
this sketch; Maria, now the widow of Levi 
G. Brandon, born November 27, 1828, and 
now residing in Des Moines. 

Mr. John R. Boulden, brought up in farm 



life, at the age of nineteen went to Piquaand 
learned the shoemaker's trade. At the a^e 
of twenty-four he married Mary Miller, 
daughter of Elias and Catherine (Moore) 
Miller, natives of New Jersey, who came to 
Ohio in 1803. Mrs. Catherine Miller was a 
native of Kentucky and came to Ohio at an 
early day. Mr. and Mrs. Miller were of 
German and Irish extraction, and were the 
parents of nine children: Rebecca and Ellis, 
deceased; Lucretia, residing in Ohio; Han- 
nah, wife of Solomon Winters, and living in 
Indiana; Philetha, widow of Adam Schaeffer, 
in Piqua, Ohio; Philip, in the West; Mary, 
the wife of Mr. Boulden; John, residing in 
Ohio, and Elias, in Lafayette, Indiana. Mrs. 
Boulden was born February 18, 1829, and 
brought up in farm life, and married at the 
age of twenty years. Mr. Boulden remained 
in Miami County on a farm until 1871, when 
he moved by emigrant wagon to this State, 
being six weeks on the road. He purchased 
a quarter section of land in Wayne County, 
but sold it and bought the present place of 
125 acres of heavy timber land on section 36, 
range 44, and here he began clearing and 
breaking and starting the many improve- 
ments essential to a complete home in the 
country. He has a fine orchard of about six 
acres, besides a nice vineyard. He raises all 
the small fruits. The residence is beautiful 
and the locality healthful. During a period 
of nineteen years the family has resided here, 
with no sickness worth mentioning. Fifty 
acres of the place is cultivated to grain, while 
the rest remains in pasture and timber. 
Having learned the trade after he was mar- 
ried, Mr. Boulden has done a great deal of 
carpenter work in connection with farming; 
and also, for some years past, has made about 
1,000 bushels of charcoal per year. He is a 
live, energetic man. 

Politically he is a zealous Democrat, tak- 



334 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY 



ing an active part in the interests of Democ- 
racy, and as such he enlisted in the service 
of his country, in tlie One Hundred and 
forty-Seventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry, at 
Piqua, being mustered in at Camp Dennison. 
Being taken to "Washington he was placed in 
the First Brigade, under General Derusa, in 
the Twenty-Second Army Corps, and fought 
in man}' hotly contested battles. He was 
advanced to the position of Sergeant, and was 
finally mustered out as such September 4, 
1854, at Camp Dennison. He also enlisted 
in the Mexican war, but was held for orders at 
Cincinnati, Ohio, in readiness for a call. He 
has also been connected with the township in 
its various offices, of which he has been Jus- 
tice of the Peace for three terms. He is now 
officiating on the Board of Education, taking 
a leading part He is a member of the 
Farmers' Alliance, of which he is now presi- 
dent. He was elected to represent Miami 
County, Ohio, in 1867, in the Legislature, 
with the overwhelming majority of 440, over 
a Republican majority of 1,600, being on the 
ticket with Allen G. Thurman when he ran 
for Governor of Ohio; and he was on the 
stand when Yallandigham made the famous 
speech for which he was taken captive and 
banished. 

Mr. and Mrs. Boulden are the parents of 
twelve children: Charles W., boi-n October 1, 
1850, and now residing in Missouri Valley, 
John F., born February 19, 1852, at home; 
George W., born November 15, 1853, and is 
now living in Seattle, Washington; Martha 
C, born June 15, 1855, is the wife of James 
Garrison in Los Angeles, California; Cather- 
ine A., born February 20, 1862, is the wife 
of Charles Wiltfoiig, in Council Bluffs; Eva, 
born June 16, 1865, is now Mrs. Richard 
Thornton, in Fremi;nt, Nebraska; Benjamin 
Thurman, horn August 20, 1868; Emma, 
born November 15, 1870; Maggie M., born 



June 15, 1877, the last three at home; Al- 
dezara, born May 10, 1857, died July 8, 
1858; Joseph Orra, born September 10, 
1859, died June 14, 1860, and Louis E., 
born September 12, 1863, died March 16, 
1865. 



jDWARD H. CATER, of section 1, 
Carson Township, was born in Bel- 
mont County, Ohio, August 7, 1855, 
the son of James Cater, a native of the same 
place, whose family were early settlers of that 
part of Ohio. They were formerly Quakers 
or Friends. Our subject's mother, nee Susan 
Perry, was a daughter of Jesse and Malinda 
(Poole) Perry, the foi'iner a native of Ohio, 
and a relative of Commodore Perry, and the 
latter was a native of Virginia, horn in 18 — . 
The jiarents moved to Bureau County, where 
they lived until their death. They reared 
seven children. Edward, the eldest of four 
sons and three daughters, was about two years 
of age when his parents moved to Bureau 
County, in the spring of 1857, settling north- 
east of Princeton, on the Ciiicago, Burlington 
& Quincy Railroad, near Maiden. The father 
lived there imtil his death, which occurred in 
1868, and the mother still lives on the same 
farm where they first settled in 1857. The 
subject of this sketch resided in Bureau 
County until he came to Pottawattamie 
County, and bought his present farm of 
eighty acres of the Chicago, Burlington & 
Quincy Company, which is located one and a 
half miles east of Carson. He built a good 
frame house in 1889, and everything about 
the place shows the thrift aTid energy of the 
proprietor. 

He was married in December, 1877, to 
Miss Mary L. Belknap, who was born and 
educated in Bureau County, Illinois, and the 







^pl' ^^ 




/X«-<j ^ "/"^z^ 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



33S 



daughter of Eli and Mary (Belknap); the 
father was a native of New York, and the 
mother of Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Cater have 
three children: Roy Austin, Claude Gaston 
and Edna Mary. They lost their first-born, 
Lena Leota, by death, when an infant. Polit- 
ically Mr. Cater is a Eepublican, and he and 
his wife are members of the Methodist Epis- 
copal Church, and he is a teacher and assistant 
superintendent of the Sabbath school, in 
which he takes an active interest. 



I^ON. THOMAS BOWMAN, Congress- 
man-elect from the Ninth Congres- 
sional District of Iowa, was born in 
Wiscasset, in the State of Maine, May 25, 
1848, and derives his descent from Nathaniel 
Bowman, who came from England in 1630 in 
the fleet with Winthrop. During his boy- 
hood he made his home at that place, and was 
educated at Oak Grove Seminary at Vassal- 
boro, Maine. In 1868 he decided to follow 
the course of empire, and he bid adieu to 
home and friends in the old Pine Tree State 
and started for the West. That same year 
he landed in Council Bluffs, and being im- 
pressed with its surroundings, though at that 
time much in the crude, he decided to cast 
his lot there. He has been a continued 
resident in Council Bluffs ever since. During 
the intervening period, from 1868 to the 
present time, he has held several important 
oftices of trust, among them being Treasurer 
of Pottawattamie County, Mayor of tiie city 
of Council Bluffs, and Postmaster of Council 
Bluffs under President Cleveland's adminis- 
tration. He was one of the organizers of the 
volunteer fire department in 1868, and was 
an active member of the department until 
1883, when the paid system was inaugurated. 
He has l)een connected with the Council 



Bluffs Olobe for twelve years, and for the 
past seven years he has been general manager 
for The Globe Publishing Company. Mr. 
Bowman is a man who will make][friends 
wherever he goes. He is a man of sterling 
qualities, and his loyalty to friends and prin- 
ciple has been a potent factor in his advance- 
ment in life. 



jj^^i;YRUS BOILER, of Walnut, is one of 
fj. the early settlers of this part of the 
county. He is from an old American 
family of German descent. David Boiler, 
the great-grandfather of our subject, came 
from Germany and settled on a farm in Vir- 
ginia, about 1775. Joseph Boiler, son of the 
above and grandfather of our subject, was 
born in Virginia, married Miss Nancy Colli- 
son, and reared a family of thirteen children, 
seven boys and six girls, who all lived to 
years of maturity. Mr. Boiler moved to Pike 
County, Ohio, about 1800, one of the pio- 
neers of that county, and lived there until his 
death. William Boiler, son of the above and 
father of our subject, was born in Pike 
County, Ohio, in 1810, and married, in Ohio, 
Miss Almira Daniels, daughter of Benjamin 
Daniels, a mayor of the town. Mr. and Mrs. 
Boiler had four children: Joseph, Benjaniiit, 
Wesley, and one wiio died young. Mr. Boiler 
remained on his farm until he was forty years 
of age, and then, in 1850, moved to Mus- 
catine County, Iowa, and entered a farm, and 
four years after sold that farm and bought 
another in the same county, and selling this 
afterward he moved to Marshalltown, Iowa, 
and after a short residence there he returned 
to Muscatine County, Iowa. In 1873 he catne 
and settled on 160 acres of land in Potta- 
wattamie County, Wright Township, where 
he died, in 1886. Mr Boiler was a snbstan- 



336 



BIOOBAPHIOAL HIS TOR F 



tial farmer and an industrious, honest man. 
His first wife died in Ohio, and June 1, 1843, 
he married Miss Caroline Kincaid, daughter 
of Eobert and Martha (Humphrey) Kincaid. 
To Mr. and Mrs. Boiler were born two chil. 
dren: Cyrus and James. Mr. Boiler was an 
honoral)le American citizen, and a man who 
provided well for his family, 

Cyrus Boiler, son of the above and subject 
of this sketch, was born July 6, 1844, in Rice 
County, Ohio, received a common- school 
education, and was six years of age when his 
father moved to Iowa. He learned the car- 
penter's trade when young. In 1873 he 
came to Pottawattamie County, Iowa, and 
improved a claim for his father. In 1876 
he married Mary R. Osborn, daughter of 
Solomon and Lydia (Paris) Osborn. The 
Osborns were au old American family from 
Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Osborn have three chil- 
dren: Ina M., Georgiana and Charles C. In 
1879 Mr. Boiler went to Leadville, and was 
in the silver mines, where he remained five 
years and nine months, and since then he has 
resided in Walnut. Mr. Boiler is a man who 
has the respect of his fellow townsmen; in 
Colorado he was Justice of the Peace and in 
Walnut has been constable. He is a man 
who stands well as an honorable citizen and a 
man of integrity. 



lANIEL B. McMASTER, of Hancock, 
is one of our "old soldier" citizens 
who served his country in her hour of 
need, and then settled down in the great 
State of Iowa, to the peaceful pursuit of 
agriculture. His father, William McMaster, 
came from Scotland, near the coast, in sight 
of Ireland. He was well educated for his 
day, a great reader and a lover of books, and 
possessed a considerable library. He learned 



the tailor's trade, and married, in Ireland, 
Miss Sarah Boyd, daughter of James Boyd 
of the city of Belfast, who was a drover and 
dealer in cattle, driving and shipping cattle 
from Scotland to Ireland. He was the father 
of nine children: James, Thomas, Henry, 
William, Daniel, Robert, Jane, Sarah and 
Esther, all born in Ireland. He emigrated 
with his large family to America, and settled 
in Boston. In William McMaster's father's 
family there were four children: Archie, 
William, Bettie and Margaret. The two 
girls lived and died in Scotland, unmarried. 
William and his wife came to America soon 
after their marriage, in 1820, and settled in 
New Brunswick, where his two eldest chil- 
dren were born, and then removed to 
Boston, where the remainder of their family 
were born. There were twelve children: 
Archie, William, Hugh, John, James, Daniel, 
Walter, Samuel, Margaret, Mary, Matilda 
and Jennie. Mr. McMaster followed his 
trade, tailoring, in New Brunswick and also 
in Boston for many years. In 1850 he 
moved with his family to Michigan, and set- 
tled in Schoolcraft. Kalamazoo County, on 
what was called Big Prairie Ronde (Round 
Prairie), and on the farm bought by Mr. Mc- 
Master his widow still lives. Mr. McMaster 
was a raeiuber of the Presbyterian Church, 
and Mrs. McMaster was a strong Baptist. 
He was a prominent Odd Fellow and insti 
tuted the first lodge in Schoolcraft. While 
in Boston Mr. McMaster was a wealthy man, 
but he lost his property and therefore moved 
to Michigan. He was a man of very indus- 
trious habits, and with strict integrity of 
character, made many friends and held them, 
and had no enemies. He was noted for be- 
ing a close-mouthed man, always attending 
to his own business. He lived to the age of 
seventy-three years, and died on his farm in 
Schoolcraft, Michigan. Three of his sons 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



337 



were in the civil war. John H. and Daniel 
B. were in the Union army, and William was 
in the Confederate service. He went to 
New Orleans when quite a young man and 
became a merchant tJiere, owned a plantation 
in Texas and was a slaveholder. He was an 
ofBcer in the Confederate army. John H. 
was in a Massachusetts regiment. 

Daniel B. was born July 3, 1842, and re- 
ceived a common-school education, and was 
but eight years old when his father moved to 
Michigan. He learned farming and also the 
iron-molder's trade. Young Daniel was but 
twenty years of age wlien the civil war broke 
out, and, tilled with patriotism and the thoughts 
and glory of a soldier's life, he enlisted in 
Company I, First Michigan Volunteer Cav- 
alry, August 21, 1861, and went directly 
with his regiment to Washington. He was in 
the battles of Harper's Ferry, Charlestown, 
Virginia; Berryville, Winchester, Strasburg, 
Piedmont, Markham Station, Manassas Gap, 
Happy Creek, Front Royal, May 23, 1862; 
Haymarket, Rapidan, Orange, July, 1862; 
Madison Court House, July, 1862; Orange 
Court House, July, 1862; Stannardsville, 
Barnett's Ford, Louisa Court House, Cul- 
peper, Kelly's Mills, Rappahannock Station, 
Rappahannock Ford, Waterloo Bridge, Sa- 
lem, Wiiite Plains, Thoroughfare Junction, 
Bull Run, August 80, 1862 (at which Mr. 
McMaster had his horse shot under him), 
Chantilly, Ashley's Gap, Snicker's Ferry, 
Wolf Run, Shoals, December, 1862, and Bris- 
tow, January, 1863. At the second battle at 
Culpeper Court House he was taken sick with 
typhoid fever and was left on tiie battle-tield 
for two days and nights. He was taken at 
night to Culpeper and lay in tiie court-house 
one hour, then taken to Warrenton Junction, 
where he lay several hours, and tiie same day 
was taken to Mt. Pleasant hospital, Wash- 
ington, District of Columliia, where lie was 



sick for six weeks, coming very near death 
On September 15, 1864, he was honorably 
discharged, three months after reaching the 
hospital, on account of expiration of his 
term of service, having served his country 
faithfully for three years and fifteen days, 
and engaged in a large number of battles, 
which constitute a roll of honor of which 
his children and descendants ma^' well feel 
proud. His name will be transmitted to pos- 
terity as one of those brave sons of America 
who risked their lives to preserve their coun- 
try. After the war Mr. McMaster returned 
to Michigan and resumed the occupation of 
farming, also working at his trade. 

January 1, 1866, he married Miss Loretta 
Thayer, daughter of Simon and Almira (Tiff- 
any) Thayer. Mr. Thayer was from Living- 
ston County, State of New York, and was a 
carpenter by trade. He was from an old 
American family and moved to Michigan in 
1850, settling in Vicksburg, Kalamazoo 
County, and later on a farm near this place. 
In 1875 he came to Iowa and settled in Val- 
ley Township, Pottawattamie County, where 
he died, in January, 1880, at the age of 
sixty-nine years. His widow still lives in 
Vicksburg, Michigan. Mrs. Thayer is a 
member of the Congregational Ciiurch. Mr. 
Thayer was much respected as a citizen. He 
had a good education, was well read, and 
sometimes contributed articles to the news- 
papers. He held the office of Justice of the 
Peace for many years, and was also Town- 
ship Commissioner, and was a man of intel- 
ligence and active teinj^erament, and was an 
honorable man. Mr. and Mrs. Thayer were 
the parents of two chilren: Fairfield and 
Loretta. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. 
McMaster lived in Schoolcraft, Michigan, 
until 1874, and Mr. McMaster followed his 
trade. They then moved to Iowa and settled 
on a farm in Audubon County, remaining 



338 



BIOOMAPHIGAL HISTORY 



there but two years, when they came to their 
present home in Pottawattamie County. In 
1879 Mr. McMaster went to Cass County, 
and ran a large farm for six je.ars, and then 
returned to his home in Pottawatta^nie 
County. Mr. and Mrs. McMaster are the 
parents of five children: Kate, Clara, Becton 
(deceased at two years), Bell and Walter. 
Mr. McMaster is a man who has the con- 
fidence of the community in which he lives. 
He is a Justice of the Peace, and socially is an 
Odd Fellow, and is a member of the G. A. 
E., of William Layton Post, No. 358, Oak- 
land. In politics he is a stanch Democrat. 
He has an honorable record as a soldier and 
citizen, and has always been a law-abiding 
and moral man. He is temperate in his 
habits and is interested in the cause of tem- 
perance. His children and descendants will 
reverence his noble record as a soldier. Mrs. 
McMaster is secretary of the Woman's Re- 
lief Corps of Oakland, Iowa, — an auxiliary 
of the G. A. R. Their daughter Kate mar- 
ried Elmer Lambert, and they have two chil- 
dren: Libbie and Alderman. Mr. Lambert 
is a farmer in Woodbury County, Iowa; 
Clara married James Livingston, Jr., a 
butcher in Hancock. They have one child, 
Hugh. 



►^Mf* 



tITY ROLLER MILLS, of Council 
Bluffs, was erec'ed in 1856 by Mr. 
Jackson, and was tiieii known as the 
" City Mills." It was the largest mill in the 
West at that time, having a capacity of 
ninety barrels a day. It has changed hands 
a number of times, and is now in the posses- 
sion of J. C. Hoffmayr & Co. The capacity 
has been increased to 150 barrels a day, the 
roller system with Hungarian process being 
introduced in November, 1882, under the di- 
rection of its present owner. Tlie original 



mill was but three stories high: it is now 
four stories high, and there are added an 
iron-clad elevator, warerooms, etc., with a 
storage capacity of 1,500 barrels of flour and 
10,000 bushels of wheat. The brands of flour 
manufactured here are Fancy Patent, White 
Loaf, Early Riser and Rough Diamond. 

Julius C. Hofl'inayr was born in the east- 
ern part of Prussia, February 17, 1834, the 
son of Charles J. and Emma (Von Tres- 
kow) Hoffmayr. Both the parents are de- 
ceased. He was educated at home by private 
tutors until the age of ten years; tlien he at- 
tended schools in Frankfurt until his four- 
teenth year, when he entered the machine 
shop of Stoeckart & Co., at LanJsberg, one 
year, and the locomotive works at Borsig, 
the largest works of the kind in that country, 
at Berlin. He was there six mouths. At 
the age of sixteen years he was employed by 
the Berlin & Stettin Railroad, learning the 
art of running locomotives; was also em- 
ployed in the drafting office of the company 
six months. He then passed examination as 
locomotive engineer, and was employed on 
the eastern division of the Government rail- 
road system, between Berlin and St. Peters- 
burg; was also employed in the location and 
election of the railroad bridges over the delta 
of the Vistula River at Dirsciiau and Marien- 
burg, and surveying and locating the railroad 
to Koenisrsberg. On the completion of the 
road to Koenigsberg he was given control of 
the first engine over the road; and at the age 
of seventeen years, a few days after that ap- 
pointment, he was given the first train — the 
inauguration train — with the King of Prus- 
sia on board, wh') opened the road. Tiiis 
was a Conspicuous honor extended to so young 
a man over all the old engineers in the coun- 
try, he being the youngest engineer on the 
Government roads, having gained this honor 
by his punctuality. 



OF PUTT AW ATT AM IB COUNTY. 



After this lie entered the Polytechnic 
School at Frankfurt; next tlie Royal Poly- 
technic Institute at Berlin; next, in his 
nineteenth year, he was sent by tlie Govern- 
ment to Manchester, England, and worked in 
the large locomotive works of Sharp Brothers, 
to gain a knowledge of the construction of the 
same by English makers. In a few months 
he was placed in the engineer corps of the 
Royal Xavy and cruised along the Mediter- 
ranean coast, subduing pirates on the north 
African coast, and around Cape of Good Hope 
to the East Indies, when he returned home. 
His father then presented him a steam flour- 
ing and saw mill, which he operated some 
nine months, when, in June, 1855. he came 
to America, with the chief engineer of the 
eastern division of Prussian railroads, 
Charles Seeger, landing at St. Mary's, Mills 
County, Iowa. He assisted him, and erected 
mills in the timbered lands of the company, 
and attended to their management until Mr. 
Seeger's return. He claims the honor of 
blowing the first whistle en land in this part 
of the country. 

In 1857 he returned to Prussia, spent a 
year there, was married, and in 1858 came 
again to this country, stopping at St. Mary's, 
Mills County, Iowa. The mills wiiich he 
had built before his departure for Europe had 
been sold to Colonel Peter A. Sarpy, the old 
fur trader of the American Fur Company, 
and Mr. Hoffmayr managed the mills for 
hira. Some of the men employed at that 
mill at that time are to-day our most wealthy 
farmers and prominent citizens in Mills and 
Pottawattamie counties. In 1859 he re- 
moved the mill to the left bank of the Mis- 
souri River, opposite Plattsmouth, Nebraska. 
After a time he returned to St. Mary's and 
erected a saw-mill, transformed a wind-flour- 
iug-mill, belonging to Shakespeare & Boyes, 
into a steam mill, and attached circular saws 



for the lumber business, and here he con- 
tinued until 1862, when the mill was sold. 
He then built flat-boats and floated the ma- 
chinery of the mill on the Missouri River to 
Plattsmouth, Nebraska, where he erected the 
same and set it running for Peter A. Sarpy. 

At that period (1855) the Indians, Pawnee 
and Omaha tribes, lived and were abundant 
in the vicinity. In 1867, while on the plains 
with the Pawnee scouts, he was made an 
honorary member of the Pawnee tribe, and 
named Co-ka-tits-ta-kah. In 1862 he came to 
Council Bluffs, where he took charge of the 
City Mills for Ofhcer & Pusey, for six 
mouths, and then, in 1863, he assumed full 
control, which he maintained until 1865, 
when he sold to Hon. J. T. Baldwin and vis- 
ited Europe again, returning the same year 
to Council Bluffs. From 1865 to 1870 he 
was engaged in contracting to furnish the 
ties and car timbers for the construction of 
the Union Paciflc Railroad, operating steam 
saw-mille, and from 150 to 200 men and as 
many teams, and thus consuming several 
thousand acres of the best timber in Potta- 
wattamie County, near Honey Creek, for al- 
most five years. In 1870 he bought back the 
City Mills and ran it alone until 1882, when 
he took as partner Hon. J. T. Baldwin, with 
whom he was associated until the death of 
the latter. During the rush of the early 
days of emigration this mill supplied most of 
the flour from this point west, — in Colora- 
do, Utah, Wyoming and Montana, wliere 
Some train loads were sold at $1.00 per pound 
in gold. Its present owner, Mr. Iluffmayr, 
is the oldest miller in this part of the West, 
— that is, has been the longest in the service, 
and is feeding the hungry yet. 

Politically he is independent, but acting 
mostly with the Democratic party. He is an 
old member of Bluff City Lodge, No. 71. 
A. F. & A. M., of Star Chapter, No. 48, and 



840 



BIOGRAPHICAL HI8T0R7 



of Ivanhoe Comiiiandery, JS'o. 17, K. T, 
being P. E. Commander, and, as such, a life 
member of the Grand Commandery of tlie 
State of Iowa. He is also a member of the 
Council Bluffs Eitle and Council Bluffs Gun 
clubs. He won the State championship 
honors, and the best aggregate score in all 
matches at the State tournament of the 
State Association for the Protection of Fish 
and Game, of 1880, held at Des Moines. 
He was the first president of the Turn-Ve- 
rein of Council Bluff's, in 1863. During the 
war, in 1864, Gov. W. M. Stone called out 
three regiments of State troops to protect the 
southern border of the State, and commis- 
sioned him First Lieutenant of Company A, 
First Regiment, and on April 1, 1865, he 
was promoted, and commissioned Lieutenant- 
Colonel of the same regiment, the late Colonel 
"W. F. Sapp commanding tiie same. 

While on a visit to his native country, on 
the 21st of April, 1858, he married Miss 
Antonia Wolfram, who died at Council Bluff's 
July 8, 1876, leaving three children: Ellen 
H., who died July 23, 1876, and Harry J. 
and Arthur T., both now residing in Council 
Bluffs. He was married again February 7, 
1878, to Miss Clara Tzschuck, daughter of 
Hon. Bruno Tzschuck, ex-Secretary of the 
State of Nebraska. She was born in St. 
Mary's, Mills County, Iowa, and died Febru- 
ary 8, 1883, leaving one child, Julia May. 



'S " S ' | '«^ 



»^ICKELWA1T & YOUNG, grain- 




dealers at Macedonia, is one of the 
'^^^^* leading and solid business firms of 
that place. Tlieir elevator, having a capacity 
of 30,000 bushels, was built by Mr. T. J. 
Young, the junior member of the firm, and 
T. J. Evans. The present firm have 100,000 
bushels of grain annually; al,-o do a large 



flour and coal business. Mr. Y'oung is the 
business manager at this place, while Mr. 
Mickelwait resides at Glenwood, Mills 
County. 

Mr. Y'oung was born in Peru, La Salle 
County, Illinois, February 8, 1855, a son of 
Nason Young, a native of Ireland, and of 
Susanna (Kirby) Young. Nason Young 
settled in La Salle County in 1845, long be- 
fore the day of railroads, and for a number of 
years was engaged in the lumber trade. 
The first business in which our subject en- 
gaged was in 1878, in grain, in which he 
was in partnership with his brother. Then, 
removing to Omaha, he was employed in 
meat-canning for a year. In 1880 he came 
to Macedonia, resuming the grain trade. lie 
is an experienced and popular business man, 
and has taken an active interest in the wel- 
fare of the community; has served on the 
School Board nine years. In politics he is a 
Republican. He is a member of Lodge No. 
421, I. O. O. F., having filled all the chairs. 

He was married in 1887, at Blooraington, 
Indiana, to Miss Lizzie Belle Pitman, who 
died July 19, 1888. 

>=»«i | « 3 ii i > | i-»~ 



RTHUR L MITCHELL, a well-known 
physician and surgeon of Macedonia, 
Iowa, was born in Decatur County, In- 
diana, February 13, 1847, the son of Dr. 
James H. and Nancy (Irmlay) Mitchell; the 
former is a well-known physician of that 
place, and the latter is of aprominent family; 
lier brother was once Sheriff of Decatur 
County. Tbe father was born in Bourbon 
County, Kentucky, and at the age of four 
years his parents removed to Decatur County, 
Indiana. He and his father edited the first 
paper published at Greensburg, Indiana. 
He was a personal friend of ex-Governor 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



341 



Cnmback and intimately acquainted with 
Mills & Co., ex-State printers of Des Moines, 
Iowa. He afterward commenced the study 
of medicine, and when he was twenty-seven 
years of age practiced in Decatur County. 
In the spring of 1853 lie journeyed West 
with his family to Iowa, where be settled at 
Twin Groves, Keokuk County, Iowa, where he 
remained thirteen years. He then removed 
to Wasliington County, Iowa, and three years 
after from there to Seward County, Nebraska, 
where he remained three years, and then came 
to Pottawattamie County, settling at old 
Macedonia, and when the new town of Mace- 
donia was built he moved there, in 1880. He 
resided there until 1885-'86. When visiting 
his son, Brutus Mitchell, at Axtell, Kearney 
County, Nebraska, he died, at about sixty- 
six years of age. His widow still resides in 
Macedonia. They had six children, four sons 
and two daughters: A. 1., our subject; Mary, 
wife of Henry Davison, of Axtell, Nebraska, 
who is in the livery and harness business; 
Brutus I., also in the livery business at Wil- 
cox, Kearney County; Lewis E. Stryker, in 
company with Brutus I., at Wilcox; E. Sum- 
mer, who died at the age of nirieteeen years 
at old Macedonia; and Delia, the wife of 
Henry Kennedy, of Macedonia. 

Tho subject of this sketch enlisted at 
Keokuk, Iowa, in May, 1864, in the Forty- 
seventh Iowa Infantry Volunteers, Colonel J. 
P. Sanford, the well-known Iowa lecturer, 
and Captain Harrison E. Havens, now editor 
of the Sigourney News, in command. The 
regiment was stationed at Helena, Arkansas. 
In 1872 Mr. Mitchell lived at Crete, Nebraska, 
where he studied medicine with Dr. A. D. 
Root, a well-known physician of that place, 
and after three years of stndy he attended 
the Rush Medical College, at Chicago, Illi- 
nois, in the winter of 1876-'77. He then 
practiced in Wheeler, Pottawattamie County, 



Iowa, for three years, and then, in 1880, at- 
tended another year at the Rush Medical 
College, where he graduated February 22, 
1881. He was for a year in company with 
his father and brother, Brutus, in the drug 
business at Macedonia. He was a registered 
pharmacist, the firm being A. I. Mitchell & 
Co. In 1882 the Doctor removed to Wheeler, 
where he resided for live years and then 
located at Macedonia, where he has since 
resided. His extensive acquaintance in this 
part of tile county and his success in busi- 
ness, insures him an extensive and paying 
practice. 

He was married April 10, 1869, to Miss 
Annie Efner, who was born in Brighton, 
Iowa, the daughter of Dr. William H. and 
Sarah C. (Johnston) Efner; the mother still 
resides with Mrs. Mitchell, at the advanced 
age of eighty-two years. Dr. and Mrs. 
Mitchell have one son, Sumner, who was born 
August 2, 1879. They lost one child, Frank, 
by death, wiien an infant. Politically the 
Doctor is a Republican. His father was an 
old Abolitionist, and was a conductor on the 
"underground railroad." The Doctor is a 
member of Botna Valley Medical Association, 
and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church, of which he is a class-leader, and is 
also licensed to preach; his wife is a member 
of the order of the Eastern Star, and her 
father was a Master Mason. Dr. Mitchell is 
also member of the 1. O. O. F., Macedonia 
Lodge, No. 421, of which he is secretary. 



IMON REYNOLDS, one of the best 
known and early pioneers of Potta- 
wattamie County, was born in Chau- 
tauqua County, New York, July 10, 1837, 
the son of Levvi.s and Alitha (Worster) Rey- 
nolds, both natives of New Y^ork State. 



342 



BIOORAPHTCAL HISTORY 



Simon was but three years of age when his 
parents moved to LaPorte County, Indiana, 
where they remained sixteen year.-;. They 
then moved to Kankakee County, Illinois. 
Simon was reared and educated in LaPorte 
County, Indiana. The parents then came to 
Pottawattamie County, Iowa, in 1860, where 
they lived until their death. The father had 
been a farmer all his life, and in his political 
views was a Democrat. Pie died at the age 
of eighty-four years; the mother was a mem- 
ber of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, 
and died at the age of seventy-three years. 
In 1860 Simon Reynolds came to James 
Township, Pottawattamie County, and im- 
proved a farm of fifty acres in section 10, 
but which he afterward sold. In 1878 he 
bought his present farm of 120 acres, which 
he has since improved until he now has one 
of the best farms in the county. He was one 
of the early settlers here, his nearest neighbor 
being seven or eight miles distant. Besides 
his general farming, he is also engaged in 
stock-raising. 

Mr. Reynolds came to Iowa in 1854; was 
married August 21:, 1862, to Miss Amanda 
Redman, who was born at Dayton, Ohio. 
She was lour years of age when her parents 
moved to Elkhart County, Indiana, at which 
place her father died. She was the daughter 
of Silas and Catharine (Bunner) Redman, 
both natives of Virginia. When Mrs. Rey- 
nolds was ten years of age her mother moved 
to Polk County, Iowa, where her daughter 
was reared and educated. The mother is still 
living in that county, at the age of seventy- 
four years; religiously she is a member of the 
Methodist Church. Mr. and Mrs. Reynolds 
have live children, viz.: Monroe i*\, a graduate 
of the Iowa Western Normal School, and 
formerly a successful teacher, now holds a 
position in Swift's packing house in Omaha; 
Arthur L., a carpenter of Oregon; Orpha C, 




wife of William Warnke, of Belknap Town- 
sbip; Effie L. and Clarence, both at home. 
Politically Mr. Reynolds is a Republican, and 
has served in most of his county's offices with 
credit. He and his wife and eldest son are 
members of the Christian Church. Mr. 
Reynolds is still in the prime of life, and 
takes an active interest in education and re- 
ligion, in which he is ably encouraged by his 
faithful wife, who has proved a worthy helj)- 
mate and partner to her husband. 



S. ROOP, contractor and builder, 
No. 520 East Broadway, has been 
* a resident of Council Bluffs since 
1878. He was born in Fulton County, Ohio, 
May 16, 1851, son of John and Mary (Mills) 
Roop, natives of Pennsylvania, and descend- 
ants of the old Dutch settlers of that State. 
When he was four years old his parents 
moved to Carson City, Michigan, where he 
was reared and educated in the public schools. 
When a mere lad of twelve or thirteen he 
entered a sash, door and blind factory, in 
which he worked for a number of years. He 
was subsequently employed in the lumber, 
shingles and lath business. In January, 
1878, he came to Council Bluffs, and has 
since been identified with the best interests 
of this city. His parents have since died, 
the father at the age of eighty-four years, 
and the mother at the age of seventy-eight. 

After coming to this city Mr. Roop has 
been variously employed. He spent some 
time in Nebraska in the stock business. In 
1884 he engaged in milling, and previous to 
that time, for two or thrte years, he was in 
the second-hand merchandise business. In 
1887 he turne 1 his attention to contracting 
and building, which he has since followed. 
In connection with this business he also 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



343 



keeps a quantity of, and is prepared to niaiiu- 
factiire, all kinds of bee supplies, such as 
bee veils, comb foundations, hives, honey 
knives, smokers, etc. 

Mr. Koop resides at No. 820 Oak avenue. 
He was" married at Carson City, Michigan, 
in January, 1874, to Nellie J. Dolson, who 
was born in Dubuque County, Iowa, in 
March, 1851. They have four children: 
Cortez Leo, Francis Ethel, Miles Archie 
and Raymond Wilber. Mrs. Rcop is a 
member of the Catholic Church. He is a 
Republicao. 



fOHN P F. WEAVER, contractor and 
builder, brick manufacturer, president 
of the Globe Publishing Company, and 
vice-president of the Oorden Iron Works, is 
one of the most enterprising men of Council 
Bluffs. 

Mr. Weaver was born in Adams County, 
Pennsylvania, September 7, 1846, and was 
reared near Gettysburg. His parents, J. G. 
and Maria (Fisher) Weaver, were both na- 
tives of Pennsylvania. He traces his family 
history back five generations on both sides, 
the original ancestors being German and 
English. Both parents are still living at the 
old home in Adams County, Pennsylvania. 
John P. F. was reared on a farm, and by virtue 
of his father being a plasterer he learned that 
trade. 

At the age of seventeen Mr. Weaver en- 
tered the service of liis country, enlisting in 
February, 1863, in Company H, Twenty-first 
Pennsylvania Cavalry, and served till the close 
of the war. He was mustered out at Lynch- 
burg, Virginia, and received his discharge 
at Harrisburg, July 14, 1865. Mr. Weaver 
was in seventeen engagements, at the siege 

of Petersburg, and, in fact, all the princi- 
a7 



pal battles from 1863 until the close of the 
war. 

The war over, he returned to his old 
home, and there engaged in agricultural 
pursuits until the spring of 1866. Then he 
completed his trade. May 31, 186'J, he 
started West, landing in Council Bluffs on 
the fourth of June. He has since made this 
city his home. In 1870 he entered into a 
partnership with George A. Jacobs, with 
whom he was associated uiitil the fall of 
1876, when Mr. Jacobs withdrew from the 
company. Mr. Weaver continued the busi- 
ness alone, and as time n)oved along he grad- 
ually enlarged his operations and made many 
other business ventures, meeting with decided 
success in all his undertakings. He has been 
in the brick business since 1880, now manu- 
facturing from 8,000,000 to 4,000,000 brick 
annually, employing an average of fifty men 
and doing a $50,000 business. In December, 
1888, he entered into partnership with 
Thomas Bowman, in the Globe Publishing 
Company, he being the president. In 1887 
he associated himself with the Ogden Iron 
Works, of which he is vice president. Mr. 
Weaver was one of the founders of the Coun- 
cil Bluffs Canning Works, also one of the 
founders of the Council Bluffs Driving Park, 
and is a member of the Board of Trade. He 
is a stanch Democrat, and during the years 
1888-'89 was a member of the City Council. 
He is a member of the I. O. O. F., No. 184, 
Hawkeye Lodge. 

Mr. Weaver was married May 1, 1878, to 
Miss Mary Hilferty, who was born May 6, 
1856. Her father, Charles Hilferty, came to 
Iowa when she was quite young and she was 
reared in this State. Mr. and Mrs. Weaver 
have four children: Laura, May, Howard 
and John, all at home. 

Mr. Weaver is a self made man in every 
respect: his education was obtained throucrh 



344 



Bl OORAPHl CAL UlSTOR Y 



his owu efforts, and liis success is cine to bis 
honesty, pluck aud perseverance. 



fOHN OOOL, one of the pioneer settlers 
of Avoca, was born in Coburg, Province 
of Ontario, April 2, 1824, the son of 
Benjamin Cool, who was born in 1795 on the 
Mohawk Kiver, and was of Holland Dutch 
descent. His ancestors were among tlie old 
pioneer settlers of New York State, and were 
called tlie Mohawk Dutch. Benjamin Cool 
participated in the war of 1812 on the Amer- 
ican side, and foufjht at the battle of Sack- 
ett's Harbor. He was a tanner, currier and 
shoemaker by trade, and after emigrating to 
Canada was enj^aged at his trade in Coburg. 
He was married there to Phoebe, daughter 
of Adolphus Hiilenboldt, who was from the 
some locality on the Mohawk. Mr. Hiilen- 
boldt was a farmer by occupation, and cleared 
his place from the heavy timber. Mr. and 
Mrs. Cool were the parents of nine children: 
Lucinda, John, Richard, William, Ellizabeth, 
Albert, Charles, Seymour, and one who died 
in infancy. The parents lived in Coburg 
about ten years, and then, in 1833 or 183-4, 
moved to New York State, settling near Buf- 
falo on the canal at Shelby Basin, where 
he followed the business of shoemaking for 
some years. In 1844 he removed to Illinois 
and settled on a farm in Kane County, 
Hampshire Township. In 1868 he came to 
Avoca, Iowa, where he died in 1878, at the 
age of eiu;hty-three years. Mrs. Cool is still 
living, at the age of ninety years, with her 
son Albert in Nebraska. Mr. Cool was an 
industrious, honorable and upright man. 

John Cool, a son of the above and subject of 
this sketch, received a common-school educa- 
tion, and learned blacksmithing in early life. 
He was nine years of age when his father re- 



turned to New York State, and at the age of 
twenty-one, in 1845, he went to Elgin, lUi 
nois, where he was engaged at his trade a 
short time. In 1846 he opened a shop in 
Hampshire Township, Kane County, Mdiich 
he conducted until the breaking out of the 
war. He enlisted in Company J, Eighth 
Illinois Volunteer Cavalry, being mustered 
in at St. Charles, Illinois, September 18, 
1861. He was immediately jiromoted to be 
Second Lieutenant, was in the Army of the 
Potomac, and was in the battle of Meclian- 
icsville, Virginia, the seven days' fight before 
Richmond, White Oak Swamp, Harrison's 
Landini", at the Second battle of Bull Run, 
Antiettiui, and in several skirmishes. He 
was badly ruptured at Harrison's Landing by 
the fall of his horse. After the battle of 
Antietam he returned home, and resided at 
Hampshire, where he was Collector of the 
township and Constable, for twelve years, his 
time expiring while he was in the army. In 
1869 he came by wagon to Avoca, in com- 
pany with his brother-in-law, Isaac Vande- 
borgart, and his family, and Thomas E. 
Fowler and family. Mr. Cool is the pioneer 
blacksmith of this city, having built the first 
shop and struck the first blow as a black- 
smith. He also started the first livery busi- 
ness, using a straw shed foi his stable. He 
also began carrying the mail and express the 
same winter to Harlem. 

Mr. Cool was a charter member of the 
first Masonic lodge, Mount Nebo, the rooms 
of which was over his blacksmith shop, which 
was built tor that purpose, being one of the 
first buildings of Avoca. He has held all the 
offices in this lodge. He has served as 
Deputy Sheriff three times, and is a member 
of the U. S. Post, of which he has held the 
offices of Deputy Grand Master and Quaran- 
tine Master. Mr. Cool has erected seven 
dwelling-houses, two shops aud a livery 



OF' POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



34o 



stable, the latter being destroyed by fire in 
1880. 

He was married in 1847 to Sarah Carleton, 
daughter of James and Julia Carleton, and 
by this inarriacre there was one child, Mary, 
now the wife of Malcolm Howe, of Hamp- 
shire, Illinois. The mother died in 1865, 
and in 1867 Mr. Cool married Margaret 
Fowler,daughterof Dr. Thomas E. and Marilla 
Fowler, and by this marriage there were two 
sons — Benton and Daniel. Dr. Thomas 
Fowler was one of the pioneers of Hamp- 
shire, niinois, settling there in 1846, where 
he was engaged in the practice of medicine 
many years. In 1869 he cauie to Avoca, 
where he became a well-known physician. 
He was one of the charter members of the 
Mount Nebo Lodge, No. 297. He died and 
was buried with Masonic honors. His wife 
died in 1889. 



►IM^ 




r^lLLIAM CHARLES has made his 
home in Pottawattamie County, Iowa. 
since 1876. He was born in Corn- 
wall, England, October 15, 1837, son of 
Kichard Charles, a native of the same county. 
His grandfather, Philip Charles, was also 
born in that portion of England. Richard 
Charles married Mary Otis, a native of Corn- 
wall, and by her had twelve children, seven 
sons and five daughters, William being tlie 
youngest save one. Our subject served his 
time as a miller until he had acquired a 
thorough knowledge of that business. In 
1857 the Charles family came to America 
and located at Buffalo, New York, where 
they remained two years. At the end of 
that time they continued their way west- 
ward, and took up their abode near Marion, 
Grant County, Indiana. The father died in 
that county, at the age of seventy-nine years, 



and the mother, who has now reached the 
advanced age of ninety-three years, is a resi- 
dent of Chicago, Illinois. Jlr. Charles was 
a miller all his life. He was a men.ber of 
the Church of England. 

William Charles worked at milling in 
Grant County. Indiana, until 1876. In that 
year he came to Iowa and purchased eighty 
acres of land in section 13, Wright Town- 
ship. Pottawattamie County. Since that time 
he has been identified with the best interests 
of this community. He has made many im- 
provements on his farm ; has built a good 
frame house and oJier outbuildings, and 
has a grove of three acres and an orchard ol' 
two acres. 

Mr. Charles has been twice married. At 
the age of twenty-six he wedded Miss Mary 
Woolman, a native of Grant County, Indi- 
ana, daughter of S. JSl. Woolman. By her 
he had one daughter, Clara, now the wife of 
H. L. Bales, of Wright Township, Pottawat- 
tamie County. Mrs. Charles was a worthy 
member of the United Brethren Church. 
Her death occurred in 1864. In 1866 Mr. 
Charles took for his second wife E. Jane 
Woolman, a sister of his former companion. 
Slie was also born and reared in GrantCounty, 
Indiana, This union has been blessed with 
four children, three of whom are living — 
Salmon P., Jessie and Willie. They lost one 
son. Burr, at the age of nine years. 

In connection with his general farming, 
Mr. Charles carries on the manufacture of 
sorghum, having a local reputation as an ex- 
pert manufacturer of that article. 

For teu years he has been a faithful and 
zealous worker in the cause of his Master; 
is a deacon in the Methodist Episcopal Church 
of Lewis, and is also a local preacher, ex- 
pounding the word of God every alternate 
Sabbath. He is an efficient worker in the 
Sunday-school. Mr. Charles is well posted 



3-lii 



BIOGRAPHICAL HIHTORY 



on all current topics, and is a great reader of 
history and the Bible. He is broad and 
progressive in his views, is earnest in his 
labors for the advancement of religion, and 
is regarded by all who know him as an 
honorable and upright citizen and a true 
Cliristian. 

In connection with the family history of 
his wife, it should be further stated that her 
father, S. JM. Woolman, was a native of New 
Jersey, and her mother, Elizabeth (Bond) 
Woolman. was born in Virginia, a descend- 
ant of an old family of that State. Both 
parents were members of the United Brethren 
Church. 



fOIIN M. PHILLIPS, born March 15, 
18 20, in Rowley, Essex County, Massa- 
chusetts, died in Council Bluffs, Iowa, 
September 10, 1888. His early life was 
spent on a farm, but wiien a young man he 
eno-aored in the boot and shoe business. First 
he employed several men manufacturing 
goods on contract for various large houses in 
Georngtown, Massachusetts, his shop being 
on the old homestead farm. Afterward, in 
1852, he removed to South Danvers, Massa- 
chusetts, now Peabody, and engaged with his 
brother in the manufacture of boots and 
slioes under the firm name of A. P. Phillips 
&Co. 

He was early attracted to the West, and 
in 1856 they opened a store in Council Bluffs 
under the firm name of J. M. Phillips & Co., 
his brother, A. P. Phillips, taking charge of 
the same until 1858, when he returned East 
and J. M. Phillips came West to take charge 
of the interests here; and in 1860 removed 
Ids family to Council Bluffs, consisting of his 
wife, Olive N. Phillips, nee Cressey, whom 
he married in Rowley, Massachusetts, in 



1845. Nathan C Phillips, Mary O. Phillips 
and John M. Phillips, Jr., are his children. 
Other children born at Council Bluffs are 
Emma C. Phillips, who married F. W. Vos- 
winkel, and now lives at Hoi ton, Kansas; 
Ruth M. Phillips, who married H. L. Shep- 
herd, and lives at Council Bluffs; Granville 
D. Phillips, who is unmarried and resides in 
Seattle, Washington. Of the others, Na- 
than C. Phillips is married and resides in 
Council Bluffs; Mary O. Phillips, unmarried 
and resides with her sister, Mrs. Shepherd, 
in the family residence, and John M. Phil- 
lips, now engaged in railroad surveys in 
Washington. In 1860 the firm of J. M. 
Phillips & Co. started a boot and shoe store 
in Omaha and put it in charge of Albert 
Tucker, an old employe of the firm both in 
Massachusetts and at Council Bluffs. After- 
ward he was admitted to partnership in the 
Omaha house, the firm name being changed 
to Tucker, Phillips & Co. Some few years 
later, in 1866 or 1867, there was a general 
dissolution of partnership between the mem- 
bers of the firm of A. P. Phillips & Co., of 
Peabody, Massachusetts, engage 1 in the 
manufacture of shoes, and J. M. Phillips & 
Co., of Council Bluffs, Iowa, and Tucker, 
Phillips & Co., of Omaha, Nebraska, also 
engaged in the wholesale and retail boot and 
shoe business. The members of the two first 
firms at that time were A. P. Phillips, J. M. 
Phillips and Oscar Phillips, a son of A. P. 
and nephew of J. M., who had been admitted 
into the firm, and in the Omaha house the 
three named aud Albert Tucker. In this 
dissolution J. M. Phillips sold out his inter- 
ests in the other places and bought the in- 
terests of the others and became sole owner 
of the Council Bluffs store, and continued it 
until his death under the name of J. M. 
Phillips, except for two years when his sons 
Nathan C. and John M. were in partnership 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



347 



with liirii, afterward retiring from the firm*' 
He early engaged in the wholesale business, 
and for years had a very extensive trade, 
but retired from the wholesale business in 
1885, owing to advanced age. 

He from the first took an active interest in 
the affairs of the county, uniting with the 
Republican party in its infancy. He held 
various positions; was Alderman for two 
years; member of the Board of County Su- 
pervisors four years. He with others organ- 
ized the Fairview Cemetery Association, the 
first cemetery in the county, and continued a 
director of the same until his death. He was 
troubled with deafness, whicli caused him to 
decline several positions offered him. He was 
one of the organizers of the Council Bluffs 
Savings Bank and a director of the same for 
several years. 

tAVID DUNKLE, a pioneer farmer near 
Crescent City, was born in Fayette 
County, Ohio, March 14, 1834, a son of 
William and Mary (McMuUen) Dunkle, na- 
tives of Virginia who emigrated to Ohio and 
were married there. The senior Mr. Dunkle, 
a fanner, moved in the summer of 1840 to 
Greene County, Missouri, and thence to Dade 
County, that State, and ^n 1848 to Buchanan 
County. His wife died in Missouri, in April, 
1844, and he came to Iowa in the spring of 
1852, locating on a farm a mile east of Cres- 
cent City, — this village being then called 
Pigeon City, — and on section 30, Hazel Dell 
Township. Tliis land — 160 acres, just broken 
— Mr. Dunkle purchased of Solomon Free- 
man, and here he lived with his son until the 
end of his life, December 29, 1873, when he 
was about ninety-two years of age. 

David, our subject, remained upon the 
home farm until 1885, when he moved to 



Crescent City. He bought eighty acres on 
sections 14 and 22, Crescent Township, which' 
he afterward sold; and he still owns a por- 
tion of the original 160 acres, which he has 
placed under cultivation and substantial im- 
provements. Being one of the pioneers of 
the county he had to undergo most of the 
hardships incident to pioneer life, but he 
faced them with determination and is now 
reaping his reward. He brought the first 
horses to this part of the county that were 
put to general use; previous to that time 
oxen had been universally employed. He 
was elected the first County Supervisor from 
this district in 1860, and was re-elected twice 
afterward. In 1860 he was elected Justice 
of the Peace, in which official relation he has 
since served continuously with the exception 
of one year in the service of the late war. 
He has also he'd the various township offices. 
He has served his town and county faithfully 
and well, as is indicated by the persistent de- 
sire of his fellow-citizens to continue him in 
oifice. He vras instrumental in bringing 
about the organization of the first independ- 
ent school district in this part of the county, 
it being the second one organized in the 
county; the one at Kanesville, now Council 
Bluffs, was the first. He has done a great 
deal for the cause of education, and this is 
the best evidence of his patriotism. 

November ^4, 1864, he enlisted in Com- 
pany H, Thirteenth lowaYolunteer Infantry, 
and was discharged at Davenport, Iowa, May 
22, 1865, on account of disaljility. He par- 
ticipated in the battle of Nashville between 
Hood and Thomas, December 22 and 23, 
1864. He is now a member of Abraham 
Lincoln Post, No. 29, G. A. R., at Council 
Bluffs. He is a high-minded Democrat on 
national questions, in which he takes an 
active interest, and was generally a delegate 
to county and State conventions. 



848 



BIOOBAPHIOAL BISTORT 



He was married December 22, 1852, to 
Margaret McMnllen, daughter of William 
and Catharine McMnllen, natives of Vir- 
ginia. She was born in Fayette County, 
Ohio, in 1834, and died July 25, 1883, leav- 
ing four children, as follows: David William, 
who resides in Florence, Nebraska; Martha 
A., now the wife of W. H. Cafferty, in 
Omaha; Sarah A., now Mrs. John Daggett 
in Florence; and John W., at home. 



fM. LEWIS, one of tlie prominent citi 
zens of Washington Township, was 
' born in Franklin Coui'ty, Indiana, Sep- 
tember 23, 1846, the son of Samuel Lewis, 
who was born in the same county in 1812, 
and was a son of Daniel Lewis, a native of 
Pennsylvania, and of English descent. Our 
subject's mother was Martha (Richardson) 
Lewis, who was born in Ohio, and the dangh- 
ter of Nathaniel Ricliardson, a native of Con- 
necticnt. In 1853, when the subject of this 
sketch was bnt seven years of age, the family 
moved to Marion County, Iowa, where the 
father lived until 1879, and then in Potta- 
wattamie County till his death, which oc- 
curred in 1882, at the age of seventy years. 
He had been a farmer all his life; politically 
he was a Republican; and religiously a mem- 
ber of the Methodist Church. The mother 
now lives in Madison County, Nebraska. 
They had a family of twelve children, seven 
sons and five daughters, all of whom grew to 
maturity. 

F. M. Lewis remained on the farm in 
Marion County until 1877, when he settled 
six miles from Council Bluffs, and later 
bought eighty acres of land, where he now 
lives. He was one of the early settlers in his 
neighborhood, and has been very successful 
in all his undertakings, being now the owner 



of 200 acres of well improved land. He was 
married in Marion County, Iowa, February 
1, 1877, to Miss Lizzie Devore, who was born 
in Bartholomew County, Indiana, the daugh- 
ter of Levi and Rosetta (Osborne) Devore, 
the former a native of Indiana, and the son 
of Ben Devore, and the latter was the daughter 
of Jonathan Osborne, a native of New Eng- 
land. Mrs. Lewis was but two years of age 
when her parents moved to Marion County, 
where she grew to maturity and was edu- 
cated. Her mother died in 1881, in Potta- 
wattamie County, and the father now lives 
six miles north of Council Bluffs, near Crest- 
cent. Mr. and Mrs. Lewis have lour chil- 
dren: Tonny Benton, Mary Elva, Charles 
Earl and Irvin. Politically Mr. Lewis is a 
Republican; and religiously both himself 
and wife are members of the Evangelical 
Cliurch. 



4 ^' .i ; . ?i .. 




^^ffl||lLLIAM BROWN, one of the sub- 
stantial farmers of James Township, 
is the son of Nathan Brown, who 
was born in Pike' County, Ohio, in 1813. 
He was from an old American family, and 
was reared to farm life. In 1839, at the age 
of twenty-six years, became to Bloomington, 
Iowa, where he settled on a tract of wild 
land, remaining on the same farm for thirty 
years. In the spring of 1872 he came to 
Pottawattamie County, where he bought a 
farm of 640 acres in James Township, which 
he improved. From the effects of blood- 
poisoning occasioned by a wound from a 
needle of a self-binder running through his 
hand, he died, in 1879, at the age of sixty-six 
years. Religiously both Mr. and Mrs. Brown 
were United Brethren. Mr. Brown was a 
hard-working and industrious man, and ac- 
cumulated a handsome fortune. He was of 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY 



349 



a quiet disposition and tooi^ but little interest 
in politics, but was a stanch Democrat. He 
had the respect of his fellow-citizens and liad 
served as Trustee of his township. He took 
an active interest as School Director, and 
built the school-house at District No. 6. He 
was married to Filinda Odell, daughter of 
Thomas Odell, and to tliera were born eight 
children, of whom the two eldest, Johnnie 
and Sarah, died in infancy; Alvira died at 
the age of twenty-six years; Hattie is the 
Wife of Dr. James Welsh, a mining expert 
of New York city, and they have one child, 
Bertie; Johnson is still unmarried; Minor 
married Fannie Parker, of James Township, 
and they have two children, Eva and one un- 
named; William, our subject; and Jessie, 
who married Henry Crommett, deceased, 
formerly a real-estate dealer in Omaha. 

William Brown, a son of the above and 
the subject of this sketch, was born in Mus- 
catine, August 8, 1858, and was reared to 
farm life. He was but sixteen years of age 
when his father came to James Township, 
Pottawattamie County. In 1882 he married 
Allie Irwin, daughter of J. D. and Emily 
(Downs) Irwin, and they have had four cliil- 
dren: Leslie, Ira, Jessie and William. Since 
the death of his father Mr. Brown has been 
managing the farm. He is a practical farmer 
and stands deservedly high as one of the 
young and enterprising citizens of Pottawat- 
tamie County. He owns 240 acres of good 
farm land. Politically he is a Democrat. 



jWEN W. JONES, a Crescent Town- 
ship farmer, was born in Dembershire, 
North Wales, January 18, 1831, a son 
of William and Ann Jones, also natives of 
the same place, occupants of a farm and the 
parents of six children: Avon. David, John, 



Owen W., Ann (wife of Mr. Williams and 
residing in Wales), and William W., deceased. 
When nine years of age Owen was hired out 
on a farm by the year, and remained there 
four years. Then he went to sea on an Eng- 
lish vessel hailing from Conway, Wales, and 
followed a seafaring life for six years, suffer- 
ing many hardships, and being then laid up 
for nine months with a broken leg. In his 
twentieth year he sailed for America on the 
ship Orient, landing at New York some two 
months later, January 3, 1852. After visit- 
ing Cincinnati, Philadelphia and Pittsburg, 
he returned to Cincinnati and was engaged 
there two years as a machinist in a cabinet 
factory. Next he went to Illinois, and was 
soon called to Alton, that State, to viait his 
sick brother, who shortly afterward died. 
After working in a coal mine a few years he 
removed in the spring of 1859 to the Alma 
(Illinois) mines, and then went to St. Louis, 
made several changes and finally landed at 
Council Bluffs, July 4, 1861, after a tedious 
trip up the Missouri. He visited several 
points and finally settled at Big Grove on the 
banks of the river. A flood came and he 
moved out to higher land in skiffs, going into 
a house belonging to John Bird. He began 
trading and got some live-stock together and 
then moved into Garner Townshij). There 
he cut wood and hauled it to town with the 
oxen that he had raised. Subsequently he 
sold the oxen and purchased a team of horses, 
and followed fanning and stock-raising on 
different rented places until in 1866 he bought 
his present farm of sixty acres on section 26, 
land entirely unimproved; and here he has 
made for himself and companion a comfort- 
able home, with a nice frame house, farm 
buildings, orchard, shade trees, flowerino- 
plants, etc. It is indeed a cosy retreat for 
him and his companion in their old age. 
Politically he is a true Democrat, taking 



350 



BIOGRAPHICAL HI8T0RT 



great interest in the public affairs of the 
county. Thej are zealous adherents to the 
I'aith of the Cluirch of Jesus Christ of Latter- 
day SaiiUs. 

September 29, 1858, while engaged^in the 
coal mines in Illinois, he married Mrs. 
Hannah Jones, widow of Samuel Jones, who 
came to America in the spring of 1855, 
settling in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, 
and came thence to Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. 
Samuel Jones have had two children, both of 
whom are deceased. 



IJ4ORENZO D. SEWARD, one of the 
m(i well-known citizens of Pottawattamie 
^^ County, was born in Adams County, 
Illinois, in 1841, the son of Pitney Seward, 
who was a pioneer in that county. When he 
landed at Quincy there was but one house 
tliere. Byrum Seward, the grandfather of 
our subject, was a pioneer of Butler County, 
Ohio, and a cousin of Secretary Seward, of 
Lincoln's administration. He served in the 
war of 1812. Pitney Seward was twice mar- 
ried, first to Mahala Case, and they had eight 
children: Byrum, Julia, Harriet, Franklin, 
Lorenzo, Stephen, Elizabeth and Alice. Mr. 
Seward's second wife was Harriet Case, a 
sister of the first, and they had five children, 
only two of whom grew to maturity, Hattie 
and Sallie. Mr. Seward moved to Clark 
County, Missouri, about 1866, where he died 
at the age of seventy-two years; M'as born in 
1811, and died in 1883; was a member of the 
Cliristian Church, a substantial farmer, and 
was respected by all who knew him. He 
and his father were among tlie first pioneers 
to the Western country. 

Lorenzo D. was but ten years of age when 
he went to Oliio to live with his uncle, and 
but fourteen years of age when he cam'e to 



Iowa in 1855 with his two brothers, Franklin 
and Stephen, landing at Keokuk, wiiere he 
remained until 1858. In that year 'he went 
to Story County and worked on a farm until 
1859, when he went to Colorado, when Den- 
ver was but a small town, and worked in the 
mines and also at teaming. He drove a team 
across the plains from Leaveiiwortli, Kansas, 
to Denver and other points. In 1863 he 
returned to Iowa and married Carrie F. 
Long, of Fremont County, Iowa. The father 
was an old pioneer of that county, having 
settled there in 1859. He was from Wiscon- 
sin, but was a native of Germany. He was 
the father of eleven children, viz.: Charles, 
Rosanna, Catharine, Mary, Maggie, Jacob, 
Carrie, Julia, Rachel, Henry and Clara. The 
father was a substantial farmer, and died in 
Fremont County. Mr. and Mrs. Lorenzo 
Seward are the parents of four children: 
Minnie, Henry, Katie and Effie L., who died 
in infancy. After marriage Mr. Seward set- 
tled in Mills County, Iowa, where he worked 
in a saw-mill for two years. He resided in 
that county until 1878, when he came to 
Pottawattamie County and settled on a farm. 
He purchased his present farm in 1880. He 
is a member of Hancock Valley Lodge, No. 
439, I. O. O. F. In his political views he is 
a Democrat, and is Chairman of the Town- 
ship Democratic Committee. He stands 
high in the community as an honorable man, 
and one who has had a wide experience in 
Western life. 



,ORACE G. LOWE, of section 9, Car- 
son Township, was born in Decatur 
County, Indiana, October 3, 1854, the 
son of Franklin and Julia (Spurling) Lowe; 
the father is a well-known and prominent 
citizen of Carson. They reared a family of six 




J^^.'^^^^-x^ lOr^, 



o—<ic.J<^ 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



351 



childreu. Horace, the eldest child, was reared 
in Decatur County, Indiana, until fourteen 
years of age, when, in the fall of 1870, the 
family removed to Glen wood. Mills County, 
Iowa, where they lived until tiie next spring. 
They then moved on the land wiiere the 
home farm now is. Here he has since re- 
sided with the exception of two years. lu 
1879 he accepted a situation as salesman in 
the mercantile house of Ohfo Knox, of Mace- 
donia; and the next year he accepted a posi- 
tion in tlie mercantile business of L. D. 
Woodmansie, of Wheeler's Grove. In 1881 
he returned to the farm, where he lias since 
resided, which consists of 240 acres of land, 
under a high state of cultivation. 

He was married April 17, 1881, to Miss 
Hattie A. Woodmansie, of Logan County, 
Illinois, who was a cliild of live years when 
her father, L. D. Woodmansie, came to this 
county. He was a native of New Jersey, 
and her mother, Mary (Niswonger) Wood- 
mansie, was a native of Oliio. Mr. and Mrs. 
Lowe have two children. Mabel and Loren. 
Politically Mr. Lowe is a Republican, and 
he and his wife are members of the Presby- 
terian Church. Mr. Lowe is an honored and 
esteemed citizen of the county, where he has 
resided for so many years. 

..■^ i| . 3 ii t .i^^... 



tEWIS W. ROSS, attorney at law, Coun- 
cil Bluffs, was born of Scotch lineage, 
October 15, 1827, in Hanover Town- 
ship, Butler County, Ohio. His grandfather, 
Ezekiel Ross, and his father, Amos Ross, 
natives of Essex County, New Jersey, settled 
in Butler County, Oiiio, in 1814. Ezekiel 
died in 1845, in his eighty-ninth year, and 
was buried in the Bethel burying ground 
near his homestead. Amosdied in his seventy- 
ninth year, in Jersey County, Illinois, and 



was buried in the Jerseyville cemetery. 
Lewis W. Ross remained on tiie home farm 
until his twentieth year. May 1, 1848, he 
entered Farmer's College, near Cincinnati, 
and continued there until the winter of 1850, 
when he changed to Miami University, lo- 
cated at Oxford, Ohio, graduating from that 
institution in the month of June, 1852. At 
Farmer's College he had among his instructors 
Robert H. Bishop, D. D., and numbered 
among his student acquaintences Oliver W. 
Nixon, of the Inter-Ocean; William C. Gray, 
of the Interior; Murat Halsted, late of the 
Commercial Gazette; Lewis B. Gunkle, law- 
yer and capitalist, Dayton, Ohio; Joseph M. 
Gregory, lawyer, Memphis, Tennessee; Jacob 
C. Denise, M. D., Omaha, Nebraska; and 
Benjamin Harrison, the present occupant of 
the White House at Washington. In Miami 
University, he had among his class-mates 
Milton Saylor, twice elected to Congress from 
a Cincinnati district; David Swing, now of 
Chicago; and Benjamin Harrison, already 
mentioned. Saylor received tiie first, and 
Swing the second, honors of the class. 

After leaving college, Mr. Ross read law 
in Hamilton, Ohio, for two full years, pass- 
ing to the bar in the summer of 1854. His 
law preceptors were Joseph Scott, a notable 
example of the advocate and court lawyer in 
the same person; and N.C. McFarland, a man 
of excellent common sense, and untiring in- 
dustry. Scott was afterward, for many years, 
one of the Supreme Judges of the State of 
Ohio ; and McFarland served under President 
Arthur as Commissioner of the General Land 
Office. After coming to the bar Mr. Ross 
located in Hamilton, Ohio, remaining there 
in practice for a period of two years. In the 
month of August, 1856, he removed to Cass 
County, Iowa. 

On the 3d day of January, 1861, he settled 
in Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie County, 



352 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY 



Iowa, which place has always since been his 
home, except a temporary absence, extending 
through seven years, whilst employed in the 
State University. It is fair to say that he has 
given his life to the study and practice of his 
profession. He was State Senator in the 10th 
and 11th General Assemblies. Being a mem- 
ber of the Judiciary and Public Land Com- 
mittees, his legal knowledge and professional 
experience were in constant demand and ex- 
ercise. In 1864 he was elected a Trustee of 
the State University for four years, and re- 
elected in 1868. In 1874 he was elected a 
Regent of the University for six years. In 

1880 he was made Eesident Professor of the 
Law Department of the University, and in 

1881 was promoted to the office of Chancellor 
of that Department. As Trustee and Regent 
he labored earnestly and successfully in 
strengthening and developing the University. 
He was especially active and largely instru- 
mental in organizing and establishing the 
Law, Medical, and Homeopathic-Medical 
Departments. During the seven years of his 
service as Professor and Chancellor, he taught 
with other subjects. Equity, Real Property, 
Torts, and Common Law and Code Pleading. 
During this period the faculty and lecturers 
consisted of James M. Love, George G. 
Wright, Austin Adams, John N. Rogers, 
John F. Dnncombe, Emlin McClain and J. 
L. Pickard. As Chancellor the subject of 
this sketch was the responsible head of the 
faculty, composed of men eminent as jurists, 
lawyers and teachers. It is worthy of notice 
that during all the years of this headship, the 
most perfect harmony prevailed between the 
faculty and himself, and between the several 
persons composing the faculty. In author- 
ship Mr. Ross has rroduced but little of per- 
manent value. While in the law school he 
published, in aid of his platform work, " An 
Outline of Common Law and Code Pleading," 



also, " An Outline of the Law of Real Prop- 
erty," and other fragmentary works. These, 
though valuable to himself and to his pupils 
at the time they were issued and used, were 
not designed for the active jurist, or the 
practicing lawyer. At the bar Mr. Ross 
ranks high as an equity and real-estate law- 
yer. To him causes of this character have all 
the charm of romance. 

In his domestic relations he is fortunate 
and happy. In 1855 he was married to Miss 
Zoe M. Brown, in Lebanon, Ohio. Five chil- 
dren, all living, to-wit: Charles, Hester, 
Edith, Anna, and Dillon, are the fruit of this 
union. Mrs. Ross is now in mature woman- 
hood, and very active in promoting Christian 
and charitable enterprises. 



fOHN W. RURCKHALTER, oneof the 
prominent farmers of Lincoln Town- 
ship, is of an old American family of 
German descent. Abraham Burckhalter, his 
orandfather, came from South Carolina to 
Ohio about 1811, and then removed to Union 
County, Indiana, then to Boone County, 
same State, in 1831. When he tirst came to 
Ohio his wife rode a horse and he walked. 
He was the father of nine children, viz.: 
Cason, Jeremiah, James S., Joseph, Thomas, 
Fannie, Rebecca, Sarah, and a daughter whose 
name is unknown, who married and reared a 
family. Abraham Burckhalter lived to the 
age of seventy years, and died in Boone 
County, Indiana. He was a prominent farmer 
of that county, and was able to give each of 
his children eighty acres of land. James S., 
the son of the above and the father of our 
subject, was born in 1818, on a farm in 
Union County, Indiana, and was married in 
Boone County to Leah Belles, daughter of 
William and Mary(flotf) Belles. The father 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



353 



was born in New Jersey, and is said to have 
royal blood in his veins. He was married 
in that State at an early day, and then moved 
to Cincinnati, Ohio, when that city was a 
small village, and where he worked at the 
carpenter's trade. He afterward settled in 
Boone Connty, Indiana. He was the father 
of ten children, all of whom lived to years of 
maturity, namely: Isaac, Elisha, Eliza, Cath- 
erine, Jacob, Peter, Ann, Leah and two others. 
Mr. William Belles died in Boone Connty, at 
the age of sixty-two years, and his wife, 7iee 
Mary Hoff, lived to the great age of 104 
years, dying in Pottawattamie County, Iowa, 
in 1888. To Mr. and Mrs. James Burck- 
halter were born eight children: Daniel A., 
John W., Thomas W., Abijah C, Eliza J., 
Cynthia A., Mary P. and Laura A. Mr. 
Burckhalter remained in Boone County until 
the year 1854, when he came to Marion 
County, Iowa, and settled on a tine farm 
of 300 acres. At the age of forty-four 
years he enlisted in tlie war, serving one 
year, but died on the steamboat on his way 
home, and was buried at St. Louis. His son 
Daniel was also in the war, and served three 
years in Company K, Third Iowa Cavalry, 
and was in the battle of Salina, Arkansas; 
was taken prisoner by the Confederates, but 
Boon made his escape. 

John W. Burckhalter, our subject, was 
born September 23, 1845, and at the age of 
nine years he came with his father to Marion 
County, Iowa, where he has grown to man- 
hood. It) 1873 he came to Lincoln Town- 
ship, where he remained one year, and next 
removed to Cass County, where he also re- 
sided one year, returning to Marion, where 
he resided four years. In 1879 he returned 
to Lincoln Township and settled on his 
present farm, then consisting of eighty acres 
of wild land, but to which he has since 
added until he now owns 240 acres of im- 



proved land. Politically he is a Republican. 
He was married in Marion County, Iowa, 
February 25, 1872, by Rev. C. M. Bingham, 
pastor of the Congregational Church of 
Otley, Marion County, Iowa, to Sabinah 
Roberts, daughter of Simon S. and Nancy 
(Donnell) Roberts. Simon S. Roberts was 
born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, October 9, 
1808; taken when ten years of age by his 
parents to Ohio; at twenty-one learned the 
trade of carpenter and millwright; moved to 
Indiana, thence to Missouri, where he was 
building water mills for ten years. Then he 
returned to Ohio and was married, to Miss 
Elizabeth Conrad, in 1844, and they were 
the parents of three children: James P., 
George and Charles. They removed to Iowa 
in 1846. He was again married, to Nancy 
M. Donnell, daughter of John C. and Nancy 
(McRoberts) Donnell, September 22, 1850, 
and they had the following children: Orin, 
Sabinah, Eva, Ethel, Millie, Mary E., Sarah, 
Elsie, Edwin and Maggie. To Mr. and Mrs. 
Burckhalter liave been born seven children, 
all of whom are still living, namely: Thomas 
W., born February 11, 1875; Simon R., Au- 
gust 28, 1876; James H., January 22, 1879; 
Mary E., November 1, 1882; Bertha E., 
April 27, 1885; George C, May 28, 1888; 
and an infant, Eva Irene, born September 
22, 1890. 

Nancy M. Donnell was born in Seneca 
County, Ohio, February 12, 1828, came with 
her parents to Marion Couuty, Iowa, in 
1848, and married Mr. Roberts, as above men- 
tioned. 

Tlie grandparents of Nancy M. Donnell, 
on her mother's side, were McRoberts. Her 
grandfather, of Scotch descent, was a Revo- 
lutionary soldier, was at the surrender of 
Lord Cornwallis, and saw the British stack 
their arms. Mrs. McRoberts, nee Nancy 
Hyland, was born in Virginia in 1757. 



S54 



BIOGBAPHTGAL BISTORT 



Grandfather John Donnell married Mary 
Boyd, died in Pennsylvania, and his widow 
moved to Ohio with her son, John C, when 
he w'as twelve years of age. Born in the 
Keystone State in 1801, he was married Au- 
gust 4, 1825, to Nancy McRoberts, and they 
had eigiit children. In 1848 they moved to 
Iowa, where they resided until their death, 
his taking place December 14, 1887, and 
hers February 24, 1888. 

I.I 'i £ » i i ' i * S '* "* — 



jLBEIlT STONE, a farmer of section 
29, Carson Township, has been a resi- 
dent of this county since October, 1883. 
He was born in Mahoning County, Ohio, 
October 7, 1843, a sou of Ormaii Stone, a 
native of Connecticut, and a farmer all his 
life. Albert's mother, whose maiden name 
was Polly Minard, was a native of Connecti- 
cut. The parents moved lirst to New York 
State, and finally to Mahoning County, Ohio, 
being among the first settlers there, and re- 
mained there until their death, bringing up 
four sons and four daughters. 

Albert, the youngest of the family, of 
course was reared upon a farm. During the 
war, under the first call for 300,000 men, 
August 22, 1862, he enlisted in Company A, 
One Hundred and Twenty-fifth Ohio Volun- 
teer Infantry, and served until the close of 
the war. The first battle in which his regi- 
ment engaged was at Franklin, Tennessee, 
and afterwai-d in the battles of Chiclcamauga, 
Missionary Ridge, Dandridge, and was with 
General Sherman in his Georgia campaign, 
participating in the battles of Resaca, Kene- 
eaw Mountain, Peach-Tree Creek, New Hope 
Church, Buzzard's Roost, Chickopee River, 
siege of Atlanta, Jonesboro, pursuit of 
Hood from Nashville, Spring Hill and 



Franklin again, besides many skirmishes. 
He was honorably discharged in June, 1865. 
In 1872, in Hancock County, Ohio, he 
married Miss Leticia Eckert, who was born 
and reared in that county, the daughter of 
natives of Ohio. Mr. Stone then moved to 
Putnam County, Ohio, where he lived eleven 
years. In 1883 he came to Pottawattamie 
County and purchased his present farm of 
the Furgeson Brothers (G. M. and J. L.) 
The first improvements on this farm were 
made by Charles German. It contains 110 
acres, and is good land, in a good condition. 
Mr. Stone is a radical Republican. The 
children are: Sullivan, John W., William E.. 
Emma L., Edna B. and Mabel M. 



I^ENRY GITTENS, a farmer of Boomer 
Township, was born in Shropshire, 
England, November 27, 1821, a son of 
Watkin and Hannah (Edwards) Gittens, par- 
ents, also natives of the same shire. Watkin 
Gittens was born in March, 1800, brought 
up on a farm, and at the age of twenty yeai-s 
married the affluent Lady Jane Edwards, and 
engaged in the mercantile trade at West 
Bromwich,five miles from Birmingham. He 
accumulated a little fortune. His wife died 
in January, 1839, leaving one child, the sub- 
ject of this sketch. He afterward married 
again. 

Henry left home at the age of thirteen 
years, was employed on a farm, and was also 
wood-ranger for Earl of Dartmouth, Sand- 
well Hall. During this period. May 1, 1849, 
he married Miss Jane, daughter of William 
and Ann Walton, natives of England. In 
the Walton family were seven children: 
Jane, John, Ann, Catharine, James, William 
and Sarah. Mrs. Gittens was born January 
29, 1820, and on reaching womanhood be- 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



355 



came housekeeper for a man named Lee, a 
cabinet-maker, and wliile there, at the age of 
twenty -eight years, she was married. 

A few years afterward, February 15, 1853, 
Mr. Gittens emigrated to America, landing 
at New Orleans. Five weeks later he came 
on to Council Bluffs, lauding here with only 
50 cents in purse, and with a sick wife and 
child! Owing $3, he first paid this debt by 
selling a sack of flour which he had brought 
from St. Louis. The first two years he fol- 
lowed agriculture on a farm in Paine's Hol- 
low, and then took up 120 acres of land on 
section 34, which constitute a part of his 
present place, at the Government price of 
$1.25 per acre. On the money he borrowed 
to pay for the place he had to pay 40 to 60 
per cent. He built a large log house, 1(5 x 18 
feet, and made the usual improvements. He 
also began raising sheep, but dogs and wolves 
consumed the profits. At present he has a 
total of 320 acres of land, 200 in cultiva- 
tion. Being industrious and economical he 
has established a comfortable home, although 
he has suffered many hardships of pioneer- 
ing. In 1875 he erected a brick Jiouse, 
thirty-eight feet square and two stories high. 

The greater part of the last four years he 
has spent in taking care of his invalid wife, 
who died in March, 1889. They were the 
parents of six children, namely: Sai-ah A., 
born in England, September 7, 1851, and is 
now the wife of Andrew C. Peterson, in 
Boomer Township; Catharine, born April 
23, 1853, died in December following; 
Henry William, born September 20, 1855, 
now a resident of this county; Kate Walton, 
born February 4, 1857, and is now the wife 
of Lawrence H. Hanson, in this county; 
Richard A., born July 8, 1858, and also a 
resident of this county; and James Watkin, 
born September 19, 1860, and a resident 
also of Pottawattamie County. 



April 19, 1890, Mr. Gittens married Miss 
Martha Dahl, a daughter of Nels and Mar- 
garet (Nelson) Dahl, natives of Denmark, in 
whose family were the following named 
children: Louisa Maria, the wife of -Gasper 
Clemenson, and residing in Denmark, a 
captain of a line of vessels; Emma Nicholina, 
wife of Shumaker Jacobson, in Denmark; 
Martha Christina was the next; James An- 
drew, in Council Bluffs; Bartel C. and Nel- 
sena, both deceased; Olinda, a milliner of 
California, who died in Nevada Township 
while on her way to visit her sister, Mrs. 
Gittens; Caroline, wife of C. Nelson, and 
residing in Chicago. Mrs. Gittens was born 
March 28, 1842, and was reared at home, 
where her mother kept a millinery store. 
She thus acquired a taste for trimming hats, 
which business she has followed to some ex- 
tent since coming here with her parents in 
1874, when she located first at Ogdeu, Utah 
Territory, April 6. A year afterward they 
sold out their nice home there and came to 
Boomer Township, locating upon a farm. By 
the first marriage there has been one child 
born, which died young. Mrs. Gittens is a 
woman of great ability and has helped 
materially to win a fortune. She has two 
good pieces of property in Council Bluffs, 
where she made her home previous to the 
last marriage. 

Mr. Gittens is a stanch Democrat, voting, 
however, for the best man in local elections, 
and taking an active interest in public aflairs. 
He has occasionally been sent as a delegBte 
to county and State conventions. He has 
been Justice of the Peace for Boomer Town- 
ship for twenty-eight successive years, and 
Notary Public, and has held various other 
township ofiices. He was one of the men 
who organized Boomer Township in 1859. 
Was one of the ajipraisers of the right of way 
for the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Rail- 



356 



BIOQRAPEIOAL HISTORY 



road through the county. He retains in his 
possession an interesting diary, wliich he 
kept for twenty years. 




JILLIAM McKEOWN, farmer, was 
born in Upper Canada, March 7, 
1828, the son of William and Jane 
(Lucas) McKeown, natives of Ireland but of 
Scotch ancestry. The senior McKeown was 
a niillwriglit by trade and went to Ireland to 
work, where he was eventually killed. His 
Soli, the father of the subject of this sketch, 
was left in the world at an early age as an 
orphan. In 1815 he came to America, land- 
ing in Quebec, Canada. He was married to 
Jane Lucas, daughter of Andrew and Eliza- 
beth (Edwards) Lucas, natives of Ireland, 
who came to America in 1818, landing also 
at Quebec. Mr. Andrew Lucas was also a 
farmer, and in his family were thirteen chil- 
dren, viz.: Jane, the mother of the subject 
of this sketch; John, who resided in Upper 
Canada; James, Mary ar.d five others are de- 
ceased; George resides in Upper Canada; 
Ann is the wife of James Edwards in Mich- 
igan; Andrew is in Canada; and Elizabel'i is 
the wife of George Fuller, also in that Do- 
minion. Jane was born in 1800, bi-ought up 
as a farmer's daughter and was married at 
the age of twenty years. They settled on a 
homestead, where they remained eight years, 
and where Mr. McKeown died, in October, 
1827, leaving his wife and four children, 
namely: Thomas, deceased; Jane, the wife 
of Ilobert Gardner, and residing in Utah; 
Elizabeth, the wife of Robert Brice and 
living in Canada; and William, the subject 
of this notice. 

The latter, born after his father's death, 
has never known parental care and protection, 
and when he was one year old his mother 



married James Kilfoyle, a native of Ireland 
who came to America in 1824 and ^vas a 
farmer. After that marriage they moved to 
Canada West, and in 1848 came to Pottawat- 
tamie County, where his wife died, April 18, 
1853. They were the parents of nine chil- 
dren, thus: Francis, deceased; Andrew, re- 
siding in Utah Territory; Mary Ann (1), 
who died in infancy; Mary Ann (2), who 
married James Day and has since died ; 
Caroline, who married George Snyder and 
has since died; Martha, deceased; Kachel, 
the wife of John Winegar and residing in 
Utah; AVesley, residing in Orleans; and 
James, also a resident of Utah. After Mrs. 
Kilfoyle's death, Mr. Kilfoyle married again, 
in Utah, and remained in that Territory 
until his death in 1871 or 1872. 

Mr. McKeown, whose name heads this 
sketch, left home at the age of twelve years 
with the consent of his mother and worked 
as a laborei', his earnings going to her sup- 
port. In 1847 he came to Pottawattamie 
County and settled on 280 acres of wild and 
rough prairie land in Bloomer Town8hi|.), the 
following May. He married Eliza Jane 
Hall, May 9, 1848, who was the daughter of 
Joseph and Johanna (Chillis) Hall, natives 
of New York State and the parents of eleven 
children, viz.: Joshua, Mary, Alfred, de- 
ceased; Joseph, residing in Missouri; Mark, 
in Utah; five died in infancy. Mrs. Eliza 
McKeown was born in Indiana July 10, 1826, 
and came to Iowa in 1846 and the next year 
to this county. She was married in 1848, at 
the age of tweuty-two years. Mr. McKeown 
began to improve his land by erecting a log 
cabin 14 x 14, building the usual barns, 
fences, etc... and breaking the land with oxen 
which he iiad himself roared; and here he 
experienced many of the hardships of pio- 
neer life in a wild country. When he reaped 
his first little harveut his parents came and 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE OOUNTT. 



357 



he gave up his home and faryi once more. 
After a miiuber of changes from place to 
place, he, in 1853, bought forty acres of his 
present place, and spent a year with his wife's 
father in Missouri. Since then he has added 
to that first purchase until he now has 280 
acres on sections 31 and 32; he iias sold 
forty acres. He has made many valuable im- 
provements, in the way of barn, sheds, etc., 
and erected a fine frame house 16 x 36 feet, 
two-stories liigh, with cellar 16 x 36. Orna- 
mental trees and an orciiard add value to the 
premises. He has a good farm, of which 
240 acres are in cultivation, and the remain 
der in hay, pasture and timber. He has been 
a hard-working and industrious man, and 
now in his old days he has a comfortable 
home to enjoy. 

He tai<es an active interest in Democracy; 
has been the Trustee, Eoad Supervisor and 
on the Boai-d of Education, and is zealously 
interested in the promotion of the welfare of 
his community. 

He is a member of the Church of Latter- 
Day Saints, as was also his wife, and is 
highly respected by his fellow-citizens. Mrs. 
McKeown died February 4, 1870, leaving 
eleven children, born and named as follows: 
William Alfred, born March 26, 1850, re- 
sides in Pottawattamie County; Thomas Al- 
len, born in Indiana, January 9, 1852, now 
living in Nebraska; Joseph Hall, born in 
.Missouri, June 7, 1854, and now residing in 
Pottawattamie County; Mary Elizabetli, wife 
of William Bi-otherton, was born June 12, 
1856, and resides in Harrison County, Iowa; 
Eobert Henry, born May 2, 1858, now lives 
in Nebraska; a girl was next born, Novem- 
ber 12, 1859, died in infancy; Martha Jane, 
wife of Peter Acton, was born February 20, 
1861, and resides in Pottawattamie County; 
Johanna, born July 30, 1863, is now living 
in Neltraska; Eliza Ellen, born June 3, 1865, 



died March 16, 1880; David Albert, born 
February 16, 1867, resides in Utah; George 
Wesley, born January 13, 1870, also resides 
in Utah. 

After the death of his wife, February 11, 
1873, Mr. McKeown married Jennet Kirk- 
wood, the daughter of Kobert and Mary 
(Muir) Kirkwood, whose history will be 
found on another page. By the last marriage 
there are nine children, as follows: Arthur 
Lee, born May 22, 1874; Agnes Belle, Au- 
gust 27, 1875; John Robert, April 7, 1877; 
Grace May, August 22, 1879: Susan Janet, 
March 9, 1880; Violet, December 11, 1884; 
Margaret, November 7, 1885: Alice Annye, 
July 30, 1887, and Emma Melissa, March 10, 
1889. All these children are still at home ; 
two are members of the Church of the Latter- 
Day Saints. 



tOGAN McREYNOLDS, one of the in- 
telligent and successful farmers of Pot- 
tawattamie County, was born in Saline 
County, Missouri, November 28, 1842, the 
son of John M. McReynolds, who was a son 
of Joseph McReynolds, and a native of Ten- 
nessee. He was married in Saline County, 
Missouri, to Lucinda Meadows, a native of 
Virginia, and they were the parents of seven 
children, five now living. The mother is still 
living in Missouri, at the age of seventy-five 
years. She is a member of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church. 

Our subject's father died when he was but 
thirteen years of age, and as he was the eldest 
Son he was obliged to take care of his mother 
and the younger children, and he therefore 
received but a limited education. In 1863 
he went to Colorado, where he was engaged 
in freighting until 1865, when he returned 
to Missouri and remained until 1875. In 



S58 



BIOORAPEICAL HISTORY 



that year he came to Pottawattamie County, 
Iowa, where he bought 100 acres of wild 
prairie land, but which he has since im- 
proved ijntil he has now a line, large farm. 
On this place he has a good cottage 14 x 24 
and 16x16 feet, which is surrounded by 
shade and ornamental trees and a tine grove 
of four acres. Mr. McReynolds is engaged 
ill general farming and stock-raising. 

He was married August 28, 1876, to Miss 
Lydia SchauU, who was born near Charles- 
ton, Jefferson County, Virginia, and is the 
daughter of John B. and Kebecca (Bell) 
Shaull, who were also natives of Virginia. 
The parents came to Missouri and resided for 
a time in Fayette County, and then moved 
to Vernon County, where they still reside. 
Mr. and Mrs. McKeynolds have an adopted 
daughter named Katie. Mr. McReynolds is 
a Democrat politically, and both he and his 
wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church at Oakland. Our subject is yet in 
the prime of life, is frank and honest in his 
manner, and is respected and esteemed by 
all who know him. 







riLLIAM J. WHEELER, of section 
7, Carson Township, was born in 
Decatur Count}', Indiana, May 3, 
1837, the son of Josephus Wheeler, a native 
of Kentucky, and the son of Thomas 
Wheeler, a native of Virginia. Tiie Wheel- 
ers were early settlers in Kentucky, and Jo- 
sephus was reared in Nicholas County. He 
was sixteen years of age when he came to 
Decatur County, Indiana, with his parents, 
when that place was then a wilderness. Our 
subject's mother was Rebecca (Lock) AVheeler, 
a native of Kentucky. They had twelve ciiii- 
dren, of whom live sons and three daughters 



grew up to maturity. The family next 
moved to Howard County, Indiana, in 1866, 
and there resided until their death. Tlie father 
died at the advanced age of seventy-four years, 
and the mother at seventy-one or seventy-two. 
The father was a farmer all his life, and in 
his political principles he was first a Whig 
and afterward a Republican. 

W. J. Wheeler was reared on an Indiana 
farm, and in his youth he was engaged in 
chopping, grubbing and clearing the land. 
He taught school three terms, teaching the 
first term in his own district. At the 
time of the great Rebellion he left the farm, 
at Lincoln's call for 300,000 more men, 
for the army, and enlisted in the Seventh In- 
diana Kegiment, which was among the first 
that went out as a i-ecruit, August 28, 1861, 
and returned with the regiment to the Array 
of the Potomac. He was in the battles of 
Bull Run, Cedar Mountain and several other 
slight skirmishes. He was honorably dis- 
charged in December, 1862, and returned to 
Decatur County, Indiana. 

He was married March 11, 1864, in Carl- 
isle, the countj-seat of Nicholas County, 
Kentucky, to Miss H. T. Clayton, a native 
of that county, and a daughter of William 
M. Clayton, Sr., who was a soldier and was 
wounded in the war of 1812; she was a sis- 
ter of Hon. B. F. Clayton of Macedonia. 
After his marriage Mr. Wheeler resided in 
Decatur County until 1869, when he moved 
to southwestern Missouri, Jasper County, 
near Carthage, where he lived five years, en- 
gaged in farming and general work. He 
then returned to Indiana and resided in 
Howard County three years. He then re- 
moved to Pottawattamie County, Iowa, first 
settlingnear Macedonia, where he resided three 
years. He then purchased his present farm 
of seventy acres, which was then wild land, 
and has since added to it until he now has 



OF POTTAWATrAMlE COUNfr. 



339 



140 acres, or one-t'ourth of section 7. lie is 
engaged in general fanning and stock-raising. 
Politically Mr. Wheeler is a Republican, 
his first vote being cast for Fremont. He is 
a member of Kobert Provard Post of Carson. 
Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler have been identified 
with the Christian Church for many years. 

Kg) H. WIND is the proprietor and man- 
ager of the sasli and door factory and 
® planing-mill at the corner of Broad 
and Tiiirteentli streets, which he erected last 
spring (1890). It is 48 x 60 feet in ground 
area and two-stories high. Previous to his 
erection of this mill Mr. Wind operated a 
similar factory at 255 Vine Street, four years, 
and prior to that he was engaged in contract- 
ing and building, etc., which he has followed 
in connection with the business already men- 
tioned for the past sixteen years in this city. 
He first came to Council Bluffs about 1867, 
first becoming employed as foreman by one 
of the leading contractors for about seven 
years. He has erected many of the principal 
buildings of the city. Was contractor for 
the Masonic Temple, the Chautauqua Taber- 
nacle, the Sapp building, Marcus block and 
many other business blocks and residences. 
He came here from Nebraska City, where he 
had been residing about a year. He has also 
resided at Chicago, St. Louis and other points, 
engaged at his trade. He is part owner of 
the Council Bluffs Handle Factory and vice- 
president of the company. 

He was born December 10, 1844, in Den- 
mark, was educated for the teachers' profes- 
sion, of which his father was a member, but 
after his eighteenth year he preferred a 
mechanical trade, which he began to learn, 
and in the spring of 1865 he came to Amer- 
ica, and since 1867 lie has been a resident of 

28 



Council Bluffs, figuring conspicuously in the 
history of the city. Being a zealous Repub- 
lican, he has taken an active part in political 
affairs. In March, 1890. he was elected 
Alderman of the second ward. Lie is Mas- 
ter of Excelsior Lodge, No. 259, F. & A. M., 
and is Past Pligh Priest of the Star Chapter, 
No. 47, and member of Ivanhoe Command- 
ery, No. 17, K. T. He is also a member of 
Hazel Camp, Modern Woodmen. He is one 
of the directors of the State Savings Bank, 
and President of the Masonic Temple As- 
sociation. Owning two farms in Hardin 
Township, of 120 and 160 acres, he has also 
been engaged in agricultural pursuits. Oue 
of these he has himself improved from its 
original wild condition. He also owns con- 
siderable real estate in the city, — about twelve 
houses in different parts, eight of which are 
dwelling-houses on Washington avenue, and 
he has dealt some in real estate. His resi- 
dence is at 738 Washington avenue, corner 
of Curtice street. It is difficult to estimate 
the number of buildings he has erected, lie 
put up thirty-seven last year. 

He was married in 1867, in Council Bluffs, 
to Mary Hansen, who was born in Denmark, 
October 10, 1849, and was brought to this 
country when seven years of age. They have 
nine children, namely: Lena B., Andrew M., 
Harvey P., Rose M., Nellie M., Evarts H., 
Floy M., and Viva and Vera (twins), — all at 
home. Mr. Wind's parents were Andrew I 
and Magdalin K. (Erickson) Wind ; the 
mother is deceased. 



■v->«- 



F. JONES, of section .3, Carson Town- 
ship, was born in Ross County, Ohio, 
■<' July 12, 1846, the son of Josepli 
and Mary Elizabeth (Dickey) Jones, the 
former a native of Bedford County, Virginia, 



300 



BIOOIiAPHICAr ni STORY 



an old Virginian settler, who was the son of 
Jesse Jones, who served in the war of 1812; 
the latter was born in Bedford County, and 
was also the daughter of an old Virginia 
settler. They had nine children, all of whom 
are now living. 

R. F. Jones, the eighth child of seven sons 
and two daughters, was three years of age 
when he moved with his parents to Davis 
County, Iowa, where he grew to manhood, 
engaged at farm work and attending school. 
At the age of nineteen he came to Pottawat- 
tamie County, where he lived for four and a 
half years. He first bought land in this 
county, in 1872, in Carj-on Township, section 
11, which Consisted of forty acres, which he 
afterward broke and sold. In 1874 he 
bought 120 acres of wild land, which he suc- 
cessfully broke, and built a good frame house. 
This was part of his present farm, and he 
now has 310 acres in rich bottom land along 
the Nishnabotna River, adjoining the town 
plat of Carson, and is second to none in loca- 
tion in the eastern part of the county. 
Shadeland, the home, is a beautiful place, and 
will compare iavorably with any in western 
Iowa. Here Mr. Jones raises trotting and 
rop,d horses of the Hambletonjan breed, and 
he also has a tine herd of red-polled cattle. 
He was one of the pioneers in the raising of 
tine horses and cattle in the county, and his 
herds are as tine as any that can be found in 
this part of the State. 

Mr. Jones was married to Miss Cora Crain, 
of Macedonia Township, at Council Bluffs, 
Iowa, September 13, 1870, the daughter of 
John E. and Talitiia (Thompson) Crain: the 
former was born in Ohio, and was reared at 
Fairfield, Jefferson County, Iowa, and was 
educated at Philadelphia; the latter was a 
native of Lancaster, Ohio, and died when 
Mrs. Jones was eighteen months old. Mr. 
and Mrs. Jones have six children: Edith, 



Laura, James Arthur, Robert Franklin, Al- 
bert Lea, Lulu Way and Rolland Roscoe. 
Politically Mr. Jones is a Republican, and in 
1884 was elected Supervisor of the count}' by 
a large majority; the court- house was built 
during his term. He has also been Township 
Trustee for six years, and is a member of the 
I. O. O. F., Carson Lodge, No. 444. Mrs. 
Jones is a member of the Presbyterian 
Church, of which Mr. Jones has been Trus- 
tee, and is a supporter. 

fD. HOOKER, of section 11, Carson 
Township, was born in Chautauqua 
* County. New York, July 10, 1837, the 
son of H. M. and Nancy (Palmeter) Hooker; 
tile father was a native of fTcnesee County, 
New York, and a relative of the General, 
" Fighting Joe Hooker." The fainily were of 
English ancestry, and descendants of two 
brothers, who were among tiie early emi- 
grants to the northeastern States. The 
parents reared a family of ten children. The 
father was born in 1810, and came to Iowa, 
settling in Delaware County in 1854, being 
one of the first settlers in that county. 
He lived there until his death, which took 
place in March, 1874. The mother resides 
in this county, at the age of seventy-four 
years. 

J. D. Hooker first worked in a saw-mill in 
Pennsylvania, having been brought up in the 
lumber regions of southern New York, and 
was well fitted for that situation. He came 
to Iowa in the spring of 1855, when quite a 
young man, and his experience in the saw- 
mill made him quite a desirable man to servo 
in the capacity of foreman, and he easily ob- 
tained a situation. He remained here five 
years and then purchased a farm in Delaware 
County, Iowa, wiiich he sold in 1869. Here 



OF POT r AW ATT AM IE GOUJ^TY. 



361 



he first commenced the study of veterinary 
surgery, practicing occasionally while he car- 
ried on his farm. He removed to Webster 
County, south of Fort Dodge, where he lived 
for two year;:, and in May, 1871, Urst came 
to Pottawattamie County, and settled on 
prairie land, wlien all was new and wild in 
that county. Mr. Hooker now owns a valu- 
able farm situated about one mile from Car- 
son. He has a blacksmith shop run by his 
sons, and his home, called Pleasant Valley, is 
a beautiful place. 

He carries a full line of instruments of 
all kinds, especially those required in horse 
dentistry and surgery, having over $200 
worth altogether. He is also the inventor of 
Hooker's Cure for Flatulent ("wind") Colic, 
one of the most prevalent and fatal diseases 
of the iiorse, and he contemplates beginning 
soon to manufacture the medicine. 

He was married in Delaware County, Iowa, 
July 10, 1861, to Miss T. J. Wilson, the 
daughter of John and Jane (Crelling) Wilson; 
the former was born of Scotch parents, who 
had settled in Ireland, where he was born; 
and the latter was born in Northumberland, 
England; the family came to the United 
States in 1848, and settled in Iowa County, 
Wisconsin, and in 1858 came to Delaware 
County, Iowa. The father died in 1876 in 
Delaware County, and the mother still lives 
at Sioux City, Iowa, at the age of seventy- 
three years. Mr. and Mrs. Hooker have 
nine children, namely: J. M., a contractor 
and builder in Chase County, Nebraska; C. 
M., at home; Edward D., residing in Chase 
County, Nebraska; James D., residing at the 
same place; Jenny L., the wife of Frank 
Perry, of Washington Township; Lewis J., 
at home; Shockey E., Jennie E., Frederick S. 
They lost one child, Leander Vern, by death, 
when two and a half years old. Politically 
Mr. Hooker is a Democrat, and has served 



in some of the minor offices of the township. 
He is a skilled veterinary surgeon, having 
had about thirty years' e.xperience, and is 
considered one of the leading authorities in 
the eastern part of the county. 

... .i? . ;i i ; . 9 i . >.w. 



fOHN A. FRANK, a prominent farmer 
of Lincoln Township, was born on a farm 
in the mountains of Switzerland, De- 
cember 18, 1845, the son of Jacob Joseph 
Frank, who was a farmer of Tyrol, Switzer- 
land. He was married to Ursula Platz, and to 
them were born five children: Marion, Frank, 
Joseph, John A. and Ursula. The grand- 
father was in the war with Napoleon. The 
ancestors of the family were natives of Swit- 
zerland, where they have resided for gen- 
erations, and they possess the sterling 
characteristics of the liberty-loving Swiss 
people in a marked degree. Mr. Frank was 
a member of the Catholic Church, and lived 
to the age of sixty- five years. 

John A. Frank, a son of the above and the 
subject of this sketch, was reared to farm 
life, and in 1866, at the cage of twenty-one 
years, came to America. He landed in New 
York, and then went to Washington city, 
where he worked in a brewery for two years. 
In 1868 he went to LaFayette County, Wis- 
consin, where he worked on a farm, and 
where he remained until 1873. He then 
came to Pottawattamie County and bought 
240 acres of wild land, which he has since 
improved, and to which he has wisely added 
until he now owns a magnificent farm of 915 
acres. H.e was married in Wisconsin, July 
5, 1870, to Elizabeth Hart, who was born in 
Clarion County, Pennsylvania, February 6, 
1 840, the daughter of August and Kate Hart, 
who were natives of France. The father was 
a Clarion County farmer in comfortable cir- 



362 



BIOQHAPHICAL UlSTORT 



cumstances, and was the father of six chil- 
dren: Martha, Mary, Elizabeth, Kate, Harry 
and Louise. Mr. and Mrs. Frank are the 
parents of two children: Joseph, born April 
20, 1872, in Grant County, Wisconsin; and 
Jessie E., born August 1, 1876, on the home- 
stead in Pottawattamie County, Lincoln Town- 
ship. Joseph is attending the Drake Univer- 
sity at Des Moines, Iowa, and is obtaining a 
lilieral education. Mr. Frank believes in 
giving his children a liberal education. He 
has the respect and the coufidence of the 
people; has held the office of Township Trustee 
lor nine years; has also been School Eirector 
for a number of 3'ears, and has also held the 
office of lioad Supervisor. In politics he was 
a Republican for years, but now votes for the 
party who believes in the greatest good for 
the gi'eatest number — the Democratic. 

Mr. Frank can truly be said to be a self- 
made man, as he began life with nothing, 
and l)y hard work, economy and wisdom has 
made his handsome farm. He has set out 
tine trees, and his grounds and house present 
a tasteful and attractive appearance. He is 
yet a young man, of strong constitution, in- 
herited from an ancestry of good stock, and 
the children inherit from both mother and 
father tlieir sterling traits of character. Mrs. 
Frank is a worthy lady, and has faithfully 
assisted her husband in every way to make a 
siiccets in life. Mr. Frank is the founder of 
a new family in America, and the coming 
generation should take an honest pride in 
handing down his name to other generations. 



PC. SCHMOOCK, architect and super- 
intendent of building, came to Coun- 
" cil Bluffs in March, 1889, and opened 
an office in rooms 3 and 4, Marcus block, 
and in August following he established an 



office also in Hunt's block, South Omaha. He 
has erected some very fine buildings, among 
which we may mention the double residences 
of Mrs. S. A. Stillman, and the residences of 
(). W. Butts, L. Hendricks, C. L. Gillette, 
M. Callahan, J. Strock, Mrs. E. Wegener's 
block. Porter Bros.' fruit waiehouses, the 
residence of C. M. Hunt in South Omaha, 
the cottages of J. L. Paxtuu, the residence of 
p. Cockrell, South Omaha, and William 
Kelly, etc., etc. 

Mr. Sclnnouck was born in Detroit, Michi- 
gan, August 3, 18f54, the son of William 
and Louisa (Otto) Schraoock, natives of Ger- 
many, who are still residents of Detroit. He 
was reared in that city. For two years he 
studied drawiny; under the instruction of 
Mr. Melchers, the sculptor of Detroit, and 
while in that city he made the charts for the 
school statistics and institutions of the State 
of Michigan, which were exhibited at the 
New Orleans exposition in 1884, and are now 
in the State library at Lansing, Michigan. 
He was only nineteen years of age when he 
drew these charts. He spent five years in 
the office of Hess & Racemen, architects and 
superintendents in Detroit. In July, 1888, 
he came to Council Bluffs. He is Democratic 
in his politics, is a member of the I. O. O. F., 
and is destined to make his mark in the 
business circles of this city. 

^ENRY RISHTOlSr, one of the promi- 
nent citizens of York Township, was 
born in Lancashire, England, April 21, 
1838, the son of Henry and Mary (Bland) 
Risliton, l)oth natives of Lancashire, England. 
The father was born April 4, 1810, and died 
in Council Bluffs in 1885. He was the son 
of James Rishton, who died in England at a 
ripe old age, and was a chemist by occupa- 



OP POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



363 



tioii. His son learned the block-printer's 
trade wlien a young man, which he followed 
until he came to America in 1844, where he, 
in company with eleven others, was induced 
to coine to Ithode Island and start a print 
works. He was one of the very first block- 
printers to come to America, and in fact he 
and liis companions were the very first. The 
family remained a year and a half in Rhode 
Island, and then went to Fall Eiver, Massa- 
chusetts. In 1850, witli his family, he came 
to Council Bluffs, whicli was then known as 
Kanesville, and which was then a very small 
hamlet or trading post, made up of a few 
shanties. He bought a claim on Little Mos- 
quito Creek, then called Macedonia Camp, 
five miles east of Council Bluffs. In 1857 
he and his family came to where our subject 
now resides, and enclosed a half section of 
wild land, which he afterward improved. 
He was trustee of York Township, and when 
a young iran in England he was a member 
of the Odd Fellows' Lodge. He and his wife 
v.ero members of the church of the Latter- 
Day Saints, but on coming to Council Bluffs 
he cljanged his religion on account of po- 
lygamy. In politics he was a stanch Demo- 
crat, and since reaching their majority his 
sons have all voted the Democratic ticket. 

His wife, Mary (Bland) Rishton, was born 
May 9, 1815, and is still living in Council 
Bluffs, and not over a year ago danced with 
the subject of this sketch at a party given 
at his house. Her father was Miles Bland, 
who died in England. He was a dealer in 
boots and shoes, and died in the same house 
where he was born, when eighty-one years of 
age. The family were members of the Bap- 
tist Church. Mr. and Mrs. Rishton have 
eight children living, viz.: Edward, a farmer 
of Riverton, South Jordan, eighteen miles 
from Salt Lake City; Bland, a merchant of 
Council Bluffs; Thomas, a merchant of Coun- 



cil Bluffs; Emma, wife of "William II. Max- 
field; James, a farmer and stock-raiser of 
York Township; Eliza Jane, wife of William 
Alton, a rancher of Denison, Iowa; John, a 
rancher near the city of Spokane. 

Henry Rishton, our subject, spent his 
school days in Massachusetts and a short time 
in Pottawattamie County. He remained at 
home until twenty-one years of age, and then 
rented a farm in this township for a number 
of years. In 1866 he bought 120 acres of 
the land where he now lives, to which he has 
since added the remainder of 280 acres, of 
as good land as lies in the county. It is 
improved with a good residence, barns, and 
surrounded with shade and ornamental trees, 
fruit and flowers, and all that tends to make 
a home happy. He has served as Justice of 
the Peace three years and a half, twelve years 
as Road Supervisor, one year as Trustee, 
twenty years as School Director, and in 1884 
was elected one of the County Commissioners, 
during tlie time the court-house was built, 
whicli is one of the finest in the State. He 
is now Clerk of this township. His success 
in life is the result of his energy and business 
ability. 

March 1, 1860, he married Miss Adeline 
Clough, a daughter of Calvin Clough. She 
was born in Lorain County, Ohio, May 5, 
1842, and died September 19, 1884. Her 
father was one of the first settlers, and came 
from Cleveland, Ohio, to Council Bluffs, 
where he kept a grocery store in 1853. He 
was a native of New Hampshire, and died 
in this county when sixty-three years of age. 
Mr. and Mrs. Rishton have seven cliildren, 
of whom six are still living: Fred, the eldest; 
Belle, a teacher in York Township; Alpha, 
Howard H., Lida, and Corinne, at home. 
Florence May died when sixteen years of age, 
September 17, 1877. April 8, 1886, Mr. 
Rishton married Agnes Forsyth, a daughter 



364 



BJOORAPHICAL UIST0R7 



of John and Susan Forsyth. She was bora 
in Dundee, Scotland, October 17, 1841, and 
came with her parents to Manchester, Eng- 
land, and when ten years of age came to the 
United States, locating in St. Louis one win- 
ter, and in 1851 came to Council BlutFs. 
She taught school in Council Bluifs over 
twenty years, and was principal for fourteen 
years. She has been a member of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church for quite a num- 
ber of years. Mr. Kishton is a Mason in 
good standing of Neola Lodge, No. 423. 
He has crossed the Tiocky Mountains si.\ 
times, and in 1864 had a nximber of hair- 
breadth escapes from the Indians. 

— •^♦■ I 'Sk S 'I^-' — 



fM. AXTELL, a farmer of Boomer 
Township, was born in Mercer County, 
' Pennsylvania, July 4, 1838. (For par- 
entage and ancestry see sketch of L. S. Ax- 
tell.) Being the youngest child, he remained 
at home until his father died. In 1857 he 
married Miss Sarah Franklin, daughter of 
Leander and Sarah (Barker) Franklin, natives 
of New York State who after her birtii 
moved to Pennsylvania. Mr. J. M. Axtell 
after iiis marriage moved to Sparland, Mar- 
shall County, Illinois, where he took charge 
of a farm for Lewis Burson two years, and 
tliere his wife died, February 19, 18G6, leav- 
ing live children, namely: Samuel Albert, 
who resides in Harrison County, Iowa; Leona, 
wife of G. W. Howland, residing in Harrison 
County, also; Charles and Oscar died in 
infancy. June 6, 1867, Mr. Axtell married 
Miss Mary, daughter of Daniel and Maria 
(Erwin) Graham, natives of Pennsylvania, 
who afterward moved to Illinois and finally 
to Missouri, where they both now live. The 
Grahams were the parents of twelve children, 
viz.: Elizabeth, wife of Mr. Elliott, and resid- 



ing in Illinois; Mary, the second in order of 
birth; Luther and Henrietta, deceased; Find- 
lay, at home; Ann, wife of Dr. Sherman, re- 
siding at Coffeeville, Kansas; Jesse, living in 
Harrison County; Ervin, in Shell City, Mis- 
souri; Laura and Emma, twins, the former at 
home and the latter in Colorado; Albert and 
Alice, twins, the latter the wife of Richard 
Newton and both residing in Colorado. Mrs. 
Axtell was born October 9, 1845, brought up 
as a farmer's daughter, and was married at 
the age of twenty-two years. After his sec- 
ond marriage Mr. Axtell came to Pottawatta- 
mie County and purchased sixty acres of un- 
improved prairie and began to make the 
necessary improvements thereon, and also, in 
connection with his farm work, continued at 
his trade as carpenter, which he had learned 
in younger days. At the end of five years 
he sold out, bought forty acres elsewhere, 
built a house and made valuable improve- 
ments upon the tract, and remained there ten 
years, dealing also extensively in live-stock. 
Selling this jilace, he linally bought his pres- 
ent farm, of eighty acres of wild land, on sec- 
tion 10, and this now is the third home he 
has made. Sixty acres is under cultivation, 
while the remainder is in meadow and pas- 
ture. He has a comfortable residence and 
surroundings, with shade trees, orchard, etc. 
While his sons manage the farm he is engaged 
by the Pottawattamie County Mutual Insur- 
ance Company, for whom he began to operate 
about three years ago. 

He is an active and influential Republican. 
Has held the various offices of his township, 
especially in school matters, and is now Jus- 
tice of the Peace. He is also a member of 
the Mutual Protection Association of Hazel 
Dell, and of the I. O. O. F'. In Pennsylvania 
and Illinois he and his wife were members 
respectively of the Methodist Episcopal and 
Baptist churchw. They are the parents of 



OF POTTAWATTAMI E COUNTT. 



365 



ten children, namely: Miltou, born Septem- 
ber 8, 1868, resides in Harrison County; 
John, October 7, 1870; Lutellis, September 
20, 1872; Gertrude, October 20, 1874; James, 
August 25, 1876; Daniel, November 22, 
1878; Mary Alma and Maria, twins, born 
March 28, 1881: Maria died a montli after- 
ward; George, born September 9, 1883; and 
Blanch, born January 20, 1886, died March 
20, 1886. All those who are living, except 
the iirst mentioned, are still at their parental 
home. 



iR. JAMES CARSON ROBERTSON, 
M. D., was born in Washington Coun- 
ty, Iowa, June 6, 18-45, the son of John 
D. and Eliza (Carson) Robertson. The former 
was born in the State of Pennsylvania, but 
the latter is a native of County Tyrone, Ire- 
land. John D. Robertson is of Scotch de- 
scent, his lather having been a native of 
Scotland. The father of our subject went to 
Stark County, Ohio, with his parents when a 
child, where he was reared and married. In 
1842 he settled in Washington County on a 
farm, where he still lives. They were the 
parents of six sons who grew to maturity, 
four of whom are still living. The eldest 
brother, William H., was a member of Com- 
pany H, Seventh Iowa Infantry, in the war 
of the Rebellion, and served during that war. 
He then married and settled on a farm in 
Washington County. He was several years 
a Justice of the Peace, and was well known 
throughout the county, taking much interest 
in politics. He died in June, 1875, leaving 
a wife and daughter, who still survive him, 
and both are engaged in the occupation of 
teaching. The other son was Samuel A., 
who died in 1879, at the age of about thirty 
years, leaving a wife. He was a merchant 



and druggist at the time of his death, and a 
resident of Bull City, Kansas. The subject 
of this sketch is the second in order of birth. 
John D., the fourth, is a farmer of Washing- 
ton County; George F. resides at the old 
homestead with his parents; De Witt C, 
the youngest, also resides in Washington 
County. 

Br. Robertson was reared on the old home- 
stead farm. He received his education at 
the public schools, and in 1868, at the age of 
twenty-two years, he entered the State Uni- 
versity at Iowa City, and remained a student 
in the literary department of that institution 
tor three years. He then entered the medi- 
cal department of that institution, and took 
his medical degree in March, 1873. He 
tauglit several terms of school durino- his 
college course, and also taught a term before 
entering college. The Doctor at once located 
at his old home in Washington County, and 
continued in practice until he came to this 
city. In 1883 the Doctor went to New York 
city, where he took a course at the Bellevue 
Hospital, and where he also received the de- 
gree of M. D. Dr. Robertson is getting a 
good practice, and is a member of the Iowa 
Medical Society and of the American Medi- 
cal Society. He owns a pleasant home at 
1006 Fifth avenue. 

He was married in Washington County to 
Miss Helen Houck, who is a native of that 
county, and they have two sons, — Andrew 
A. and Ralph D. 



fOSEPH HEADLEE, the oldest living 
settler of Valley Township, is descended 
from an old American family, who came 
to Pennsylvania from England in an early 
day. Joshua Ileadlee, the grandfather of 
Joseph, was a pioneer settler in Greene 



366 



BIOGRAPHICAL HI8T0RT 



County, Pennsylvania, and was the father of 
four children: Elisha, Thomas, Amos and 
Susan. Tlie father moved to Indiana about 
1830, settling in Rushville, where he bought 
a farm and remained twelve years. In 1840 
he settled in Lee Cotinty, Iowa, where he 
died at the age of eighty years. He was an 
industrious and honorable man, and was re- 
spected by the community in which he lived. 
His son Elisha, the father of our subject, was 
born in Greene ("ounty, Pennsylvania, and in 
early life became a farmer, but like most 
American farmers was accustomed to the use 
of tools, and could do almost any kind of 
work. He was married in his native State 
to Dorothea Johns, daughter of James Johns, 
ot Greene County, and of Scotch-Irish ances- 
try. Mr. Johns was a wealthy farmer of 
Greene County, and was a member of the 
Methodist Church. Mr. and Mrs. Elisha 
Headlee were the parents of eight children: 
George, Joseph, James, Jackson, William, 
Sarah J., Nancy A. and Dorothea. The 
father moved to Indiana with his father and 
their family, and settled on a farm near Ru'^h- 
ville, where they remained until 1840, when 
the}' came to Iowa. 

Joshua Headlee, the subject of this sketch, 
was born in Greene County, Pennsylvania, 
December 17, 1826, and was but eight years 
of ao-e when his father moved to Indiana, and 
about fifteen years old when they came to 
Lee County, Iowa, then a wilderness. He 
became accustomed to all the vicissitudes and 
hardships of pioneer life, and was brouglit up 
on a farm. In 1852 he came to Pottawatta- 
mie County, settling in Valley Township, 
which was then unnamed, and the whole 
country was a wilderness. There was one 
store at Council Bluffs, and Omaha was still 
in the " State of Nature." Joshua Lewins 
settled in Knox Township about six months 
before Mr. Headlee. Joshua Headlee and 



his son George, and Wash Lewins were the 
three first settlers in Knox Township; Mr. 
Headlee preceded Mr. Lewins about two 
weeks. The Indians frequently visited Mr. 
Headlee's log cabin, which was built on Jim 
Creek, Knox County, where lie lived about 
two years. Deer, elk and smaller game fur- 
nished these families with plenty of meat 
during the winters, which were long and 
cold. The first season after leaving Jim 
Creek, Mr. Headlee plowed up eighty 
acres of land on the farm now owned by 
William Pierce. He settled on his pres- 
ent farm in 1855, which contains 160 acres, 
and which is now in a fine state of cultiva- 
tion. He has lived to see the whole of Pot- 
tawattamie County thickly settled, with a 
population of 140,000, in a radius of five 
miles from Omaha. He is truly an old pio- 
neer citizen, has brought up a large family 
of ciiildren, and has the reputation of always 
being interested in every good work and 
cause. The first school was established in 
1856, at a place called New Town, two miles 
from the present site of Avoca, in a log school- 
house, where preaching was also held by 
John Wilson, a Methodist Episcopal minister. 
Mr. Headlee always went to Council Bluffs 
to market, a distance of thirty-five miles. 

He was married in Lee County, to Esther 
Lewis, daughter of Hugh and Phoebe 
(Biiiley) Lewis. The father was a native of 
Kentucky, of Irish descent, and was an early 
pioneer of Johnson County, Indiana. He 
died in that State, and is remembered as an 
honorable and upright citizen. They were 
the parents of nitie children: Jacob, George, 
Levina, John, Esther, Prudence J., the re- 
mainder dying in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. 
Headlee have had eleven children: William, 
deceased in infancy, Saraii, Martha, Mary, 
who died at the ago of fourteen; Andrew, 
Maggie, Alice, Frances, Abraham, Joseph 




LAJ\<hf:tXS-^^K^ 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



367 



and James. Sarah A. is now the wife of 
Lewis Mark, of Avoca, and they have eight 
children, viz.: Nettie V., Eosie M., Lillie 
M., Martha B., John "W., Phoebe E., Joseph 
A. and Lewis M. Martha J. married David 
Cleamens, and they have two children living, 
Clara G. and Holley A. Frances married 
Milo Miles, of Avoca, and they have three 
children— Altha B., William F. and Stella. 
Andrew married Mary Charleston, and is 
now a farmer in Woodbury County, Towa; 
Maggie married Eleck Kinraman, also a 
farmer in Woodbury County, and they have 
two children — Dorothy E. and Maynard A.; 
Alice married Joel Jones, and they have two 
children — James, and an infant unnan:ed. 



I^OK WILLIAM H. WARE, of Coun- 
cil Bluffs, attorney and counsellor at 
law and member of the House of Rep- 
resentatives of the State of Iowa tor 1890-'91, 
was born at Pliiladelphia, Pennsylvania, 
March 3, 1850. 

The family of which Mr. Ware is a de- 
scendant came to Pennsylvania from England 
and settled at the latter place prior to the 
Revolution of 1776, and many of them were 
soldiers in the American army during the 
struggle for independence. 

When Mr. Ware was a lad his father with 
his family removed from Pennsylvania to 
Illinois, where the subject of this sketch 
remained until 1869, at which date he came 
to Iowa. Ilis father was a farmer by occupa- 
tion and the early life of the subject of this 
sketch was spent on his father's farm, and he 
was engaged in the occupations incident 
thereto. Soon after coming to Iowa Mr. 
Ware was engaged as a teacher in the public 
schools of that State. In 1874 he removed 
to Nebraska where he jniblished a paper for 



a time, returning from that State to Council 
Bluffs, where he now resides, and is engao-ed 
in the practice of the law. He studied law 
in the office of the late Robert Percival, and 
was admitted to practice in the State and 
Federal courts at Council BlutFs, in 1880. 
In 1882 he was married to Miss Incfleetta F. 
Smith, a sister of Judge Walter I. Smith, of 
Council Bluffs. Mr. Ware is an able lawyer 
and enjoys the confidence and respect of his 
fellow-practitioners. Mr. Ware has always 
been an advocate of low tariff, and has been 
for a number of years an active member of 
the Democratic party. In 1889 he was 
elected, as a Democrat, to represent Potta- 
wattamie County in the Twenty-third General 
Assembly of the State of Iowa. His term of 
office will expire in 1891. 



JINFIELD S. WILLIAMS, a promi- 
Wl^n "s^t farmer of Valley Township, is 
!?^ the son of Sumner G. Williams, who 
was born in Bangor, Maine, and who received 
a common-school education, attending the 
same school with one of our eminent states- 
men. His father W8S a fai-mer near Bangor, 
and there were nine children in his family, 
only three of whom, except his father, our 
subject reniembers, namely: Charles, Sam- 
uel and Otis. Mr. Williams left his native 
State at the age of twenty-five years and went 
to New York city, where he resided for sev- 
eral years. He was there married to Aim 
Wood, and they were the parents of five chil- 
dren: Gertrude V., Albion A., Winfield S., 
Joseph and Mable. Immediately after his 
marriage he moved to Indiana, settling on a 
farm in St. Joseph County, near South Bend. 
He was in that county before the Indians 
were removed beyond the Mississippi River. 
He worked on his farm and followed his 



368 



BIOGRAPHICAL HI8T0BT 



trade, carpentering, for many years. He now 
resides in South Bend, where he owns city 
property. Mr. and Mrs. Williams are mem- 
bers of the Methodist Church, and Mr. "Wil- 
liams was one of the early Masons of South 
Rend, a pioneer who took pride in the prog- 
ress of the county. He has always been an 
honorable and industrious man. 

Winfield S., the subject of this sketch, 
was born in St. Joseph County, Indiana, four- 
teen miles south of South Bend, and was 
reared to the life of a farmer. In 1872 he 
came to Pottawattamie County, Iowa, set- 
tling on his present farm of eighty acres, a 
part of which he has since laid off in town 
lots. He was married in Avoca to Miss 
Eliza Sanders, daughter of W. H. and Sarah 
(Wakeman) Sanders. The father went to 
Michigan in an early day, and settled at 
Ypsilanti, and then, when Iowa was a new 
State, he came to Davenport, where he re- 
mained until 1870, when he settled in Avoca. 
He was the father of six children: Wake- 
man, Stephen, Frank Sarah E., Lynos and 
Liim. Mr. Sanders is yet living in Avoca. 
To Mr. and Mrs. Williams have been born 
eight children, viz.: Mabel, Frank, Wintield 
S., Grove, Clara (deceased at seven years), 
Earl (died at six years), Joseph and iiay. In 
politics Mr. Williams is a standi Republican. 
He is one of the pioneer settlers of Hancock, 
a part of which is on his farm. He was the 
first Postmaster. Socially he is an Odd 
Fellow. 

— ^ C ' ;"i " 2 '-- — 



V^LEB KIMBALL, of section 3, Garner 
'jf^ Township, came to this county in 1852, 
and has since made it his home. He 
was born in Greene County, Pennsylvania, 
March 20, 1838, the son of Caleb Kimball, 
of Marblehead, Massachusetts, who served in 



the Revolutionary war, and later he and his 
son, Thomas Kimball, both served in the war 
of 1812. The subject's mother was Margaret 
(Richie) Kimball, a native of Loudoun 
County, Virginia, and of German descent. 
The parents were married in Loudoun Coun- 
ty, and afterward settled in Greene County, 
Pennsylvania. When Caleb was twelve years 
of age his mother died, leaving eight chil- 
dren, two sons and six daughters, of whom 
Caleb was the fifth son, his only brother 
dying at tlie age of two years. In 1846 the 
father moved from Pennsylvania to Dubuque, 
Iowa, which was then a Territory, and Du- 
buque could not boast of a brick house, most 
of the residences being log cabins. He re- 
mained here three years, and then engaged at 
the carpenter's trade near where Dyersville 
now stands, the country being new and wild, 
and containing no railroads. He soon sold 
his land to Judge James Dyer, to found a 
colony for people from Somersetshire, Eng- 
land. He then removed to Delaware County, 
where he lived until his death. 

Caleb, our subject, worked on the farm in 
his youth, and in the fall of 1852, in company 
with Lemuel Barrett and family, he started 
on a journey to California, but decided to 
spend the winter in camp near Council Bluffs. 
He afterward ciianged his mind and bought 
some Mormun claims near this place, and 
became a resident of this county. He bought 
land in Cerro Gordo County, Iowa, in 1861; 
but this was never improved, and was sold in 
1866, when he bought eighty acres of Hale- 
man »fe Rauhu, N. P. Dodge acting as agent; 
this was first improved by Isaac Cooper. 
Mr. Kimball has lived on his farm for twenty- 
four years, and has made many improvements; 
it is located eight miles east of the city of 
Council Bluffs. He works at the carpenter's 
trade most of the time, having received his 
first lessons in that trade in his youth, taught 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNT F. 



369 



him by liis father. He is a thorough me- 
chanic, as all his work in Harrison, Monona 
and this county will show. 

Mr. Kimball was married December 12, 
1856, to Miss Frances Nixon, of Council 
Bluffs, the daughter of William and Eliza 
(Collins) JVixon. Both were natives of Fay- 
ette County, Pennsylvania, and came here in 
1853, where they resided until their death. 
Mr. and Mrs. Kimball have eleven children, 
namely: John W., residing at Neola, Iowa; 
Eliza, wife of T. J. Nusun, of Harrison 
County, near Woodbine; Margaret, wife of 
J. E. Jefferys, residing in Washington Town- 
ship; Moses -N., at Sacramento, California, 
in the real-estate and loan business; Ella, 
wife of John Dial, of Garner Township; 
Minnie, the widow of Martin Lee, residing 
in the same township; Fanny, at home; 
Caleb, Thomas J., Mary C, and Hugh L. 
They have lost three children by death: 
Benjamin F., the seventh child, at two years 
of age; George, at two years of age; and 
Grace, also at two years of age. Mr. Kim- 
hall's son, Moses N., has received a good 
education, first in Pottawattamie County, then 
in California, and lastly at the Bainbridge 
Business College, Stockton, California. The 
srreat loss of Mr. KinibalTs life was in the 
death of his beloved wife, who died August 
27, 1883. 



fREDERIC S. THOMAS, a physician 
and surgeon, of Council Bluffs, has been 
identified with the interests of Potta- 
wattamie County since 1872. He is a native 
of New York, born at Chatham, Columbia 
County, September 23, 1845, the youngest 
of six children of Caleb J. and (Catherine 
(Smith) Thomas. The father was a native of 
Clinton County, New York, born March 10, 



1807, a son of Caleb Thomas, who came from 
Lime, Connecticut, and served as a soldier 
during the Revolutionary war, entering the 
army when seventeen years old, first as a 
drummer, and then serving in the ranks for 
seven years. After the war he located in 
New York State. He was of Welsh descent, 
and married a Miss Roland, who was a niece 
of Richard Lightfoot Lee, of Virginia. They 
reared six children, of whom the father of 
our subject was the fourth child. Caleb J. 
Thomas was reared in New York, and his 
early youth was spent on his father's farm 
and later in the factories of that State. Plis 
father died when he was seventeen years old. 
He subsequently became a manufacturer in 
Kinderhook, New York, but on account of 
the free-trade law he was obliged to abandon 
a profitable business and start in life anew. 
He became a brakeinan on the Boston &, 
Albany Railroad, and from that was promoted 
as conductor, where he remained for a period 
of years. In 1848 he came West to seek liis 
fortune, locating near Warsaw, Hancock 
County, Illinois, where he engaged in agri- 
cultural pursuits, which he followed until 
1861, when he removed to Warsaw. 

He was married in 1831, to Miss Catharine 
Smith, a native of Columbia County, New 
York, and a daughter of William Smith, who 
was a native of New York and of German 
descent. They reared a family of six chil- 
dren, of whom our subject was the youngest, 
and the only one now living. The father 
died at the home of our subject, August 29, 
1880, and the mother survived until Septem- 
ber 3, 1881. 

The subject of this sketch received his 
education in the schools of Warsaw, and 
during the late civil war went into the army, 
serving in Company A, One Hundred and 
Thirty-Seventh Illinois Yolunteer Infantry, 
as a private until nearly the close of the war. 



370 



BIOaRAPHIGAL BISTORT 



After this he began the study of inediciiie 
under the preceptorship of Dr. Collin G. 
Strong, now of San Francisco, California, 
with whom he remained for four years. He 
graduated at the State University of Iowa, 
at Keokuk, now known as the College of 
Physicians and Surgeons, February 21, 1870. 
He first located at Bentonsport, Van Buren 
County, remaining for one year. He then 
went to Atlantic, Cass County, and engaged 
in the drug business one year, and in 1872 
he came to this county, engaging in tlie 
practice of medicine at Macedonia. Dr. 
Thomas remained in the '-east end" of the 
county until he came to Council Bluffs, in 
1887, where he formed his present partner- 
ship with Dr. D. Macrae. 

He was married October 15, 1873, to Miss 
Mary Ella Ferrier, a native ot Missouri, and 
daughter of John and Jane (Walker) Ferrier, 
of old Virginia families. They have three 
children: Ethyl, Edyth, and Evelyn. The 
Doctor has served as Coroner of this county 
from 1873 to 1875, and has also served on 
the School Board at Carson for several years. 
He is ex-president of the Council Bluffs 
Medical Society, a member and secretary of 
the Medical Society of the Missouri Valley, 
a member of the Iowa State Medical Society, 
and the American Medical Association. He 
is Professor of Diseases of the Mind in the 
Omaha State Medical College; President of 
the Board of Examining Surgeons of Pen- 
sions at Council Bluffs; is Medical Director 
of the National Fraternal Association of that 
city. He is a member of the G. A. R., and 
served as Medical Director of the State De- 
partment in 1889; is a member of the A. F. 
& A. M., Coral Lodge, No. 430, at Carson, 
and the Chapter and tlie Scottisli Rite bodies 
at Council Bluffs. He is a member of the 
I. O. O. F. and the A. O. U. W. He and his 
wife are members of the Presbyterian Church. 



Mrs. Thomas' father died in Cass County in 
1886; her mother died in 1867. 



IUHE LONDON BROS. (E. T. and 
W. D.) are the proprietors of the 
London Livery, Sale and Feed stables 
at Carson, on Commercial Street, convenient 
to both the business part of town and the 
depot. They purchased this establishment 
in 1888, and keep in stock a goodly number 
of driving horses, roadsters and all kinds of 
vehicles for which there is any demand. 
They are experienced and practical livery 
men, and are popular. Their barn is the 
leading one in the town. They came to 
Pottawattamie County in 1884. E. T., the 
elder brother and the senior member of tiie 
firm was born at Knoxville, Marion County, 
Iowa, in 1858. His father, W. M. London, 
was a native of Morgan County, Illinois, 
served in the Fortieth Iowa Infantry during 
the war; and liis mother, whose name before 
marriage was Narcisses Cloe, a native of Illi- 
nois. He was reared on the farm in Iowa. 
In 1876 he went to Chautauqua County, 
Kansas, and a year afterward to Johnson 
County, Missouri, and finally he came to 
Pottawattamie County, settling on a farm in 
Silver Creek Township. He was married, 
November 20, 1883, to Miss Mary London, 
a native of Marion County, Iowa, and they 
have two children: Ernest Wesley and Car- 
rie. In his political sympathies Mr. London 
is a Uemocrat, and is a membei- of the Camp 
of the Sons of Veterans. 

W. D. London, the junior member of the 
above firm and a brother of J. C, was born 
August 31, 1862, in Marion County, Iowa, 
and was reared there on a farm. In 1876 he 
went to Kansas, and a year afterward to Mis- 
souri, where he I'esided until he came to Car- 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



son; and there he has since been engaged in 
the livery business. He was married in 
Johnson County, Missouri, January 10, 1884, 
to Miss Sallie Doiitliit, a native of that 
county and a daughter of George Douthit. 
Tlieir children are Goldie and Eula. Mr. 
London is a Democrat in his political prin- 
ciples and a genial citizen. 




J. CADY, proprietor of the Council 
Bluffs Veterinary Infirmary, at No. 
135 Broadway, at the livery, feed and 
sale stables there, of which establishment he 
took possession in 1880, is a graduate of the 
Boston Veterinary Academy. 

He was born in Lake Connty, Indiana, 
January 14, 1840, the son of Samuel J. and 
Ehnira (Beebe) Cady, and of Puritan an- 
cestry. When he was three years of age the 
i'ainily removed to Ciiicago, where he grew 
up and was educated. He attended the Iowa 
College at Grinnell two terms, and then went 
to Boston, where he studied veterinary sci- 
ence, as already stated. In 1861, in August, 
he enlisted in Company B, Second Iowa Cav- 
alry, as a private; in 1862 he was commis- 
sioned Veterinary Surgeon, and as such 
served until the close of the war, being dis- 
charged as Chief of Cavalry on General 
Wilson's staff. The principal battles in 
which he participated were those of Farming- 
ton, Corinth (including siege). Stone River, 
Nashville, Murfreesboro, Holly Springs, Tu- 
pelo, Oxford, Booneville, etc. 

After the war he spent one winter at 
Boonesboro, Iowa, doctoring horses; next he 
was a vear in Council Bluffs, then in Kansas 
City and finally he returned to Council Bluffs, 
where he has since re.^^ided. The year 1872 
he spent in Texas. He treats all diseases of 
liorses, cattle, sheep and hogs; and his ]ilace 



is well fitted up for the care of animals. He 
also owns a good piece of property at 2201 
Broadway. 

He is a Republican, a member of the 
Union Veteran Legion, Surgeon of Abraham 
Lincoln post, No. 29, G. A. R., and Chaplain 
of the V. A. S. 

He was married in 1867, to Miss Ellen 
Reynoldson, born in England in 1849, and 
they had three children: Fred, residing in 
Nebraska; Nellie and Mary. His wife died 
in 1879, and he was married again, in August, 
1880, to Mrs. Liddie Harris, of Craig, Mis- 
souri, and by this marriage there is one child, 
T. Jackson by name. In 1890 Mrs. Dr. T. J. 
Cady, of the Berean Baptist Church at Coun- 
cil Bluffs, organized the young ladies of that 
church and congregation into a society to 
work for the " Christian Home," an unsec- 
tarian institution of that city established for 
the care of destitute and orphan children. 
This auxiliary organization, named the Be- 
rean Temple Society, gave its first public 
entertainment in October last (1890), under 
the leadership of Mrs. Cady, netting her 
$28.10 for the Home. 



►»^. 



fAMES M. DORTON, of section 34, 
Carson Township, was born in Decatur 
County, Indiana, March 29, 1847, the 
son of Harrison and Nancy (Mullin) Dorfon, 
the former a native of Union County, In- 
diana, whose father was born in New Jersey, 
and the mother was also a native of Indiana. 
They reared five children, of whom James 
M. was the third of three sons and two 
daughters. He resided in Decatur County, 
Indiana, until 1874, when he removed to 
Woodford County, Illinois, and then moved 
upon his present farm of eighty acres, which 
was then partly improved. He lias since 



873 



BIOGRAPHWAL HISTORY 



made many improvements, and everything 
about the farm sliows the enterprise of the 
proprietor. 

He was married in Decatur County, In- 
diana, August 29, 1870, to Miss Elizabeth 
E. Harding, who was born and educated in 
that county, and the daughter of Israel and 
Jane (Hawkens) Harding, both natives of 
Indiana. Mr. and Mrs. Dorton have two 
children: Nellie May and James Artiiur. 
They have lost one by death, wiio died at the 
age of one year and niue months. Politically 
Mr. Dorton is a Republican, and has served 
the townshiji as Assessor and as a member 
and president of the School Board. The fam- 
ily are members of the Presbyterian Ciuirch 
of Carson. He is a member of the I.O. O. F., 
Lodge No. 444, at Carson, Iowa. He is 
numbered socially, politically and linanciall}' 
am jug the solid men of the township. 



AMDEL R. READ, of section 31, Car- 
son Township, came to this county in 
1881. He was born in the Ploosier 
State, October 12, 1850, the son of Nathan 
and Malinda (Van Scoy) Read, the former a 
native of Virginia and tlie latter of Ohio. 
They had five sons and two daughters, of 
whom S. R. was the fourth child; two of his 
brothers, Smith and Jesse Read, are jjromi- 
nent and well-known business men of Dun- 
lap, Iowa. Our subject was a small boy when 
his father settled in Bureau County, Illi- 
nois, and was fifteen years of age when his 
father moved to Cerro Gordo County, Iowa, 
where they were early settlers. The mother 
died when Samuel was but seven or eight 
years old, in Illinois, and the father is now a 
resident of Iowa, making his home in Mal- 
vern with his son Carson. The subject of 
this sketch passed his youth in Cerro Gordo 



County. They moved in 1874 to Mills 
County, near Malvern, where he lived until 
1881. In that year he came to Pottawatta- 
mie County, and purchased eighty acres of 
wild land, which he has since improved. 
He is engaged in general farming and stock- 
raising, making a specialty of thoroughbred 
stock. Ho has a thoroughbred Clyde horse, 
which is among the best draft horses in the 
county. It was brought from Canada and 
weighs 1,835 pounds; he has also a Mam- 
moth Jack, which is one of the best in 
western Iowa. Mr. Head is a practical farm- 
er and a successful horseman. 

He married Miss Julia M., a daughter of 
Robert L. and Margaretta (La Fever) Bush- 
nell. She was born in Rock County, Wis- 
consin, and her parents were natives of New 
York city. Mr. and Mrs. Read have five 
children: Alice L., Ervin E., Nettie, Mar- 
garetta and a baby, Joy. They have lost 
one by death, Minard, who died when a babe 
of eleven months; he was the fourth child. 
Politically Mr. Read is a Republican, and 
both he and his wife are members of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church, of which they 
are active workers, and Mrs. Read is a 
teacher in the Sabbath-school. 



'^'■♦sr'T^^J*^*'"*" 



f^HINEAS J. MONTGOMERY, M. D., 
^ homeopathic physician and surgeon, is 
one of the leading physicians of his 
school in western Iowa. Dr. Montgomery 
was born in Delaware County, New York, 
December 1, 1841. His father is Charles 
Fowler Montgomery. The family was origi- 
nally from Vermont and of Scotch ancestry. 
The mother of the subject of this sketch was 
formerly Emeline E. St. John, and descended 
directly from the St. Johns and Abbotts of 
England, her mother having been an Abbott. 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



373 



Her family were early settlers of Connecti- 
cut. The parents of Dr. Montgomery emi- 
grated from the State of New York to Wis- 
consin in 1852 and settled in Rock County, 
and later removed to Jefferson County, and 
are still residents of Waterloo in that county. 
The Doctor is the third in order of birth of 
six sons. There were also three daughters in 
the family. 

The subject of this sketch was educated at 
Albion Academy, Wisconsin, and was for two 
years engaged in teaching, and for a time 
had charge of Waterloo Academy. He had 
contemplated from early life fitting himself 
for the medical profession, and entered upon 
a regular course of medical study in 1862, 
at which he continued until 1864, when he 
entered the army as assistant physician and 
surgeon in the hospital of the quartermas- 
ter's department. He continued in the army 
until after the destruction of the Confederate 
General Hood's army by the army under 
General Thomas; his iield of service being; 
with the army of the Tennessee. On his 
return from the army he entered the Hahne- 
raaim Medical College at Chicago, at which 
he graduated in 1866. After his graduation 
he located in Medina County, Ohio, where he 
remained three years, when he returned to 
Wisconsin and located at Watertown. There 
he continued in the practice of his profession 
until 1872, when he came to Iowa and located 
at Osage, where he practiced until 1879. In 
the winter of that year he took a special 
course of lectures at Hahnemann College, 
Chicago, and also in the College of Physi- 
cians and Surgeons in that city. In 1880 he 
came to Council Bluffs, where he has built up 
a large practice and is one of the leading 
physicians of the city. 

Dr. Montgomery was married in Wiscon- 
sin in 1864, to Miss Helen A. Castle, a na- 
tive of Ohio. They have two children: 




Charles Frederick, born in Ohio in 1869, and 
now a student of Grinnell College, and a 
daughter, Ruth Evangeline, born in Council 
Bluffs in 1881. 



ICHAEL MINAHAN, a merchant of 
l^ji Neola, was born in County Cork, 
Ireland, September 1, 1845, the son 
of Jeremiah and Mary (McCarty) Minahan, 
natives of the same county. At the age of 
twenty-six years Mr. Jeremiah Minahan, a 
farmer by vocation, was married, and in 1874 
he came to America, sailing from Queens- 
town on the vessel named Berlin, and ten 
days later landed at New York. A few days 
afterward he came on to this county, locating 
in York Township, where he made his home 
with his son (our subject) until his death, 
October 13, 1878, but spending his last days 
with another son. He left a wife and four 
children. The ciiildren are: Dennis, residing 
in Neola Township; Michael, the second 
born; Hannah, the wife of Frank McManus, 
in Norwalk Township, and James, a resident 
of Chicago. The mother survives, and is 
living with her daughter, Mrs. McManus. 

Mr. Michael Minahan was brought up in 
farm life. At the age of eighteen years he 
came to America, landing at New York in 
May, 1868. In a short time he went to 
Franklin, Venango County, Pennsylvania, 
where he remained a year and a half, working 
for the Lake Shore Railroad Company. Next 
he was in Cleveland, Ohio, until the spring 
of 1871, when he c^me to Iowa; and linally 
he came by stage, by way of Grand Junction, 
to Council Bluffs, and went to Atlantic, 
Iowa, and was employed by the Chicacro, 
Rock Island & Pacific Railroad Company 
until the tall of 18.72. In the spring of 1873 
he bought eighty acres of land l)nt very little 



374 



BIOORAPUIGAL HISTORY 



improved, in York Township, this county, 
lie built thereon a frame house 18 x 24 feet 
and a storj and a half high, and the usual 
farm buildings, and began and carried for- 
ward a thorough improvement of the prem- 
ises. To his ordinary work as a farmer and 
stock-raiser he dealt extensively in cattle, 
Durham stock. He has added to his original 
purchase of land until he now has 200 acres 
of iine land, well improved, 120 being 
under the plow. In the fall of 1887 he 
rented the farm and moved into Neola, en- 
gaging in the grocery trade. Here he bought 
a home, which he now occupies; and in the 
store he includes dry- goods in his trade, and 
carries on a general mercantile business. He 
has a good stock, and his reputation stands 
high for honesty and lil)erality. He now has 
a partner named Pogge. They do a business 
of about $20,000 yearly, being live and ener- 
getic men. 

Mr. Minahan was married January 17, 
1878, to Mary Stewart, who was the daughter 
of Benjamin F. and Ellen (Crampton) Stew- 
art, natives respectively of Ohio and Ireland. 
Mr. Stewart was a fireman and a policeman 
in Cincinnati for many years. In 1878 he 
came to Iowa and lived in Neola until his 
death, July 23, 1886, leaving his wife and 
five children. The children are: Morris, re- 
siding in Council Bluffs; Mary, the second 
born, and wife of Mr. Minahan; Ellen, wife 
of Barney Jungermaii, and living in Neola 
Township; Francis, residing in Omaha; and 
E\a, now the wife of William Tanner, and 
living in Wyoming Territory. Mrs. Mina- 
lian was married at the age of twenty years, 
and there are now in the family the following 
children : James, who was born in York Town- 
ship, Pottawattamie County, Iowa, February 
18, 1879; Kate, born July 10, 1883; Nellie, 
October 11, 1885; Annie,, October 12, 1887; 
Frances was born in Neola, March 10, 1890. 



Mr. Minahan in his political views is a 
straight Democrat. lie has been Clerk of 
York Township for eight successive years, 
and School Treasurer two years. At present 
he is City Councilman, and takes great inter- 
est in the advancement of the interests of 
the town. He and his wife are members of 
the Roman Catholic Church of Neola, and 
stand high in the estimation of the com- 
munity 



fC. ELS WICK, of section 36, Carson 
Township, is one of the enterprising 
" and successful citizens of the county, 
and one who has been a I'esident of Pottawat- 
tamie County all his life. He was born in 
Grove Township, January 18, 1859, the son 
of William Elswick, who was born in Rush 
County, Indiana, about 1826. He was the 
■son of Andrew Elswick, of German descent, 
and Elizabeth (Castle) Elswick. The father 
was reared in Rush County, Indiana and 
came to Iowa some years before his marriage. 
He was among the early pioneers of Monroe 
County, Iowa. In 1851 he was man-ied to 
Martha S. Sagers, who was born in Bourbon 
County, Kentucky, March 4, 1833, the daugh- 
ter of Henry Sagers, a native of Pennsylva- 
nia. Tlie same year they were married they 
came to Pottawattamie County, with an ox 
team. They had a serious time crossing the 
sloughs, rivers and streams. They settled in 
Grove Township, where Mr. Elswick resided 
until his death. In 1859 he went to Pike's 
Peak but returned the same year. He died 
in March, 1861. Politically he was a Dem- 
ocrat, and had served as member of Pot- 
tawattamie's first Board of Supervisors. He 
left a widow, three sons and one daughter; 
his three sons — Marshall, Marion and fluhn 
C, our subject — reside in Carson Township; 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



375 



and liis daughter, Arabelle, is the wife of 
Charles Clise of Atlantic, Jowa. Mrs. Els- 
wick was married to O. P. Mace, March 29, 
1864. 

J. (J. Elswick was reared at farm work in 
the early days of Pottawattamie County. 
Arriving at tlie age of majority lie went to 
Colorado in 1880, where lie spent three years 
engaged in minirtg. lie was successful, and 
after he returned to this county he purchased 
his present farm of eighty acres. Its im- 
provements consisted mostly in the land be- 
ing broken out and one crop had been raised 
on it. All the buildings Mr. Elswick has 
since erected. Iilverything about the Els- 
wick farm ehows the thrift of the proprietor. 

He was married, February 22, 1883, in 
this county, to Miss Rhoda Durham, a daugh- 
ter of William Durham, a prominent and 
well-known citizen of Carson Township, 
whose sketch appears on another page. Mr. 
Elswick and wife have three children: Ira 
Carl, Mabel G. and Ethelinda M. Politically 
Mr. Elswick is a Democrat, and is a member 
of the I. O. O. F. Lodge, No. 444, of Carson 
Township. Both he and his wife are mem- 
bers of the Church of Christ. 



EORGE A. HOLMES, attorney and 
counsellor at law. Council Bluffs, is one 
of tlie leading members of the bar of 
this city and one of its representative citizens. 
He became establislied here in his profession 
in December, 1873. He has been continu- 
ously alone in practice, and has occupied his 
present office at 832 Broadway during all the 
years of his residence here. Mr. Holmes is 
a native of Illinois, born in Tazewell County, 
that State, in 1849. His father, George W. 
Holmes, was a pioneer of that county, and a 
native of Charleston, West Virginia. The 

29 



mother of the subject of this notice, formerly 
Sarah A. Allen, was born in Schenectady, 
New York. Her mother dying when she 
was an infant, she was adopted into the 
family of Flavel Bascom, and taken by her 
adopted parents to the town of Groveland, 
Tazewell County, Illinois. 

Georjje W. Holmes and wife are now resi- 
dents of Council Blufls. The former is a 
builder and millwright by trade. James W. 
Hoi nes, the eldest brother of the subjec-t of 
this notice, is a resident of Tulare County, 
California; he has a family of six sons. 
Henry H. Holmes, the second brother, is a 
resident of Council Bluffs. George A. is the 
next in order of birth, and a sister, Mrs. 
Laura A. Kiddle, is the next. Fountain B 
died in Council Blufls, in 1878; he left no 
family. Charles T. Holmes, the yonncrest of 
the brothers, is also a resident of Council 
Bluffs. A sister, Emily, died in Page County, 
Iowa, at the age of about thirteen years. 
George W. Holmes removed to Iowa in 1857, 
and settled in Page (bounty, and in 1862 the 
entire family went overland to California, 
and after a three years' sojourn on the Pacific 
coast returned to Iowa. 

The subject of this sketch was educated in 
the public schools of Page County. He early 
conceived the idea of becoming a lawyer, and 
after acquiring, by earnest industry, sufficient 
education to enable him to teach a common 
school, he (mgaged in that occupation. He 
began the study of law at home. His first 
law book was a copy of Blackstone. He also 
obtained and carefully read Kent's Com- 
mentaries, Walker's American Law and 
Greenleaf on Evidence; these four books con- 
stituted his law library when he began his 
professional career in Council Bluffs in 1878, 
He was a student in the office of Messrs, 
Moor & Mclntyre at Clarinda for a few 
months, and was admitted in that city in 



876 



BIOGRAPIIICjL UlSTORT 



1872. Mr. Holmes began his professional 
life in qtiite a modest way. Plis receipts for 
the first four months of his professional 
career were 62.45, not a very auspicious be- 
ginningfor the young lawyer, but he applied 
himself unremittingly to his professir>n, and 
ere long he enjoyed the success whicli ever 
comes from honest labor. In 1875 Mr. 
Holmes was made City Attorney, and con- 
tinued to occupy that position uninterrupt- 
edly for fourteen years, or until 1889. He 
performed the duties of that position with 
marked ability, as is indicated by the long 
series of years that he occu|)ied that office. 
Politically Mr. Holmes affiliates with the 
Deinoc-ratic party, but was fre(iuently ap- 
pointed to the office of City Attorney by 
Republican councils. He was twice a cau- 
did-ite for Legislative honors, but, the county 
being largely Republican, he was defeated by 
a small majority. Mr. Holmes is not only 
an al)le lawyer, but a progressive and public- 
spirited citizen, ever taking a commendable 
interest in whatever tends to promote the 
best interests of the public. 

-«f->^— 



^^HAKLES ALEXANDER, a prominent 
farmer of Boomer Township, was born 
in Philadelphia, April 3, 1837. His 
father, Alex. A. Alexander, a native of Scot- 
land, spent his youthful days on a farm in 
his native country and learned the millwright 
and carpentry trades. At the age of twenty- 
seven he was married to Elizabeth Moyes, 
who was born in the East Indies in 1797, 
her father being an English officer of war 
sent to that country, who remained in charge 
of a post there some fifteen years. He then 
returned to Scotland in ill health, where he 
soon died, leaving a wife and five children: 
Andrew, James, John, Walter and Elizabetii. 



The latter was married at the age of twenty- 
five years, and by this union there were the 
following children: Maron, James, Elizabeth, 
Ann, Alexander, William, Charles and Mar- 
garet, and two died young. Their parents 
came from Scotland to America in 1835, 
landing at Philadelphia, where they remained 
wo years, and then came to Dubuque, in 
1837. Mr. Alexander buBt the first frame 
h(nise erected in that city, and died there in 
September, 1845, leaving a wife and eight 
children: Marian, James, Elizabeth, Ann, 
Alexander, William, Charles (our subject) 
and Margaret. The mother spent her last 
days with her children on the farm in Jack- 
son County, which her husband had bought, 
dying in January, 1877. 

Mr. Charles Alexander, our present sub- 
ject, inheriting forty acres of land, married, 
and three years afterward disposed of that 
land, and in 1861 came to Pottawattamie 
County and purchased another forty acres of 
wild land, in Boomer Township, and com- 
menced to improve it. 

August 4, 18G2, he enlisted in Company 
A, Twenty-ninth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, 
at Council Blufls, was placed under General 
Steele in Western Kentuck}-, in the Army 
of the West. His regiment participated in 
several fierce battles. At Jenkitis' Ferry on 
the Saline River he was wounded in two 
places, one ball passing through his arm below 
the elbow and then througli his side and left 
lung. In this condition he was taken pris- 
oner, while his comrades were on the retreat, 
and he was held captive eight months at 
Camp Ford, Tyler, Texas and other places. 
In the camp where he was placed were eighty 
cases of yellow fever, of which but two re- 
covered, he being one of the two. Shortly 
afterward he was paroled, at Galveston, and 
he rejoined his regiment at Little Rock, 
Arkansas. After spending two months at 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE VOUJSTl 



877 



home lie again joined liis regiment and was 
at the capture of Spanish Fort, next at the 
Rio Grande, and about the last of July the 
regiment was ordered back to New Orleans, 
where, August 10, it was mustered out. 

Keturning to his farm, Mr. Alexander 
made many improvements and purchased 
forty acres more land, broke it and made a 
comfortable home. In 1871 he sold that 
place and purchased eiglity acres of unim- 
proved prairie and made another home. 
Subsequently he sold tliis also, for $2,000, 
spent a year in California, buying property 
in San Jose. Keturning to Pottawattamie 
County, he purcliased the eighty acres where 
he now lives, on section 8, Boomer Township. 
Here he has erected a fine frame house, 
32 X 44 feet, and the usual farm structures, 
and has devoted his attention to general 
farming and stock-raising. Considering the 
serious wound he received in the service of 
his country and the abuse while a prisoner 
in the hands of the enemy, — which was 
equally in the service of his country, — thus 
disabling him to a great extent, it is really a 
source of marvel to witness how much he 
has accomplished. 

Mr. Alexander is a thoroughgoing Dem- 
ocrat. He has held nearly all the township 
ofBces, been County Supervisor a year and a 
half, etc., and has always fulfilled his public 
duties with satisfaction to his fellow-citizens. 
He has taken an active and efficient part in 
all the movements that are of public benefit. 
He is a zealous member of the Mutual Pro- 
tection Association. 

Of his five children, there are still four 
living, namely: Moyes, born January 1, 1860, 
and died February 5, 1863; Alice, born Feb- 
ruary 1, 1862, is the wife of Denver Hough 
in Crescent City; Henry Thomas, born No- 
vember 28, 1865, died August 22, 1867; 
Elizabeth A., born March 28, 1868, is now 



Mrs. Edward Seabold, re.siding in Harrison 
County; Charles I., born November 28, 
1870, and Nellie May, born March 7, 1873, 
are both at home; and William Edward, born 
March 19, 1879, died July 9, 1879. Mrs. 
Alexander's brothers and sisters are: Phoebe, 
the wife of Adam Heagney, in California; Han- 
nah, the wife of Dominicklleagney, residing in 
Missouri Valley, Iowa; Henry, in California; 
Henrietta, deceased; she herself (Catharine) 
was the youngest in order of birth. Their 
parents were Isaac and Catharine (Earl) Scott, 
natives of New York State. Mr. Scott was 
born in New York, June 10, 1805, and his 
wife October 2, 1802. He was a farmer all 
his life, removing first to Pennsylvania and 
then to Iowa in an early day. His wife died 
in New York in 1841, and he was subse- 
quently married to Catharine Rice, whose 
parents were natives of England, and then 
he came to Dubuque and to this county in 
1860, locating in Boomer Township, where 
he died October 27, 1877. His wife survived 
oidy one week. 



fACOB DONER is one of the enterpris- 
ing and successful citizens of Hardin 
Township. He was born in Wayne 
C'ounty, Ohio, November 16, 1846, the son 
of Henry Doner, a native of Pennsylvania, 
who was the son of Jacob Doner, also a Penn- 
sylvanian by birth, but of German descent. 
They trace their anceetors back to the time 
of the early settlement of Pennsylvania. Our 
subject's mother, Amanda (Johnson) Doner, 
was born and reared in Ohio; her father wag 
of Irish ancestry. Jacob Doner, the eldest 
child, was about eight years of age when his 
parents settled in De Kalb County, Indiana, 
and then moved to Defiance County, Ohio. 
He was reared to farm life, and, although 



378 



BIOGRAPHICAL hlSTORY 



but a lad when the great Rebellion broke 
out, he enlisted in the Union army, and wa-* 
assigned to the Third United States Cavalry. 
His regiment was stationed at Iluntsville, 
Alabama; from there it was ordered to St. 
Louis, Missouri, and thence to Little Kock, 
Arkansas, where they remained two years. 
After the close of the civil war the regiment 
was ordered to New Mexico, stationed first 
at Fort Bascom, thence to Fort Sumner on 
the Pecos River, now an abandoned fort. 
Mr. Doner was discharged at Fort Sumner, 
September 30, 1868. after serving nearly five 
years. By a special act of Congress they 
were discharged earlier, so as to have time 
to reach the States before winter. 

Returning home he went to Iowa, where 
his family had moved during his absence, 
and where he remained only a short time; he 
then went to the following places; Ohio on 
a visit, spending the spring and winter of 
1869: then to Bureau County, Illinois, five 
years, until 1875; Lucas County, Iowa, until 
1883, and then Pottawattamie County, 
Hardin Township, ^ection 25. Mr. Doner 
resided here six years, and then bought his 
present improved farm of L. J. Kiser. The 
farm consists of eighty acres of good land, a 
comfortable frame house, on a natural and 
pleasant building site, with a large grove 
and an <irchard of si.x acres. The farm is 
well-niatured and readily adapted for stock 
purposes In his political views Mr. Doner 
is a Republican, and is a man just in the 
prime of lite, well-informed on all topics, 
frank and cordial in his manners, and is a 
well-known and respected citizen of his 
township. 

He was married July 4, 1870, at Prince- 
ton, Bureau County, Illinois, to Miss Genevra 
Caroline Folger, who was born, reared and 
educated in Bureau County, and daughter of 
Robert Folger, of Nantucket Island. The 



family are relatives of the great statesman 
Folger. The father is now about eighty 
years of age, and is living at Lebanon, La- 
clede County, Missouri ; and the mother, whose 
maiden name was Mt^lissa Cross, is a native 
of Wayne County, Ohio, and is still living, 
at the age of sixty-two years. Mr. and Mrs. 
Doner have six sons, namely: Frederick, 
William, Charles, Isaac, Jesse and Frank. 



B. NICHOLAS, the second member 
of the firm of Mulholland & Nicholas 
'^ (see sketch of Mulholland), was born 
in Morris County, New Jersey, November 
22, 1842, the son of Amos S. and Mary 
(Jennings) Nicholas, also natives of that 
State. On the paternal side his ancestry is 
traceable back to the sixteenth century and 
are of Welsh extraction ; on his mother's side 
his ancestry is English. Both his parents 
are deceased. He was reared in his native 
State to farm life. At the age of sixteen 
years he began to learn the carpenters' trade, 
but before the expiration of his apprentice- 
ship he enlisted in August, 1862, in Com- 
pany C, Fifteenth New Jersey Volunteer 
Infantry, and was discharged June 22, 1865, 
at Hall's Hill, Virginia. He was on constant 
duty during his entire term of service, partic- 
ipating in some of the most noted battles, 
as the first and second Fredericksburg, 
Gettysburg, those of the Wilderness, Shenan- 
doah Valley, Petersburg, etc. 

After the close of the war he returned to 
New Jersey, and engaged at his trade, which 
he followed until the spring of 1867, when 
he came to Council Bluffs, where he has 
since made his home, excepting eighteen 
mouths in the employ of the Union Pacific 
Railroad, during its construction. In 1870 
he established himself in the grocery busi- 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



379 



ness in Council Bluffs, and followed that 
until 1882, when he engaged in his present 
trade. 

In his political sympathies he is a Re- 
publican. In 1878 he joined as a charter 
member of Fidelity Coimcil, No. 156, Royal 
Arcanum, in which he has passed most of 
the chairs. In January, 1879, he married 
Miss Grace A. Wood, daughter of Amasa 
and Olive Wood, born in New York State, 
at Dutch Flats, July 12, 1854. 



M. CRIPPEN, a merchant of Neola, 
was born in Great Barriiigton, Mass- 
if achusetts, April 1, 1847, a son of 
Michael and Elizabeth (Foote) Crippen, of 
Englisli origin on the mother's side. Their 
ancestry, which was of the agricultural 
class, can be traced back to the landing of 
the Mayflower. Michael Crippen had one 
child by his first wife, Andrew, who resides 
in Massachusetts, and he also had one by his 
second wife, namely, the subject of this 
sketch. Two months before his birth his 
father died; afterward an uncle resided with 
the family, and when C. M. was only a year 
and a half old his mother also died, and he 
was brought up by the uncle. At the age of 
eighteen years he graduated at Bacon Acad- 
emy at Colchester, Connecticut. Then he 
clerked in a general merchandise store until 
lie was twenty-three years of age. In 1870 
he came West with his uncle, locating upon 
a farm of 240 acres of wild prairie, which he 
had bought in Norwalk Township, this coun- 
ty. Here, owning a half interest, he erected 
a frame liouse and began improvements of 
all kinds, remaining upon it for nine years, 
and raising grain principally, and some live- 
stock. Then they disposed of the farm, 
moved into Neola, erected a store building 



20x50 feet, and filled it with a stock of 
clothing, boots and shoes. In 1880 Mr. 
Crippen began business for himself. He now 
possesses a nice home, which he has earned 
by industry and economy, and a fine reputa- 
tion, which he has won by promptness and 
honesty. He is a steadfast Democrat in his 
vote on national questions. He was the first 
Recorder of Neola after the town was incor- 
porated; since then he has been Treasurer of 
the town. He is a member of lodge No. 
410, I. O. O. F., at Neola, lately elected Trea- 
surer of the same; is also a member of Crystal 
Lodge, No. 228, K. of P., of Neola, of which 
he was a charter member. In society he is 
a live man, as well as in business. 

His children are: Bessie May, born July 
10, 1881, and Carlton F., in April, 1883. 
April 22, 1880, during the year he began 
business for himself, he married Miss Mary 
A. Breckenridge, whose parents were natives 
of Illinois and of Engli-h ancestry. Her 
mother is dead, and her father lives in 
Nebraska. In that family were four chil- 
dren: Lenora, wife of John Garrett in Neb- 
raka; Mary A., the second born, and Frank 
and Preston, both in Nebraska. 



LFRED P. HANCHETT, M. D., 

homeopathic physician and surgeon of 
Council Bluffs, established himself in 
practice in this city in January, 1881. He 
was born at Aurora, Illinois, June 16, 1852. 
His father, David Hanchett, was a pioneer of 
Kane County, Illinois, where he settled in 
1844. The Doctor is one of five brothers, 
all but one of whom are physicians in active 
practice. 

The Doctor was reared on a farm, and 
graduated at the High School at Aurora, in 
1873; took a scientific and literary course at 



380 



BIOGRAPHIOAL H18T0RT 



Wlieaton College, and began the study of 
medicine at Wlieaton, with Professor E. H. 
Pratt, while a student at college. He gradu- 
ated at the Homeopathic Medical College in 
Chicago, in 1878, and located first at Ma- 
rengo, Illinois, where he practiced three years, 
when he removed to Council Bluffs. The 
Doctor was married to Miss Grace McMicken, 
a native of Aurora, Illinois, and they have 
two children. 

Dr. Hanchett has a large and increasing 
practice. His professional duties demanding 
an assistant, he associated with him in that 
capacity, in 1887, Dr. Sarah Smith, formerly 
his student, and a graduate of Hahnemann 
College, Chicago, in the class of 1887. He 
is a member of the Omaha and Council 
Bluffs Homeopathic Medical Association; 
Secretary of the Hahnemann Medical Asso- 
ciation of Iowa; member of the Examining 
Board of the Homeopathic Department of 
the Iowa State University; Physician and 
Surgeon to the Iowa State Institution for the 
Deaf and Dumb, and member of the Ameri- 
can Institute of Homeopathy. 



ILLIAM H. MAXFIELD, one of the 
prominent and substantial farmers 
of section 24, was born in Prince 
Edward's Island, August 12, 1841, the son of 
William and Sarah Ann (Picketts) Maxfield. 
The father was born in Yorkshire, England, 
about 1810, and was a young boy when his 
mother moved to Prince Edward's Island, 
where he grew to maturity and learned the 
shoemaker's trade, but afterward turned his 
attention to farming. In 1850 he came to 
the United States and located at Council 
Bluffs, where he died about one month after 
his arrival. He was a member of the church 
of the Latter-Day Saints. His wife was a 




native of Prince Edward's Island, but her 
people were from Prussia. She died in this 
neighborhood, November 5, 1872, when fifty- 
two years of age. After her husband's death 
she married Benjamin Minturn, and resided 
here until her death. She was also a member 
of the Latter-Day Saints. Mr. and Mrs. 
Maxfield had five children, four of whom 
still survive: John P., a prominent farmer 
and stock-raiser of this township; William 
H., our subject; Barbara, the wife of Charles 
Fish, a farmer and stock-raiser of Jewell 
County, Kansas, and Alma, residing in Neola; 
Wilfred died when a child. By the last 
marriage of Mrs. Maxfield there were five 
children, four of whom are now livincr; 
Claracy, deceased; George T., a farmer near 
Sturgis, Dakota; Benjamin, residing in 
Neola, is traveling for Crane Bros. &, Co. 
Manufacturing Company, Chicago, Illinois; 
Sarah, wife of George Williams, residing 
near Neola; Lewis, engaged in farming. 

William H., our subject, spent his school 
days in this county, and remained with his 
mother until twenty-one 3'ears of age, when 
he commenced to farm for himself. He 
rented a farm in the Missouri River bottom 
two years, and then bought forty acres of the 
land on which he now lives. He has since 
added the remainder of 209 acres, with thirty 
acres of timber, which he has improved in 
the most approved manner. He started only 
with a good constitution and a determination 
to make life a success, and with enero-y, 
economy and industry he has indeed suc- 
ceeded. He has been Township Clerk for 
four years. Assessor a number of years, and 
Trustee one term, and has also held other 
official positions. 

December 18, 1862, he married Miss Emma 
S. Kishton, daughter of Henry Rishton. She 
was born in Manchester, England, in 1843, 
and when a child came with her father from 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE VOUNTT. 



381 



England to Rhode Island, and afterward to 
the State of Iowa in 1850. They have thir- 
teen children, of whom eleven are now living, 
viz.: Lilly I., a school-teacher; William B., 
residing in Council Bluffs; Edward N., a 
farmer near his father; Alice, engaged in 
teaching; Jessie G., at home; Frederick, at 
home; Cora, Daisy, Emma S., Pearl, and Roy, 
at home; Henry died when an infant, and 
Grover C. was two years of age at his death. 
Mr. Maxwell has made an effort in life to 
educate his children, and rear them to be 
good and useful citizens. Politically he is a 
stanch Democrat. 



"♦■ "^ • S " « ' ^ '-^ 

IlIIICAGO LUMBER COMPANY, 716 
Main street. Council Bluffs; M. T. 
Green, Chicago, and S. P. MacConnell, 
Council Bluffs, proprietors; stock between 
$60,000 and $75,000. Yard No. 2 is at the 
corner of Twenty-sixth and Broad streets. 
They deal in lumber and all kinds of build- 
ine materiaL 

CI 

Mr. MacConnell was born in Ormond, 
Canada, April 5, 1861, the son of James and 
Elizabeth (McCormick) MacConnell, of 
Scotch and Irish ancestry; father is deceased 
and mother resides still in Canada. Our 
subject was reared at his native place to the 
age of fifteen years, when he went to the 
western part of Missouri. In 1880 he went 
to Chicago, where he was engaged l)y the 
Chicago Lumber Company until 1885, when 
he came to Council Bluffs and purchased an 
interest in the establishment already de- 
scribed. This was established in 1877. Mr. 
MacConnell is one of the most energetic 
young business men of the city. This branch 
of the business is under his sole supervision. 
He tills contracts and delivers material at all 
points. The wholesale lumber is principally 



oak and other hard woods, for bridges and 
timbers. He has large mills in Arkansas, on 
the Iron Mountain Railroad. 

For his wife he married Miss Ella C. 
Clapp, of Chicago. 



tYMAN CAMPBELL, who resides on 
section 12. Hardin Township, came to 
this county in March, 1854, where he 
has since resided. He was born in Tioga 
County, New York, January 16, 1834, the 
son of William and Maria (Cross) Campbell, 
both natives of New York; the former was 
born February 15, 1812, and died in 1880, 
in Monona County, and the latter was born 
October 27, 1816, and died in 1865. They 
reared a family of thirteen children, of whom 
twelve grew to maturity. Lyman, the eldest 
child, was small when his parents moved to 
Ohio, where they lived for some time, and 
then w^ent to Wayne County, Indiana. He 
was a lad of thirteen when they moved to 
Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois, where 
they lived for six weeks, and in 1846 came to 
this county with a company of Mormons, 
arriving July 4. They then crossed the Mis- 
souri River and located at Florence, Nebras- 
ka, and in the fall of 1846 they removed to 
Holt County, Missouri, where they resided 
until the spring of 1854, when they came to 
this county. Lyman passed his youth on the 
farm, and received his education in the sub- 
scription schools. 

During the great Rebellion, Mr. Campbell 
enlisted in the service of his country, Novem- 
ber 15, 1864, in Company B, Thirteenth Iowa 
Infantr}'. He took an active part in the 
battle of Nashville, Tennessee, and the battle 
of Kingston, Nortli Carolina; his regiment 
paLsed through a large portion of this State. 
He was honorably discharged at the close 



382 



BIOGRAPHICAL BISTORT 



of the war. Mr. Campbell has resided in 
Pottawattamie County since 1854, and on his 
present (arm since March, 1883. It was 
formerly wild prairie land, but he has since 
broken it out, planted a grove and made 
many other improvements. 

He was married August 31, 1856, in Pot- 
tawattamie County, to Miss Caroline Mary 
Louisa Hartwell, who was born in Genesee 
County, New York, November 15, 1833, 
the daughter of Reuben and Lucinda Alme- 
da (Merritt) Hartwell, both natives of Massa- 
chusetts. They came to Pottawattamie 
County in April, 1847, and afterward re- 
moved to Holt County, Missouri, and in 
1853 returned to this county. The father 
died here in 1862, at the age of fifty-three 
years; and the mother, who is eighty-one 
years of age, is living with her daughter, 
Mrs. L. Campbell. Mr. and Mrs. Campbell 
have six children, namely: George William, 
a carpenter by trade; Almeda Lovisa, Joseph 
Nephi, Lyman Everett, Robert and Caroline 
Almira. They lost their first child, Lucinda 
Maria, by death, when an infant. The fam- 
ily are members of the Reorganized Church 
of the Latter-Day Saints. Politically Mr. 
Campbell is a Republican. He is a strong 
man, weighing 277 pounds, and is one of 
the prominent citizens of the county. 



lORMAN GREEN, in 1883, erected his 
present livery, feed and sale stable, at 
513 East Broadway, Council IjlufPs. 
where he enjoys a large business, buying and 
selling horses on commission, and doing the 
street sprinkling, of which he has had control 
since 1862. 

Mr. Green was born in Otsego County, 
New York, June 20, 1830, the son of John 
and Polly Green, of Puritan and German an- 



cestry. At the age of twenty years he went 
to Pennsylvania, where he became acquainted 
with and married Rachel A. McCarthy, who 
died about a year and a half afterward, at the 
age of twenty-two years. After a sojourn of 
three years in the Keystone State, Mr. Green 
returned to New York, and eight years 
afterward came West to Council Bluffs, 
where he has since made his home. He is a 
self-educated and a self-made man. Politi- 
cally he is a stanch Democrat, is a represent- 
ative man and a highly esteemed citizen. 

About two yeai's after his arrival here he 
married Hattie Devol, who died in February, 
1889, at the age of fifty-five years. Four 
children blessed this union, namely: Charles 
C, a resident of Council Bluffs, who is in the 
hardware business; Louis N., employed by 
the Motor Company in Council Bluffs; Will- 
iam M. and George B., who are still in 
college. 



,ASMUS CAMPBELL, of section 50, 
^t Keg Creek Township, has been a resi- 
dent of Pjttawattamie County since the 
summer of 1853. He was born in Wayne 
County, Indiana, May 28, 1840, the son of 
William and Maria (Cross) Campbell, both 
natives of New York; the Campbells were of 
an old family in the East, some of the ances- 
tors taking part in the Revolutionary war, 
and were originally from Scotland; the Cross 
family were of Irish ancestry. The parents 
were married in New York, but afterward 
moved to Ohio, in the vicinity of Cincinnati, 
and afterward settled in Wayne County, In- 
diana, in 1838, where they lived until 1846, 
when they came to Holt County, Missouri, 
and remained until 1853. The mother died 
in Pottawattamie County in the year 1865, 
and the father in Monona County, January 
28, 1880. 





.^'^^i'^^.^^^^^^^^^/) 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY, 



383 



Rasmus, the fourth in a family of thirteen 
children, was a lad of thirteen years wlien his 
parents settled in this county, and here on 
the frontier he grew to manhood, passing his 
youth at farm work. His first purchase of 
land in this county was on section 29, which 
farm he improved and sold. He then bought 
the land where he now lives in 1868, which 
consists of 127 acres on sections 21 and 20. 
A large portion of the land consists of rich, 
second bottom, on the west side of Keg 
Creek, which flows through the eastern por- 
tion of the farm, furnishing an abundance of 
water for stock purposes. Mr. Campbell is 
engaged in general farming and stock-raising. 
He has served as Assessor seven years, when 
Silver Creek and Keg Creek townships were 
one, as Justice of the Peace for two terms, 
dispensing justice in an impartial manner to 
all who were called before his court, and also 
as president and member of the school board. 
Politically he is a Republican, and is an 
active and zealous worker fur his party. He 
was a delegate to the State Convention at 
Sionx City, Iowa, in June, 1890, and is a 
member of the Farmers' Protective Alliance. 

He was married in Atchison County, Mis- 
souri, June 8, 1862, to Miss Majtha M. 
Motiitt, a native of North Carolina. She was 
four years of age when, in 1849, her parents 
came to Jeiferson County, Iowa, and seven 
years of age when they came to this county. 
Her parents, Thomas Moffitt and Nancy 
Craven, were natives of North Carolina, and 
lived in this county from the time they came 
until their death. Mr. and Mrs. Campbell 
have three children: Alma W., who resides 
on the old farm, and has also been engaged 
in mercantile business since 1886; he carries 
a good stock of staple goods, and has a good 
trade; he was married to Minerva Orme; Ed- 
win N., who resides in Keg Creek Township, 
was married to Josephine Forbes; and Wini- 



fred, at home. They have lost three children 
by death: Pearl, the fourth child, died when 
nine years of age; Paralie, the third, died 
when eight months old; Henry, the sixth, 
died when four days old. 



g^ENRY H. VAN BRUNT, one of the 
successful jobbers in carriages, buggies, 
etc., of Council Blnifs, first established 
his business here in 1878, at Nos. 12, 14 and 
16 Fourth street. He makes a specialty of 
veiiicles of all kinds at wholesale and retail. 
He also has the largest retail trade in agri- 
cultural implements in the city. He does an 
extensive business in the storage and trans- 
ferring of agricultural implements for manu- 
facturers of the East; this branch of his busi- 
ness is second to none in this city or Omaha, 
having first-class facilities. His warehouses 
are located on the Chicago & Northwestern 
Railroad tracks, on First avenue, and are 
large and especially adapted tor the business, 
having a capacity of 25,000 square feet. He 
occupies the Bennett block on Fourth street 
for his office and retail store. 

He was born in Jefferson County, New 
York, and was seven years of age wlien his 
parents removed to Wisconsin, and was 
twenty years old when, in 1868, he came to 
Council Bluffs. His parents, W. H. and 
Julia A. (Palmer) Van Brunt, were natives ot 
New York State and of Holland ancestry on 
the paternal side. He was brought up to 
farm life. Since his arrival here he has been 
a leading and successful business man. He 
has dealt in considerable real estate in the 
county, and now has one of the finest farms 
in the county, consisting of 520 acres in one 
body, on sections 2 and 3, Keg Creek and 
Hardin townships. The farms are well 
stocked, the improvements are of the best, 



384 



BIOOBAPHIGAL HISTORY 



and have been made under his direct super- 
vision. He owns also a number of lots, and 
has just completed for himself one of the 
finest residences in the city. He is mainly 
self-educated and self-made in his business 
attainments. In his political views he is a 
Republican; is a member of the Board of 
Trade, and chairman of one of the important 
committees, and also a member of the ex- 
executive board of the Council Bluffs and 
Omaha Chautauqua Assembly. 

lie was married in Council Bluffs, to Miss 
Lillie M. West, who was born in Sheboygan 
Cou:Uy, Wisconsin, the daughter of E. West, 
and they are the parents of two children: 
Harry and George. 




C. UTTERBACK, the proprietor of 
the Broadway Livery Barn, at 228, 
I ® 230 and 232 Central Broad Street, 
assumed control there August 24, 1889, and 
keeps a stock of about $2,000, doing all the 
kinds of business usually transacted at such 
establishments, and also has a wholesale and 
retail feed store, delivering sold goods to all 
parts of the city. 

He was born September 28, 1851, in Illi- 
nois, a son of Charles and Rachel (White) 
Utterback, of German descent. He moved 
to Mills County, Iowa, and next to Holt 
County, Missouri, and then back to Mills 
County, where Mrs. Utterback died. W. C. 
was then given in charge of his grandmother, 
who died three years afterward, bequeathing 
the boy a small amount of live-stock; but it 
was never delivered to him by his grandfather. 
Charles Utterback (W. C.'s father) married 
again; the boy returned to live with him. 
They moved to Nebraska a few months after- 
ward, and the boy was employed on a shingle- 



machine one winter in the Missouri River 
Bottom, at $6 a month. Wlieu nine years 
old he chopped cord-wood for making char- 
coal, at 75 cents a cord. Jfext he was em- 
ployed on a Nebraska farm at $8 a month, 
for one summer. The next year he worked 
on the Missouri River seven miles above 
Nebraska City. When he was ten years of 
age he was bound out till of age to a Mr. 
Wood, who in the course of two years became 
so abusive that the lad was obliged to leave 
him to save his life. The fellow would 
sometimes come home drunk and threaten to 
kill the boy. One time he actually got him 
down, sat himself upon him and endeavored to 
choke him to death! 

After spending another summer with his 
father, his step-mother died, and he was once 
more thrown out upon the cold world. His 
father now told him that he could keep all he 
made. Returning to Mills County, he was 
employed upon farms until he was nineteen 
years of age. He then married, rented a 
farm, worked it during the summer and la- 
bored for his father in his brick-yard during 
the winter. After four or five years thus 
employed he made brick on his own account 
two years at Malvern, Mills County. Then 
he moved to Council Bluffs, in 1881, taking 
charge of brick-yards for James Wickham 
one season, and then for Henry Delany and 
Richard Foxley one season. Next for a short 
time he was engaged in sinking wells and 
cisterns, taking contracts for the same for six 
years longer, when he settled down to his 
present situation. He is a representative 
business man of Council Bluffs, a Republican 
and a member of the Y. A. S. Society, and 
also, with his wife, a member of the Meth- 
odist Episcopal Church. 

March 3, 1871, he married Miss Harriet 
C. Hubbard, who was born in 1852, and 
they are the parents of nine children: Eva, 



OP POTTAWATTAMIE OOUNTT. 



385 



Ora, Eddie, Mellie (deceased), Amos, Minnie, 
Bertha, Thomas and Agnes. 



jjARGAKET STOKER, of Pottawatta- 
IttVfflt mie County, was born May 29, 1822, 
^m^ in Wilkes County, North Carolina, 
the daughter of John and Rhoda (Judd) 
Stoker, the former a native of North Caro- 
lina. Mrs. Stoker was in her seventh year 
when her parents moved to Wayne County, 
Indiana, where they lived until after her 
father's death, which took place when she 
was about seven or eight years of age. He 
left a widow and nine children, of whom Mrs. 
Stoker was the youngest. In 1838, when she 
was sixteen years of age, the family moved 
to Iowa, on the Des Moines River, when the 
State was still a Territory, and where they 
lived until the mother's death, which occur- 
red one year later. In 1839 Mrs. Stoker was 
married, at the age of seventeen years, to 
Eller Stoker, who was born in Jackson 
County, Ohio, the son of Michel and Cathe- 
rine Ella Stoker, the mother a native of North 
Carolina and the father of Germany. Eller 
Stoker was reared in Ohio, and when about 
twenty-one years of age moved to Missouri, 
where he lived two years and then came to 
Iowa, and afterward removed to Nauvoo, 
Hancock County, Illinois, where he became 
a member of the Church of the Latter-Day 
Saints, in 1846. He then came back to the 
old liomestead, where Mrs. Stoker still lives, 
and cultivated a portion of the land before 
his death, which occurred July 18, 1855, 
lacking but a few days of being thirty nine 
years old, and leaving a widow and seven 
children, viz.: Orson Hyde, who lives near 
Yorkshire, Harrison County, Iowa, is mar- 
ried, and has seven children: Allen, who 
lives near Union Grove, Harrison County, 



and has five children; Michel E., lives near 
Union Grove, Harrison County; Lavina, the 
wife of William Spears, lives in Pottawatta- 
mie County, and has six children; Mary, 
wife of William Sliene, of Garner Township, 
has three children; Calpernia, lives in Min- 
den Township, the wife of George Spears, 
and has four children; and Lucretia, who 
lives in Garner Township, the wife of William 
Heileman. Mrs. Stoker has had a wonderful 
experience of living in Iowa, and she has 
witnessed the growth and prosperity of the 
State. 




ILLIAM HEILEMAN is one of the 
prominent and successful citizens of 
Garner Township, who came to Pot- 
tawattamie County, thirteen years ago, and 
has resided on his present farm ever since. 
He was born August 22, 1857, in Saxony, 
Germany, the son of William and Wil- 
helmina (Marker) Heileman, natives of Sax- 
ony. William attended school until fourteen 
years of age, and then commenced farm work. 
Wlien sixteen years of age he bade liis 
father, mother, six brothers and one sister, 
good-bye, and came to this country with his 
uncle, Carl Heileman, who settled in Web- 
ster County, Iowa. William afterward came 
to Humboldt County, where he worked at 
farm work by the month, and remained un- 
til the spring of 1877, when he came to 
Pottawattamie County. He purchased eighty 
acres of land in Minden Township, which lie 
afterward sold and bought his present farm 
of Margaret Stoker. It was an old, culti- 
vated farm, situated about four miles from 
the city limits, and consists of 243 acres, 
120 acres being cultivated, and the remainder 
in valuable timber and pasture lands. He 
has some four acres in a vineyard, about two 



386 



BIOOBAPHICAL BISTORT 



acres in blackberries, and six acres in orchard. 
The farm is well adapted for fruit-growing 
or stock-raising. 

On tiie 16th of April he was married to 
Miss Lncretia Stoker, who was born on this 
homestead, and the daughter of Eller and 
Margaret Stoker, early and well-known set- 
tlers of the township. Mr. and Mrs. Heiie- 
man have two children: Ralph Earling and 
Minnie. Politically Mr. Heileman is a Dem- 
ocrat, and is a raem])er of the Farmers' Pro- 
tective Alliance of Garner Township. He is 
a man yet in the prime of life, frank, intelli- 
gent and cordial in his manner. 



—f-^Mj-l— 

fOHN C. DAVIS, a farmer of Neola 
Township, was born in Menard County, 
Illinois, June 26, 1860, a son of George 
H. and Emma Jean (Shephard) Davis, natives 
of Illinois and of Kentucky parentage. 
George was brought up on a farm, married 
in 1855, in Illinois, and came to Cass County, 
Iowa, and two years later to Pottawattamie 
County. Here he purchased 182 acres of 
land in Knox Township, erected a good frame 
house 18 X 26 feet and one and a half stories 
high, barns, sheds, etc., and made many other 
improvements. He also dealt in live-stock to 
some extent, bnt took especial pleasure in 
raiding line horses, such as the Hambletonian, 
and he planted about two acres of both large 
and small fruits and an ornamental grove. 
Was active in the public welfare. His wife 
died leaving five children: Elijah, John C, 
Mary E., Cora L. and Amos A. After her 
death he married his second wife, a native of 
Indiana; and by this marriage there were 
two children: Emma, Jean and Clara; the 
latter died in infancy. 

Mr. Davis, our present subject, was brought 
up to farm life, and at the age of twenty-two 



years left home and married Mary F. Ruckle, 
July 4, 1882. She was the daughter of Peter 
Ruckle, a native of Baltimore, Maryland, who 
came to Iowa about the spring of 1863, lo- 
cating on 100 acres of land in Knox Town- 
ship, Pottawattamie County. He had four 
children, namely: Mattie, who resides at 
liome and is teaching school in Avoca; James 
G., who is also a teacher, residing in Knox 
Township; Mary F., who is fourth in order 
of birth; and Charles, who resides in Echo, 
Umatilla County, Oregon. Mrs. Davis was 
born August 26, 1861, was reared as a farm- 
er's daughter, and received a good education 
in the Avoca high school. 

After their marriage Mr. Davis remained 
in Knox Topnship for a half year and then 
located upon forty acres of land in Neola 
Township, which he purchased and owned 
for two years. Selling out, he made a pros- 
pecting trip into Nebraska, but returned and 
bought eighty acres of land on section 21 in 
Neola Township, where there were some im- 
provements; but he has added many more 
building fences, planting fruit trees, etc., and 
made a neat home, where he is enjoying the 
comforts of life. 

On national questions he is a Democrat; 
in local matters he votes for the best man. 
He takes special interest in the temperance 
question, is a public-spirited citizen, doing 
much for the benefit of the community. Has 
held the various township offices: has been a 
member of the Board of Education, of which 
he was once the president; and has been Jus- 
tice of the Peace two years and re-elected in 
1890, receiving in his election to that office 
more votes than any other man lias ever re- 
ceived. He and his wife are among the 
reiiresentative families of the community, 
taking an active part in both its social and 
its moral advancement. Their children are 
three in number: Bertha May, born August 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNT T. 



387 



30, 1883; Floyd OrviUe, June 20, 1886, and 
Leta M., May 25, 1889. 



fRANK G. WEEKS, the present editor 
and publisher of the Carson Critic, was 
born near Dixon, Illinois, March 29, 
1857, the son of George P. Weeks, a native 
of New Hatnpsliire, and later a resident of 
Illinois. His wife, Philena (Potter) Weeks, 
was born in Kennebec County, Maine, but 
previous to her marriage liad resided in New 
Hampshire. In 1872 the I'atnily removed to 
Iowa, settling in Macedonia, now Carson 
Township, where they still reside. At the 
time of settlement the county was still in its 
pioneer period, and the settlers were com- 
pelled to undergo many of the hardships and 
privations of a frontier life. The family still 
reside on the home farm, which is located 
two miles directly east of Carson. One son, 
Osmon B. Weeks, is one of the progressive 
and successful farmers of the county, and 
two daughters. May and Janet, also reside at 
home. 

An attendance of two or three months of 
each year at the district schools constituted 
the entire educational advantages afforded 
the subject of this sketch. This he supple- 
mented, however, by the reading of such 
books and papers as he was able to borrow, 
or as his limited means would enable him to 
buy. When his services were not needed at 
home, he herded cattle on the prairies, worked 
lor neighboring farmers, and in fact followed 
the routine life of a boy on a farm. In 1880 
the building of the railroad from the Botna 
Valley, and the location of the towns of Car- 
son, Oakland and Macedonia opened a new 
era for that country, and in the advantages 
thus afforded he shared equally with all 
others. In that year he a^si8ted Julian & 



McManima in the establishment of the Car- 
son Fairdealer, working in their interests 
until he became convinced that the personal 
policy of the publishers was decidedly at 
variance with the sonjewhat pretentious title 
of the paper. His father's death occurring 
in the spring of 1881, he assumed charge of 
the farm, in which he continued until the 
winter of 1886-'87, when he purchased an 
interest in and assumed the manasement of 
the Carson Critic, in the publication of which 
he is still engaged. The success in this, 
while in no way phenomenal, has been very 
satisfactory, the paper enjViying an unusually 
good local patronage, and maintaining an ex- 
cellent standing with the press of the district. 
While in no sense a politician, Mr. Weeks 
has always taken an active interest in polit- 
ical matters, both of a local and general 
nature. Always an avowed supporter of the 
principles of the Republican party, his polit- 
ical efforts have been along the line of its 
advancement. 



fAMESON BROS. (W. J. and C. O.) are 
the successors of James & Yancey in the 
proprietorship of " Hotel Jameson " 
since October, 1889. The hotel has thirty- 
live rooms, is nicely furnished throughout 
aiid is under the direct management of C. O. 
Jameson. 

This gentleman was born in New Bruns- 
wick, March 7, 1857, the fifth of six chil- 
dren of Charles S. and Jane (Mclntyre) 
Jameson, and of Scotch and Irish extraction. 
His parents are both still living in that prov- 
ince. In his youth he learned the carriage 
trade, and followed it until he entered his 
present business. He tirot engaged in that 
trade in Council Bluffs in 1873 for one year, 
then in Creston, this State, for live years, and 



BIOQRAPRICAL HISTORY 



then three years at Hastings, Nebraska; since 
then he has lieen in his present position. He 
has recently taken the general agency for the 
State of Maine for the United States Masonic 
Benevolent Association of Council Bluffs, 
Iowa. He is a live, energetic business man, 
fully understanding his vocation. In his 
political sympathies he is a Republican, and 
in society he is a member of Bluff City 
Lodge, No. 71, F. & A. M. 

He was married in 1884, to Miss Minnie 
Boslough, of Meiidota, Illinois, who was born 
October 1, 1861. Their courteous manner 
and genial disposition evinced their fitness as 
managers of one of the best hotels in Council 
Bluffs. 

fM. ALLEE, one of t!ie substantial 
farmers of Lincoln Township, was born 
® in Parke County, Indiana, June 25, 
1844, the son of Limus Allee, who was of 
American birth. His parents were Quakers, 
who came from the north of Ireland at an 
early day, settling on a farm in Hancock 
County, Indiana. Limus Allee was born in 
that county, but removed to Parke County, 
same State, when a young man. He was a 
carpenter by trade, and was married to Sarah 
A. Warner, and they had seven children: 
F. M., John, William, Mary E., Martha, 
Susan and Etta. The mother died in J'arke 
County, from an accident caused by her 
clothes catching lire. Mr. Allee was again 
married, to iiuth Higgins, and in 1857 moved 
to Vermillion County, Illinois, where he 
bought a farm. He died in 1859; he was a 
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
and had served as Assessor of his township. 
He was a man of sterling integrity and in- 
dustrious habits. 

Francis M. Allee, the subject of this sketch, 



enlisted at the early age of seventeen years 
in the Ninth Indiana Battery, and served 
three years and seven months, or through the 
war. He was in the battle of Shiloh, April 
6 and 7, and many skirmishes. lie was on the 
steamer Eclij)se at Jonesville, Tennessee, 
January 25, 1865, when the boiler exploded, 
and he received a severe wound, and was 
thrown into the river. He served all his 
time, however, with no hospital record, and 
no other wounds. Mr. Allee was also under 
Rosecrans, and his corps, the Sixteenth, was 
commanded by General A. J. Smith. They 
followed General Price, the noted Confederate 
General, from St. Louis, across the State of 
Missouri to Kansas City, where a battle was 
fought at Big Blue River, and thence from 
Kansas City into Kansas, then back to Glas- 
gow, Missouri, where the army went into 
camp for election; was in the battle of Nash- 
ville. He was iionorably discharged at 
Indianapolis, Indiana, June 26, 1865, being 
then just twenty-one years of age. Thus the 
days of his earliest manhood were spent in 
defense of his country. 

Mr. Allee lived on a farm in Parke County, 
Indiana, until 1880, when he came to Pot- 
tawattamie County, Iowa, and settled on his 
present farm of 150 acres of tine land. So- 
cially he is both a Mason and an Odd Fellow, 
and politically is a stanch Democrat. He is 
serving his second time as Township Trustee. 
He stands deservedly high as an honest and 
upright man. He has descended from old 
Revolutionary stock, iiis grandfather having 
fought in the battles for our independence, 
and he fought to preserve the Union. He was 
married in Parke County, Indiana, to Nancy 
C. Wolfe, daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth 
Wolfe, and by this marriage tiiere were two 
children: Preston and May. The former 
was married to Ora Ratcliff, and settled on a 
farm in Indiana, and had one daughter, 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE OOUNTT. 



389 



Nellie; the latter died in infancy. Mr. Allee's 
first wife died, and he was married to Mary 
E. Husford, nee Griffith, the daughter of 
William R. and Edith Griffith. The father 
was born in Belmont County, Ohio, in 1824, 
and was the son of Mahloii Griffith, who died 
in Muskin<!;uin County, Ohio. He was a 
farmer, and was the lather of three children: 
Mahlon, William R. and Leahann. He was 
a member of the Metliodist Church. Mr. and 
Mrs. William R. Griffith were the parents of 
nine children, viz.: Mary E., William W., 
Mahlon, Theodore (who died at the age of 
twelve years), Almon, John R., Perry, Edgar 
G. and Leahann. Mr. Griffitii lived in Bel- 
mont County for some years; then moved to 
Muskingum County, and in 18G5 settled in 
Parke County, Indiana. In 1877 he came to 
Pottawattamie County, and settled on a farm 
in Valley Township, where he still resides, 
at the age of sixty-seven. Both Mr. and Mrs. 
Griffith are members of the Methodist Church. 
Politically he is a Democrat. He was of 
Welsh descent, and is a man of great force 
of character and upright morals, and has 
labored liard to lead a just and honorable life. 

— lot "l y * ^ t 1 ^ « ^i » <B» — - 

A. LARSON was born in Sweden, in 
1850, son of Carl and Caroline Larson, 
'* and was a babe eighteen months old 
when he was brought by his parents to 
America. For a short time the family made 
their liume at Andover, Illinois, after which 
they went to Rock Island, same State. At 
the latter place his father was in the employ 
of Judge Spencer for fifteen years. During 
the civil war he was drafted into the service, 
but the Judge bought him a Kubstitnte for $400, 
in order to retain him in his employ. Mr. 
Larson's parents now reside five miles south- 
east of Geneseo, Henry County, Illinois. Of 



their six children, five sons and one daughter, 
C. A. is the oldest. He was reared on a farm 
near Rock Island, Illinois, and received his 
education in the public schools of Henry 
County. 

In 1875 Mr. Larson came to Pottawattamie 
County, Iowa, and bought eighty acres of 
wild prairie land in section 8, Waveland 
Township, where he has since made his home. 
He has added to his first purchase, and now 
owns 120 acres of well-improved land. The 
splendid condition of his farm indicates the 
prosperity which has attended his labors. 
He has a good lionse, stables, cribs, good 
fences and a modern wind-pump. His well 
is sixty feet deep with thirty-four feet of 
water in it. He has a grove and a beautiful 
orchard of four acres. 

Mr. Larson was married, March 7, 1880, 
at Red Oak, Iowa, to Miss Victoria W. Blootn- 
quist, a native of Sweden, who came to Iowa 
a year or two before her marriage. They 
have two sons: Carl Oscar William, born 
March 11, 1881, and Elmer Theodore, Janu- 
ary 21, 1891. Mrs. Larson's father, Jonas 
E. Bloomquist, was born in 1820, in Sweden, 
was a blacksmith by trade, and died in 
Stockholm in July, 1890. Her mother was 
born in 1832, in Sweden, and died in 
Westervik, that country, in 1867. She has 
three brothers and two sisters living, one of 
the latter a twin, residing in West Des 
Moines, this State, the wife of Peter Burg. 
October 11, 1890, a locomotive on the Fort 
Dodge Railroad ran over two of their (Mr. 
and Mrs. Burg's) children and killed them. 
One was Peter, three years old, and the other 
was Minnie, twenty-two months of age. C. 
J. Lillgeberg, a prominent business man of 
Red Oak, Iowa, is an uncle of Mrs. Larson. 
Mr. Larson is a man who is well posted on 
the current topics of the day. His political 
views are in harmony with Republican priii- 



31)0 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY 



ciples. He is frank and cordial to all, and 
has tlie good will of a large circle of friends 
and acquaintances. 




f ARREN HOUGH, a prominent mer- 
chant, of Crescent City, and a hotel- 
keeper there, was horn iii Hazel Dell 
Township, this county, April 24, 1849, a son 
(if Samuel M. and Jane (Allen) Hongh, natives 
of New Yo^k State. Samuel M. Hougli was 
born in Williamstown, Oswego County, New 
York, January 6, 1818, a son of Joel (a 
farmer) and Sarah (Stillson) Hough, natives 
of Connecticut and of English origin, who 
married young and emigrated to New York 
State. Samuel was reared to farm life until 
he was married, January 1, 1840, when he 
began to work at the blacksmith's trade. 
His wife, Jane, who was sixteen years of age 
at the time of marriage, was born in Williams- 
town, April 15, 1824, a daughter of Zoeth 
and Elizabetl: (Bradley) Allen, natives re- 
spectively of Vermont and Connecticut. 
Zoeth Allen was a farmer and carpenter. He 
had nine children: Russell, Lyman, Truman, 
Morris, Samuel, Abigail, Abger, Huldah 
(deceased), Riley, residing in Hazel Dell 
Township. Their parents removed to Lee 
County, Iowa, in 1841, upon a rented farm, 
and Mrs. Hough died there in October the 
next year. In 1846 Mr. Hougli came to 
Pottawattamie County and took up eighty 
acres of perfectly wild land, made some im- 
provements, sold it, spent a short time in 
Crawford County, this State, and then bought 
tortv acres of land and considerable property 
in Crescent City, including the residence now 
occupied by his widow. 

Being a blacksmith, he erected a shop and 
commenced business, in connection with 
farming, which he followed until he died, 



November 9, 1881. He was an industrious 
and successful man, having at the time of his 
death a large amount of town property and 
200 acres of land. He had ten children, as 
follows: Mortimer and Byron, both deceased; 
Esther, now the wife of H. H. Terry, of 
Crescent City; Adelaide, deceased; Russell, 
now residing in York Township; Warren, the 
subject of this sketch; Marcellus, residing in 
Crescent City; Herbert, in Council Bluffs; 
and Denver, a resident of Crescent City. Mr. 
Warren Hough started out in life for him- 
self at the age of twenty-three years. Pur- 
chasing forty acres of wild land in section 27, 
Crescent Township, he afterward added sixty 
acres more, on sections 27 aud 28. On this 
farm he has made all the improvements him- 
self. He followed farming until 1884, when 
he moved into Crescent City and opened a 
hotel, which he still conducts. In 1886 he 
bought a stock of groceries and aj;ricultural 
implements, and since then has been running 
a store in the sale of this class of goods. In 
April, 1886, he was appointed Postmaster, 
and continued in office until 1889. He is a 
live and energetic man in business, social and 
political circles; is a stockholder in the State 
Savings Bank, of Council Bluffs, Iowa, being 
one of the founders. For the last four years 
he has also dealt in grain and live-stock. 

Mr. Hough is an intelligent and reliable 
Democrat. He has been Township Clerk and 
is now Justice of the Peace, and a member 
of the Board of Education. He is a member 
of lodge No. 49, I. O. O. F., of Council Bluffs, 
and of the Mutual Protection Association, 
lodge No. 1, of Crescent City. 

He was married November 28, 1872, to 
Miss Rebecca, daughter of L. K. and Betsy 
(Meyer) Dunkle, who was born in Pennsyl- 
vania October 19, 1855, and they have had 
five children, named as follows: Walter, born 
November 10, 1873; an infant daughter, de- 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



391 



ceased, wa3 tli3 next in orler uf birth; the 
next, Hattie, also died in infancy; the next, 
an infant son, also deceised; and Lee, born 
June 30, 1889. Mrs. HoiiiJ^h is a member of 
the German Reformed Church. 

fH. E. CLARK, sjeneral manager of the 
Caroon Coal Company, of Council 
* Bluffs, has had his present situation 
since the organization of the company in 
1889. The senior member of the firm is 
George F. Wright. The office is at 10 Pearl 
street. They do jobbing both in wholesale 
and retail, in both wood and coal, and have 
an annual business of $35,000. 

Mr. Clark is a native of Erie Cuunty, Penn- 
sylvania, born in December, 1850, the son of 
Joel and Lucinda B. (Bliss) Clark, of Puritan 
origin, he being the representative of the 
family in this part of the country. He was 
brought up as a tanner and cnrrier, his father 
being the same; was educated in the public 
schools, and commenced to do for himself 
while "n his youth, and has been doing the 
same ever since his twelfth year. Being a 
natural trader, he was usually successful. He 
remained in his native State nntil the fall of 
1880, engaged in the fruit business, handling 
a vast amount of fruits and vegetables. His 
first venture in that line was instigated by 
being in Philadelphia and, seeing the vast 
amount of vegetables, especially encumbers, 
that were being shipped at snch cheap prices, 
he concluded at once that he could make a 
profitable investment by taking some of the 
articles to Erie, where he resided. Accord- 
ingly he had three barrels shipped to Erie, 
which he disposed of at retail, clearing $18 
per barrel. This encouraged him to go on 
and lie therefore gradually increased his stock 
in various articles until he did a thriving 

30 



business. He was the first to ship the Jersey 
watermelon into Erie. He remained in that 
town until he came West. In 1880 he went 
to Kansas, where he remained some time, 
thence to Southern California, and traveled 
about for six or seven years, when he returned 
to Kansas; and in the fall of 1888 he came to 
Council Bluffs, where he engaged in various 
speculations. In May, 1889, he entered his 
present business, which he now conducts, and 
devotes his entire attention to the same. 

He always took an active part in the politi- 
cal work while in Erie; was chairman of the 
Third Ward Republican Committee for some 
time, and was very active in the cause of his 
party. He still zealously adheres to Repub- 
lican principles. He is a member of Tyrian 
Lodge, No. 740, I. O. O. F., and also a 
charter member of Erie Lodge, No. 44, 
A. (). U. W., having passed the chairs of the 
same. 

He was married June 28, 1877, to Miss 
Adda W. Woodworth, daughter of William 
and Caroline (Jewell) Woodworth, of Rush- 
ford, Allegany County, New York, of Puri- 
tan origin. The father was captain in the 
war of the Rebellion, and was wounded at 
the battle of Fair Oaks, which resulted in his 
death. They hare one child, Gracie, and are 
associated with the Methodist Episcopal 
Church. 

After having removed with his parents to 
Erie, Mr. Clark learned the machinists' trade, 
at which business he worked some eight 
years. He is a self-made man, having taken 
care of himself fnnn his early childhood. His 
parents are both living in the city of Erie, 
father aged eighty years and mother aged 
seventy-eight. He followed the tanning and 
currier's business for thirty-five years, and 
the latter part of his life he has retired from 
active pursuits. They had seven sons and 
two daughters, viz.: Charles, a resident of 



892 



bkjouaphical HisronY 



Detroit; George, a resident of River Forest, 
a suburb of Cliicago; Richard, a resident of 
Chicago; James H. E., our subject; Morris, 
deceased; Joel, a resident of Cleveland, Ohio; 
Joseph, a resident of Maywood, a suburb of 
Chiciigo; Marania, widow of S. L. Gillson, a 
resident of Erie, Pennsylvania; and Emma, 
wife of A. L. Backus, a resident of Erie, 
Pennsylvania. The family are associated 
with the Methodist Episcopal Church. On 
the 20th of last August, 1890, their parents 
liad been married fiftj' years. 



Ig-^ T. IRWIN, editor of the Neola Re- 
porter, was born in Steubeiiville, Ohio, 
I* June 24, 1853, the sun of James and 
Margaret (Lucas) Irwin, natives of Ireland. 
James Irwin was born December 12, 1888, 
came to America when a boy, and at the age 
of thirteen years began to learn the printing 
business, in Harrison County, Ohio. After 
he had served his apprenticeship he lived in 
Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, and other places, 
and tinally located in Steubenville, where he 
was married. He was in business there two 
years, then sold out, and for a number of years 
was foreman on the Steubenville Herald. 
Since 1864 he has resided at Des Moines, 
Iowa. His wife was born in January, 1839, 
and died in November, 1882, leaving three 
children, namely: H. T. and Elizabeth S., 
twins, born June 24, 1853; Elizabeth, now the 
wife of William B. Graham, in Kansas City, 
Missouri; and Annie E., who was born 
October 17, 1857, and now resides in Des 
Moines. 

Mr. Irwin, the subject of this brief notice, 
began his apprenticeship in the art of printing 
at the age of fifteen, in Des Moines. In the 
spring of 1878 he was married, i n Panora, Iowa, 
where he remained until 1882, when lie re- 



turned to Des Moines. In the fall of 1883 lie 
came to Neola and purchased the ('ffice ot the 
Neola Reporter^ of which paper be is now the 
popular editor. It is a journal sparkling 
with news and wit. Mr. Irwin is a Repub- 
lican on national issues and independent in 
local elections. He has been Town Recorder 
for the past three years; is a member of 
Crystal Lodge, No. 238, Iv. of J'., of Neola, 
of which society he is treasurer. lie is a live, 
energetic young man. 

January 19, 1878, at Panor^i, he married 
Anna Bowen, the daughter of William and 
Sarah (White) Bowen, both natives of (Jhiu, 
the tormer now residing in Nebraska, the 
latter liaving died Julv 5, 1890. She was 
born September 17, 1857, the foiirtli in a 
family of seven children, and a farmer's 
daughter. She is a member of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church, of Neola. 



MMET TINLEY, attorney at law, Coun- 
!l. cil Bluffs, was admitted to the bar of 
this city in October, 1888. He was 
born in Macon County, Missouri, Septeml)er 
22, 1867. His father, M. H. Tinley, removed 
from Illinois to Missouri, and in 1869 re- 
moved to Council Bluffs. The family con- 
sisted of the parents, five sons and tline 
daughters; all are now residents of Council 
Bluffs. The subject of tiiis sketch was edu- 
cated in the schools of this city, graduating 
in the high school in the class of 1886. lie 
began the study of law with Colonel D. B. 
Dailey, and was admitted to the bar October 
3, 1888. He formed a copartnership and 
engaged in practice with Ambrose ISurke, 
which continued nntil June, 1, 1890. Mr. 
Tinley, although one of the youngest mem- 
bers of the bar of Council Bluffs, is already 
recognized as an able lawyer. He is a Demo- 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



393 



crat in politics, and takes an active part in 
promoting the interests of his party, and is a 
popular and effective speaker. 



tORENZO D. N ELLIS, a substantial 
farmer of Lincoln Township, was born in 
Ontario, October 28, 1844, the son of 
Benjamin JMellis, who was born in New York 
State, of Mohawk Dutch descent. He was 
married there to Mary Bartlett, who was from 
one of the oldest families of America. Mr. 
and Mrs. Nellis were the parents of nine 
children: George S., Myron (deceased young), 
Orrin, Lysander, Lorenzo D., Mary J., Eliza- 
beth E. and Sarah A. The father moved to 
Ontario and became a farmer, and died there 
at the age of seventy-three years. Both Mr. 
and Mrs. Nellis were members of the Meth- 
odist Church. 

Lorenzo D. Nellis, our subject, learned the 
trade of harness-maker in Ypsilanti, Michi- 
gan, where he remained utitil about eighteen 
years of age. He worked at his trade about 
ten years in Ypsilanti and Grass Lake, 
Michigan, and Burlington, Iowa, and also 
ran a shop for himself in Cairo, Iowa, for 
about live years. In 1871 Mr. Nellis settled 
in Cass County, where he lived about six 
years; in 1877 he came to Pottawattamie 
County, and in 1879 bought his present 
farm, then consisting of eighty acres, which, 
by energy and industry, he has improved, 
and to which he has widely added until he 
now owns 160 acres of fine farm land. Both 
himself and wife are members of the Chris- 
tian Church, and he has taken an active in- 
terest in the schools. In politics he is a 
Republican, and is a man who stands higii in 
this township. His children descend on both 
Bides from pioneer American stock, of which 
there is no better, and they should take an 



lionest pride in the sterling ancestry from 
which they sprung. 

Mr. Nellis was married in Iowa, to Mary 
J. Marshall, daughter of Joshua and Euphe- 
inia (Marlow) Marshall. The father was 
born in Virginia, and weTit to Ohio when a 
boy of ten years with his father, John Mar- 
shall, who was one of the pioneers of Clark 
County, Ohio. The Marshalls were of Irish 
descent, and the Marlows of German descent. 
Joshua Marshall was the father of nine chil- 
dren: Robert, Jennie, Mary J., William, 
Anna A., Charles W., Almina and Joseph H. 
Mr. Marshall moved to Iowa and settled in 
Louisa County, where he was one of the 
pioneers. He was a comfortable farmer, and 
died two years after coming to this State, in 
1859. He was a member of the Methodist 
Church, and,a man who was respected by all. 
To Mr. and Mrs. Nellis have been born three 
children: Mary E., born January 27, 1872; 
Maud A., deceased in infancy, and Charles 
B , born February 23, 1876. 



[SCAR H. BROWN, one of the most 
prominent business men of Council 
Bluffs, was born near Biggsville, Hen- 
derson County, Illinois, September 28, 1855, 
the first born in the family of Clinton W. 
and Louisa (Short) Brown. The other chil- 
dren were: Fannie Alice, born May 20, 1857; 
Anna May, born October 31, 1858, and mar- 
ried E. C. Brown; William R., born June 
18, 1863; Elva C, born October 15, 1865; 
Stewart C, born January 3, 1868, and died 
March 25, 1889. Mr. Clinton W. Brown was 
born near Gallatin, Sumner County, Tennes- 
see, April 28, 1882, the youngest in a family 
of four of Reuben S. and Keziah (Sarver) 
Brown. The other children were: Henry P. 
M., born April 8, 1824; Marian L., born 



894 



BIOGRAPHIC A L HISTOR V 



March 25, 1826; Julia Ann, born Jnlj 30, 
1828, and married H. \V. Crosstlivvait; Reu- 
ben S. Brown was born in Rockingham 
County, Virginia, August 5, 1799, and was 
taken by his parents to Tennessee in their 
change of residence to that State, settling in 
Sumner County about 1822 or 1823. He 
inlierited no property and commenced mar- 
ried life witliout means; was Cok)nel of tlie 
State militia for a few years, and October 10, 
1838, with all his household goods in a 
Govei'ed wagon, drawn by horses, he moved 
to Knox County, Illinois, which section of 
country he bad previously visited, receiving 
favorable impressions of the fertility of the 
soil and congenial sentiments of the people 
concerning slavery; though a Southerner by 
birth he wa« a strong Abolitionist. He was 
eight weeks on the journey, having to ford 
mostof thestreatnsand suifer many privations. 
Settling at Cherry Grove, Knox County, Illi- 
nois, he remained there until the fall of 
1850. when he located upon a farm in the 
vicinity of Biggsville, Henderson County, 
same State. During Grant's administration 
he was Postmaster at Biggsville. In 1876 
he removed to a point near Piper City, Cen- 
tral Illinois, where he lived until the fall of 
1879, and then he came to Council Bluffs, 
and spent the winter with his son on C street. 
In the spring of 1880 he went to Imogene, 
Iowa, where his daughter, Mrs. Crossthwait, 
had located, and where he passed the re- 
mainder of his life, dying January 21, 1890, 
at the advanced age of ninety-one years. His 
first vote for president of the United States 
was cast for General Jackson in 1828, but he 
afterward became a Whig and supported 
Henry Clay. From the time he became of 
age he cast his vote at every prefidential 
election during his life. He was a personal 
friend of Abraham Lincoln, and wept like a 
child when that great and good man was 



assassinated; was an ardent supporter of tiie 
Union cause during the war, an<' was always 
a strong advocate of temperance; was a zeal- 
ous student of State and national politics, 
and a man of remarkable memory, which re- 
mained unimpaired until his death, and was 
generous, even to a fault, in all his dealings. 
His life companion, a native of North Car- 
olina, died only four years previously, Fel)ru- 
ary 2, 1886, at her daughter's home. Slie 
was a devoted wife and mother and a con- 
sistent member of the Methoilist Episcopal 
Church. Her death was the first that occur- 
red in the family. 

Mr. Clinton W. Brown was married Sep- 
tember 15, 1853, but, being the youngest of 
his father's family, he remained with liis 
parents until the fall of 1854, wiien he pur- 
ciiased a farm near by, in what was afterward 
Oquawka Township, live miles from Oquawka. 
the county-seat of Ilenderfron County. Illi- 
nois. He remained there until the autumn 
of 1863, making many improvements and 
placing the land in a State of fine cultivation. 
He then sold out and moved with iiis family 
to Montgomery County, Iowa, rented a farm 
nine miles from Red Oak, at a point now 
called Climax, remained there until the 
spring of 1870, and then removed to Pot- 
tawattamie County, buying an unimproved 
piece of land in Washington Township, lie 
erected some buildings, planted a wind-break 
and an orchard and made other improve- 
ments. In March, 1877, he rented this farm 
and moved into the city of Council Blufis, 
and owing to the poor health of his wife he 
never returned to the farm, which he con- 
sequently sold in 1882, buying property in 
the city. Here he has been engaged in \)\\y- 
ing and selling real estate and farm machinery 
and in building. He has lieen Justice of the 
Peace, Township Clerk and Treasurer of the 
School Board for a number of years. Is a 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



39") 



prohibition Republican and a member of the 
Methodist Episcopal Chiircli, in which society 
he is class-leader, trustee and steward. He 
is a gentleman who enjoys the confidence 
and respect of the community in which he 
has been identified with all the moral, social 
and material interests. His wife was born in 
Henderson County, Illinois, August 11, 1835, 
a daughter of Abner Short, who was a native 
of Kentucky, a pioneer of the '■ Prairie 
State," married Hirana Ewing in Indiana, 
and moved to Henderson County, Illinois, 
where he continued to reside during the re- 
luainder of his life. Mrs. Brown was brought 
up a Presbyterian, but a few years before her 
death she united with the Methodist Epis- 
coptl Church. She wa^ a woman of sympa- 
thetic nature, a devoted wife and inotlier, and 
admired by all who knew her. She died in 
Council Bluffs, July 20, 1870, and was buried 
in Fairview Cemetery. 

The early life of Mr. O. H. Brown, whose 
name heads this biography, was spent on a 
farm and in school. At the age of twenty 
years he began teaching school, in his native 
county, and continued in that vocation till 
the spring of 1878, when he entered the em- 
ploy of Harle & McKune, wholesale and 
retail druggists, and served two years as an 
apprentice without pay. The firm then em- 
ployed him as a traveling salesman for five 
years, and as a " knight of the grip " he was 
decidedly successful, though not one of the 
" boys." By strict attention to business and 
the practice of economy he saved enough to 
buy out the retail department of his employ- 
ers, and opened a first-class drugstore, com- 
prising also toilet and fancy articles, at 527 
Main street, his present location, and he en- 
joys the confidence and esteem of a large 
patronage. He also owns a beautiful resi- 
dence on Tenth avenue. Thus in his short 
business career, and while yet in the morning 



of life he lias established a financial standing 
and business reputation that is indeed envi- 
able. The many traits of character that are 
essential to tlie establishment of friendships 
and a successful career in the social and busi- 
ness world, he possesses to a marked degree. 
Step by step he has ascended the ladder of 
prosperity until to-day he ranks among the 
leading business men ot the city. In his 
political sympathies he affiliates with tha 
Republican party, though he takes no active 
part in party councils. 

September 12, 1889, he married Miss 
Mamie Sherlock, of Auburn, New York, a 
lady of many personal charms and accom- 
plishments. Mr. Brown is a member of the 
A. O. U. W., in which order he has held the 
responsible position of Financier for two 
terms. 



tAWKENCE KERNEY, of section 25, 
Hardin Township, came to this county 
in 1879. He was born in Andrews 
County, Missouri, November 4, 1849, the 
son of Caleb Kerney, who was born in Penn- 
sylvania; and the latter was the son of William 
Kerney,- who was also born in Pennsylvania. 
Caleb Kerney was aprominent and well-known 
settler of Mills County, and was a relative of 
the Kerneys who were famous in history as 
statesmen and soldiers. He went to Andrews 
County, Missouri, in 1841, and in 1846 re- 
turned to Ohio, and was there married to 
Ruth Van Buskirk, who was born in Ohio, the 
daughter of Lawrence Van Buskirk, who was 
a native of Pennsylvania, of Dutch ancestry. 
They then returned to Andrews County, Mis- 
souri, where they were among the first 
settlers. In 1854 they removed to Mills 
County, Iowa, three miles nortii of Malvern, 
where he resided until 1878, excepting six 



396 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY 



years wliieh were spent in Missouri, then 
went to Fremont County, Iowa, and died in 
1880, at the age of sixty- two years; his wife 
died in the fall of 1864. By this marriage 
there were eight children. After the death 
of his wife he married the second time, by 
which union there were seven children, all 
of whom are now living. Politically Caleb 
Kerney was a Democrat, and religiously a 
Baptist, of which church his wife was also a 
member, and his children were reared in that 
doctrine. 

Lawrence Kernej, our subject, was but 
five years of age when his parents moved to 
Mills County. Here he grew to manhood, 
having passed his youth upon a farm. He 
came to Pottawattamie County in 1879, and 
bought forty aci-es of land, to which he has 
added until he now owns 120 acres, all in one 
body. He was married in Henry County, 
Iowa, September 9, 1877, to Miss Louie 
Robinson, a woman of intelligence, who was 
born in Jefferson County, Iowa, where she 
was reared and educated; she was a success- 
ful teacher before her marriage. She is the 
daughter of Rev. George W. and Margaret 
(Gregg) Robinson; the former was a pioneer 
Methodist minister, and now resides at Os- 
ceola, Clarke County, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. 
Kerney have two children: Everett and Roy 
Ernest. Politically Mr. Kerney is a Repub- 
lican, and has held the office of Justice of the 
Peace for years. He is a man of intelligence, 
well-i-ead on all the tojjics of the day, frank 
and cordial in his manner, and a popular 
citizen. 



,. ... ^ i ^ . ; , i ; , ^' 

fP. MULHOLLAND is the senio 
member of the firm of MulhoUand & 
' Nicholas, wholesale and retail dealers 
in Missouri River ice; office. No. 4 Pearl 



street. The business was established in 1861 
by R. Guannella & lirother. The present 
firm succeeded D. F. Eicher in 1882. Their 
storage-house has a caj)acitv of about 4,500 
tons. Mr. MulhoUand was born in Inde- 
pendence, Missouri, August 7, 1845, the son 
of Samuel B. MulhoUand, of Irish ancestry. 
He was but one year old when his father (the 
mother having died) removed to Iowa City. 
He afterward moved to Sioux City, and then 
to Concord, Nebraska, and later to Soutii 
Dakota. In September, 1864, they came to 
Council Bluffs, where our present subject has 
since made his home. In 1870 he opened a 
feed store in this city. Eighteen months 
afterward he quit it and engaged in various 
occupations, but principally the ice business, 
for Dan F. Eicher nine years. He is a self- 
made man, starting out with but compara- 
tively nothing; and by close application to 
business he has risen to his present position. 
Politically he is non partisan. In society 
he is a member of lodge No. 146, A. O. U. W. 
He was married December 25, 1872, in 
Council Bluffs, Iowa, to Miss Lucinda Smith, 
who was born in Jamestown, Ohio, in 1840, 
and they have two children, Mamie and 
James B. 



fOHN H. SIVERS, a prominent citizen 
of Belknap Township, was the first white 
boy born in Mills County, Iowa, July 
19, 1849, his parents being John and Mary 
Ann (Leader) Si vers, both natives of Lin- 
colnshire, England. The parents arrived in 
Mills County, July 4, 1849, where the father 
operated a mill at Glenwood, the first mill in 
Mills County: his death occurred March 31, 
1880. His widow still resides on the old 
home farm in Mills County, near Glenwood, 
at the age of sixty-seven years. They were 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE OOUNTY. 



397 



the parents of twelve children, six of whom 
grew to maturity, and tiie tliree eldest were 
born in England. 

John H., the fourth in the above family, 
remained on the farm in his native county- 
attending the common schools there — until 
1881, when he came to this county, settling 
on 120 acres of wild prairie land, on section 
7, Belknap Township, which he has since 
improved and made his home. For his res- 
idence he has a good cottage, 26 x 32 feet, 
on a natural building site, a fine barn, cattle- 
sheds, feed-lots, a corn building 29 x 48 feet, 
with a capacity of 5,000 bushels and with a 
space underneath for farming implements of 
all kinds, etc. On the 160 acre farm, a short 
distance east of the home place, is a one-and 
a-half-story house, 16 x 28 feet, with an L 
16 X 18 feet and also a story and a half in 
height; and on the premises are also a barn, 
grain cribs and all the appurtenances required 
for the convenient management of tlie place, 
which is now conducted by James Pratt. 
Mr. Si vers devotes his attention mainly to 
stock-raising, and in this business he is very 
successful. 

He was married in Mills County, Novem- 
ber 11, 1869, to Sarah C. Meadows, who was 
horn in Saline County, Missouri, August 22, 
1852, the daughter of Isaac and Rhoda 
(Granger) Meadows, the former a native of 
Virginia, and the latter of Tennessee. Her 
parents reared twelve children, and they set- 
tled in Mills County in 1853, being among 
the first families to locate in that county. In 
1883 they removed to Florida, settling near 
Anthony, Marion County. Isaac Meadows' 
death occurred December 30, 1890. Mrs. 
Sivers was reared and educated in Mills 
County. She is a woman of intelligence and 
a worthy companion and help to her hus- 
band. Mr. and Mrs. Sivers have six children, 
viz.: Archibald C, born October 20, 1870; 



Ida May, May 19, 1872; Warren L., Decem- 
ber 30, 1875; Roy E.,born December 7,1877; 
Guilla A., January 18, 1884; and John I., 
October 28, 1887. 

Politically Mr. Sivers is a Republican, and 
has served in most of the township offices. 
Both he and his wife and three of the chil- 
dren are members of the Presbyterian Church 
at Sharon, wiiich society is under the aus- 
pices of the Carson Presbyterian Church. 
Mr. Sivers is Superintendent of the Sunday- 
school, and his daughter, Ida May, is a teach- 
er in the same. Mr. Sivers is in the prime 
of life, giving his children a good education, 
and is higidy esteemed by the community in 
which he resides. 



iSj^jRS. E. WARE, a successful farmer 
fliWli' of Walnut Township, has prosper- 
-*^^ ouely managed her farm since the 
death of her husband, and has also superin- 
tended the education of her children, who 
arc receiving the best of instruction. She 
believes, as did her husband, that the best 
fortune parents can bestow upon their chil- 
dren is a good education. Daniel Ware, her 
husband, was born in Devonshire, England, 
the son of William and Johanna (Goss) 
Ware. They were the parents of three chil- 
dren: William, Daniel and John. The father 
spent his life in England, but all of his sons 
came to America. Daniel came to this coun- 
try in 1851, in company with his brother 
John, first settling in the State of New York, 
where he was engaged in farm work, being 
then twenty-three years of age. He remained 
there six years, and in 1867 bought land in 
Cedar County, Iowa, where he was one of the 
pioneers. He was married in 1871, to Miss 
Emma Guier, daughter of John and Ellen 
(Austin) Guier, both natives of Pennsylvania, 



39S 



BWORAPniOAL HInrOR ? 



tlie former of German descent ai.d the latter 
of English. They also both died in that State. 
They were the parents of four children who 
lived to maturity : Clara, Emma, Ellen and 
Hannah. To Mr. and Mrs. Ware were bora 
iive children: Nellie M., Nettie E., Charles 
A., Franklin D. and Mary E. 

Alter their marriage they settled on a farm 
in Cedar County, where they remained twelve 
years, and in 1882 settled on a farm near 
Walnut. They were both members of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Ware died 
February 15, 1888. He came to this coun- 
try with nothing, but by industry and con- 
stant effort he has accumulated a handsome 
property. He was entirely a self-made man, 
always honorable and upright in his prin- 
ciples and practice, and has left to his chil- 
dren a good name, a noble record, and a good 
home. He was an affectionate husband and 
father, and has been sadly missed from the 
liome circle. Since his death his widow has 
managed the farm and business with the same 
systematic success began by her husband. 
Their children should emulate the example 
and principles in tlieir lives. They are from 
good ancestry, and the entire family merit 
the respect of the community, and the chil- 
dren have good reason to honor their mother 
in her wise and affectionate care of providing 
for their future welfare. 



fOSEPH THOMPSON, a prominent 
farmer of Layton Township, was born 
January 21, 1824, in a log house in Pike 
County, Ohio, the son of Wheeler Thompson, 
a Virginian by birth, and of English descent. 
The father moved to Ohio in an early day, 
settling in Ross County, where he was mar- 
ried to Frances Hibbs, and they were tlie 
parents of eleven children: Samuel, Mary, 



Sarah, Rebecca, Delia, Nancy, Francis, Joseph, 
William, Wheeler and John. The father 
remained several years in Ross County, and 
then removed to Pike County, where he lived 
until his death, at the age of forty-seven 
years. He was struck by lightning, and died 
the next day. He was driving along the 
road with a flour wagon, when a bolt of 
lightning from an almost cloudless sky struck 
him senseless! He was a soldier in one of 
Indian wars, and was an industrious and 
honest man, and was much respected by his 
townsmen. He filled the office of Justice of 
the Peace for six years in succession, and also 
held other township offices. 

His son, Joseph, the subject of this sketch, 
was educated in the common schools of his 
native State. His father died when he was 
thirteen years old, and he was obliged to 
work hard on the farm and assist in the sup- 
port of the family. He remained at home 
until he was twenty-two years of age, when 
he moved to Iowa, settling on a farm in Lou- 
isa County, wiiere he remained seven years. 
He went to Holt County Missouri, in 1857, 
where he purchased a farm and remained 
seventeen years. During the war Mr. 
Thompson was a stanch Union man, and re- 
mained true to the old flag. He was enrolled 
in the State militia, and was called out many 
times, but saw no fighting. In 1873, wish- 
ing to educate his children, he moved to 
Louisa County, Iowa, and bought a farm, re- 
maining until 1882, when he came to Potta- 
wattamie County, and bought the farm where 
he now lives. Mr. Thompson has enjoyed 
the respect of the people where he has lived, 
and in Ohio held several townsiiip oifices, 
and in Holt County, Missouri, was Township 
Register during the close of the war. 

In 1846 he was married to Miss Nancy 
Thorp, daughter of John and Mary (Givens) 
Thorp, the former a native of Virginia, and 





'a^-^y^:^^^ 




OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



399 



the latter of Irish descent. The father was a 
farmer all his life, and died at the age of 
sixty-one years. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson 
have had thirteen children, nine of whom 
lived to maturity: John, David, Thomas, 
James, Eliza, Elmira, Martha, Diana and 
Dorothy A. John T. married Delila E. Gar- 
rett, and tliey have live children: Effie, Olive, 
Alice, Jeremiah and John T. ; he is a farmer 
of South Dakota. David E.., a farmer in 
Cherokee County, married Hattie Hawkins, 
and they have two children: Stephen J. and 
Clarence. Almira married Daniel H. Hor- 
ton, a farmer of Kansas; Thomas, a farmer of 
Kansas, married Maggie Battie, and they 
have two children: Earl E. and Zelle; Martha 
married Charles Morgeson, a carpenter iu 
Maeus ; Eliza, Dorothy and James are at 
home. 



[AVID HAINES, one of the well-known 
and estimable citizens of Pottawattamie 
County, dates his residence in Council 
Bluffs from 1850. Mr. Haines is a native of 
Frome, Somersetshire, England, where he was 
born in 1819. His father, John Haines, was 
desirous that his sou should enter the uni- 
versity and had him educated with that object 
in view, but the son did not fully agree with 
the father as to his life-work, and so strongly 
opposed his father's views that he was finally 
apprenticed to the trade of tailor, and by 
serving his time of apprenticeship obtained a 
thorouiih knowledge of his trade. Tiie snb- 
ject of this sketch was married in England, 
to Miss Ann Harwood. Her father was a 
foreman for Sir William Beckford, of Fonta- 
uelle Abbey, whose father was at one time 
Lord Mayor of England, and grandfather to 
the present Duke of Hamilton. Sir William 
Beckford was the builder of that noted place 



in Wiltshire, England, called Fontanelle 
Abbey, the most splendid private residence 
the world ever saw. The building alone cost 
$5,000,000; the flower garden alone contained 
575 acres; the frontdoor was thirty- three feet 
high and worked on wrought iron hinges, 
weighing 2,200 pounds, and the art gallery 
contained a perspective of 312 feet. 

Mr. Haines was married before the a<ie of 
eighteen years. In 1846 he emigrated to 
America with his family, and for four years 
worked at liis trade in the city of New York. 
In 1850 he came to Council Bluffs, purchased 
a lot and erected a house and opened a 
clothing store. August 7, 1852, he was de- 
prived of his wife by death, she having fallen 
a victim to cholera, which terrible disease 
swept over the country in that year. She 
left her husband and two sons. The eldest 
entered the army in the war of the Rebellion 
as a member of the Iowa Infantry, com- 
ma'ideJ by General Doilge. Later he was 
transferred to the Seventh Missouri Cavalry, 
and was killed in Missouri after having 
served about two years. Mr. Haines' youngest 
son was born in Council Bluffs in 1851, and 
is now a successful farmer at Boonier Town- 
ship, Pottawattamie County. 

Mr. Haines followed merchant-tailoring 
until 1859, when he went to Denver, Col- 
orado, where he remained one year engao-ed 
in mining. In company with Messrs. Blake 
& Williams, he laid out what was then the 
principal part of the city of Denver, com- 
prising the south part of that city at the 
present time. When Mr. Haines came to 
Pottawattamie County he entered a large 
amount of land. He suffered with others in 
the panic of 1857, but has always dealt 
largely in real-estate, and still owns much 
landed propsrty, including a fine far.n in 
Boomer Township. Mr. Haines has for 
many years attended to the real-estate busi- 



400 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORT 



ness of Mrs. Mynster, and his excellent busi- 
ness ability ami careful management has been 
of great value to that estimable lady in the 
conduct of her business. Mr. Haines is a 
finely educated, worthy and intelligent gentle- 
man and highly respected by all who have 
the pleasure of his acquaintance. 



fW. MILLER, of section 24, Washing- 
ton Townsliip, came to this county in 
<* the fall of 1885 and bought his pres- 
ent farm of Dr. J. J. Thompson, who had 
improved the land. Mr. Miller came from 
Hock Island County, Illinois, where he had 
lived many years. He was born in Alle- 
gheny County, Pennsylvania, June 12, 1842, 
a son of Joseph B., who was born in the 
same county, near Freeport, and was a son of 
John Miller, a native of Ireland, and an 
Orangeman. He was one of the two earliest 
settlers in that part of Allegheny County. 
The mother of our subject was Jane (McCall) 
Miller, who was born in Butler County, 
Pennsylvania, the daughter of John McCall. 
Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Miller removed to Rock 
Island County, Illinois, where they resided 
until their death, the mother dying at the 
acre of seventy-four years, and the father at 
the age of seventy-six years. He was a 
farmer most of his life, and also served as 
Sheriff and Deputy Sheriff of his county for 
seventeen years. Politically he was a Whig, 
and was one of the twelve men who first 
voted the Republican ticket in Allegheny 
County, Pennsylvania. In religion he was a 
United Presbyterian. Mr. and Mrs. Miller 
reared eight children, seven sons and one 
daughter; three of the sons served in the 
late war. Joseph W. Miller was reared in 
Allegheny County imtil nine years of age, 
when his parents removed to Rock Island 



County, Illinois. During the great Rebellion 
he enlisted in the army, February 12, 1864, 
in the One Hundred and Twenty-sixth Illi- 
nois Volunteer Infantry, Company G, joining 
his reofiment at Duvall's Bluff's, Arkansas. 

o 

He served until tlie close of the war and was 
honorably discharged at Pine Bluff, Arkan- 
sas, July 12, 1865. He returned to Rock 
Island County, Illinois, where he was en- 
ffaeed in farm work until 1885, with the 
exception of one spent in Madison County, 
Nebraska. He took up a homestead there 
in 1873, but the grasshoppers being so de- 
structive, and his situation being forty miles 
from the railroad, caused him to return to 
Illinois. Since 1885 be has been a resident 
of Washington Township. He owns 160 
acres of improved land. 

Mr. Miller was married in Rock Island 
County, Illinois, September 2, 1867, to Miss 
Martha Pearsall, who was born in that county, 
a daughter of William C. and Jane (Elling- 
hain) Pearsall, the former a native of Steuben 
County, New York, and the latter of Eng- 
land, who came to America when a child. 
Mrs. Miller's parents now reside in Rock 
Island County, Illinois, near Port Byron. 
Mr. and Mrs. Miller have six children, viz.: 
Joseph W., Jane Elizabeth, Martha Isabella, 
AVilliam C, Emma Lucy, Luella. Politically 
Mr. Miller is a Republican, and is a member 
of the G. A. R., Robert Provard Post, No. 
414, of Carson, Iowa. Mrs. Miller is a 
member of the Sharon Presbyterian Church. 



ALOHlLLE.STONE,areti red attorney. 
The subject of this sketch has been 
prominent in the building of Council 
Bluffs since 1853, and is probably the oldest 
living resident of Iowa. He is a native of 
Botetourt County, Virginia, born January 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



401 



21, 1814. lie is the fourtli son and seventh 
child of twelve children of Moses H. and 
Nancy (Whitten) Stone, who were natives of 
Bedford County, Virginia. The father was 
a son of MacHJah Stone, a native of Bedford 
County, Virginia, and of English descent. 
The mother was a daughter of William Whit- 
ten, also a native of Bedford County, Vir- 
ginia, and of Welsh ancestry. 

When our subject was four years of age 
his parents moved to Kentucky, and settled 
in Adair County, where he was reared until 
he was sixteen, when he removed to Sanga- 
mon County, Illinois, where his parents died, 
the father dying June 16, 1831, and his 
mother August 10, 1831. Mr. Stone fol- 
lowed farming in Illinois until June 1, 1836, 
when he came to Fort Madison, Iowa, and 
engaged in the mercantile business for a 
short time, after which he studied law in Lee 
County, and was admitted to the bar in 1844. 
In the spring of 1837 he was drawn on the 
first grand jury in the Territory, but under 
the law of Michigan (to which Iowa then be- 
longed) laws requiring grand jui'ors to be 
freeholders; and as there was not one in 
the Territory, the jury was discharged as il- 
legal. In 1844 he began the practice of his 
profession in Keokuk, which he followed 
until 1853, when he came to Council Bluffs 
and followed his profession successfully until 
1870, when his eyesight failed him and he 
was obliged to abandon his profession. He 
was elected to the office of Justice of the 
Peace, which he held three terms; folio w- 
ins this he was twice elected to the office 
of Assessor of the city. In 1855 he was 
elected the first Mayor of Council Bluffs, 
and under his administration the city was 
organized. He served in this capacity for 
two years. 

He was married December 6, 1848, at 
Keokuk, to Miss Ann McFadden, a native 



of Terre Haute, Indiana, and a daughter of 
William and Eliza (Lee) McFadden. The 
former was a native of Pennsylvania, and 
the latter of Terre Haute. Mr. and Mrs. 
Stone are the parents of four children, two 
of whom survive. Frank died at the ao-e of 

o 

one year; Fred W. died in 1880, at the age 
of twenty-nine; Kate, born in Council Bluffs, 
is the wife of A. F. Meggs, of Portland, 
Oregon, and Charles E. Mrs. Stone is a mem- 
ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Po- 
litically Mr. Stone is a Democrat. 

*°^' IX « 3 ' ' S * ^' '"■*~ 



jl^ M. SAKR, one of the well-known 
enterprising and successful citizens of 
" Garner Township, was born in Sulli- 
van County, New York, August 11, 1824. 
His father, a native of Germany, married 
Mary Hall, who was born in Sullivan County, 
the daughter of John Hall, a native of Con- 
necticut. Mr. Sarr was reared upon a farm. 
September 25, 1852, at Wawarsing, Ulster 
County, New York, he married Miss Lorinda 
Childs, a lady of intelligence and education, 
who had been a successful and popular teacher 
in the public schools. She was born in Sulli- 
van County, New York, a daughter of Oba- 
diali Childs, who was a native of Connectciut, 
and Charity, nee Thompson, also a native of 
Sullivan County. In 1856 Mr. Sarr removed 
to Illinois, but in a few months came on to 
Polk County, Iowa, where was then the 
western terminus of the railroad. The coun- 
try then was in its original wild state. Here 
Mr. Sarr began farming, and continued until 
1869, when he came to Pottawattamie County, 
first settling in Hardin Township. There he 
lived until 1876, when he located upon his 
present place in Garner Township, then wild 
prairie. Here he has made improvements 
until he has made a complete farm and a 



40i 



BIOSfRAPUrGAL SfSTOBT 



ooinfortable home. At that place he has 160 
acres, but altogether he owns 440 acres, all 
under cultivation and very valuable. 

In his political views Mr. Sarr is a Kepub- 
lican. He has served two terms as Township 
Trustee of Hardin Township, several terms as 
Justice of the Peace, etc., with credit. In 
1888 he was a delegate to the Republican 
State convention at Des Moines. He is a 
liberal supporter of education and religion, is 
a member of the Farmers' Alliance, and Mrs. 
Sarr is a member of the Baptist Church. 

They have two daughters: Viola, born in 
Sullivan County, New York, and now the 
wife of J. B. Mathews, of Washington Town- 
ship, this county; and Ellen, born in Polk 
County, Iowa, and now the wife of Fred S. 
Childs, of Garner Township. They lost two 
by death, namely: Mary Alice, the tirst of 
the children, born July 19, 1854, and died 
September 21, 1855; and John, the youngest 
child and only son, born March 28, 1866, and 
died December 7, 1866. 



— " V„ ' 3"I ' ji '» *-' 

IfRA F. HENDRICKS, the county auditor, 
M has been identified with the interests of 
^ Pottawattamie County since June, 1872. 
He is a native of Virginia, born in Russell 
County, November 5, 1860, a son of Aaron 
L. and Martha (Fuller) Hendricks, natives of 
Virginia and of early Virginia families. 
When our subject was twelve years old he 
came with his parents to Council Bluffs- 
where he received his education in the public 
schools. After leaving school he engajijed in 
the clothing business, which he followed for 
ten years, after which he engaged in the real- 
estate business for one year. In 1887 he was 
elected to the office of County Auditor, and 
re-elected in 1889. He was married January 
11, 1887, to Miss Ella Smith, a daughter of 



James and Mary A. Smith. She was a na- 
tive of New Jersey, and came to this county 
about 1880. Mrs. Hendricks has recently 
received an appointment as alternate World's 
Fair Commissioner for Iowa. Mr. Hendricks 
is a member of the Royal Arcanum, Fidelity 
Council, No. 156. Politically he affiliates 
with the Democratic party. 

— "♦- "I ' S i ' i ' l '— ^ 



5SAAC E. DONER, of section 36, Hardin 
Township, is one of the enterprising, suc- 
cessful and well-known citizens of the 
township, who came to Pottawattamie County 
in 1875. He is a native of De Kalb County, 
Indiana, born July 20, 1854, the son of 
Henry Doner, a native of Pennsylvania, who 
was the son of Jacob Doner, also a native of 
Pennsylvania, but of German ancestry. Our 
subject's mother, nee Amanda Johnson, was 
born in Wayne County, Ohio; her parents 
were natives of Virginia. Isaac, the tifth in 
a family of nine children, was a lad of ten 
years when the family moved to Defiance 
County, Ohio, where they lived for three 
years. In 1867 they came to Jasper County, 
Iowa, and were early settlers in that portion 
of the State. Here Isaac grew to manhood 
and resided until 1874, when he removed to 
Mills County, Iowa, where he remained one 
year. In 1875 he purchased his present 
farm of eighty acres, of then wild land, only 
eighteen acres beinur broken. He has since 
improved it, and it is now one of the Dest 
impro\ed farms in the township; fifty acres 
are cultivated, and the remainder is in pas- 
ture and meadow. 

Mr. Doner was married March 18. 1880, 
in Mills County, Iowa, to Miss Margaret 
Jane Kerney, a woman of intelligence, and a 
very successful teacher before her marriage. 
She is the daughter of Jacob B. Kerney, son 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



403 



of William Kenuy, also a native of Penn- 
sylvania, of Irish ancestry, and a relative 
of General Kerney of military fame. His 
mother's maiden name was Mary Bishop, 
of German parentage. Mrs. Doner's mother, 
nee Elizabeth Black, was a native of England, 
and the daughter of William and Cecelia 
(Lilly) Black, the former a native of Scotland, 
and the latter of Whitingham, J^orthumber- 
land County, England. Mrs. Doner was born 
January 13, 1850, at Mayville, De Kalb 
County, Missouri, and was six years of age 
when parents came to Mills County, Iowa, 
where she grew to womanhood and received 
her education. Her mother died October 21, 
1883, in this county, and the lather resides 
in Onawa, Monona County, Iowa. Mr. and 
Mrs. Doner have two children : Floyd Dwight, 
born January 13, 1882, and Harry Irving, 
born October 15, 1884. Politically Mr. 
Doner is a Republican, and has held the 
oHice of Constable tor two years, serving 
with credit to himself and the community, 
and has also served as Superintendent of the 
Sabbath-school for six years. The family 
are members of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church, and Mr. Doner is a steward of the 
church. 



BOSE'N, proprietor of the sash and 
¥■ door factory and planing-mill at the 
^* corner of North Main and Mynster 
streets, makes stair- work a specialty, but does 
all kinds of woodwork usually executed at 
such establishments. The mill was erected 
in 1889 and opened in January following. 
Mr. Bosen commenced taking contracts and 
building in 1881, and since then has had ex- 
tensive business. He built the Eisonman and 
Schubert blocks, the I^ierce Street school- 
house, the Third Street school-house and 



framed a number of prominent buildings. 
He first came to Council Bluffs December 25, 
1869, and has made his home here since that 
time except three years spent in Chicago and 
Nebraska. « 

He was born in Denmark, September, 
1848, the son of Pasmus Christenson Bosen, 
and brought up to farm life, but spent three 
and a half years at the carpenter's trade in 
his native coiantry and three years in Council 
Bluffs. After coming to this country he 
spent the first summer in Wisconsin, and in 
the fall came to Council Bluffs. In liis polit 
ical views he is a Pepublican, and takes an 
active part in political affairs. He is a mem- 
ber of Bluff City Lodge, No. 71, F. & A. M. 

He was married in 1877, to Josephine H. 
Michelson, who was born in Council Bluffs 
September 3, 1859. They are both members 
of the Scandinavian Baptist Church, and re- 
side at 622 Mynster street. Their two chil- 
dren are George C. and Roy E. 



^ T. WATERMAN, carriage manufact- 
jL urer at 43 to 47 North Main street, 
* established himself there in 1884, 
erecting a building 32x80 feet and three 
stories high. He manufactures all kinds of 
carriages, wagons, etc., and does repairing, 
employing a force of ten men. 

He was born in 1853, in Branch County, 
Michigan, the son of N. T. and C. A. (Knapp) 
Waterman, the father now deceased and the 
mother a resident of Grand Rapids, that 
State. They were natives respectively of 
Rhode Island and New York. Mr. Water- 
man, our subject, began to work in the smith- 
ing department of the carriage- maker's trade, 
at the age of sixteen years, at Coldwater, 
Michigan. He moved thence to Grand 



404 



BIOORAPHICAL BISTORT 



Rapids, thence to Illinois, afterward to Mil- 
waukee, and in 1879 to Council Bluffs, 
where he has since made liis home witli the 
exception of one year in Omaha. He worked 
as a journeymaft for about ten years, and he 
becran for himself without capital, but now 
he has a factory valued at $10,000, carries 
$5,000 to $6,000 worth of stock, and his 
sales annually amount to about $20,000. 

Being a zealous Democrat, he has taken an 
intelligent part in the public welfare. In 
1888-'89 he was a member of the city coun- 
cil. He is a member of lodge No. 49, I. O. 
O. F., and is one of the best citizens of the 
place. He was married in October, 1881, to 
Miss Cora I., daughter of Charles E. and E 
M. Ilaggerty, and born in Council Bluffs in 
1860. They have one child, Bessie. 



lAPTAN MILTON B. FRISBIE, one 
if the prominent farmers of Potta- 
"^^ wattamie County, was born on a farm 
in Madison County, New York, September 
16, 1831, the son of Seth B. Frisbie, who 
was born in Litchfield, Connecticut, and was 
of English descent. Three brothers of that 
name came from England, and the fainiU' 
gradually spread over the country and became 
pioneers in New York and Illinois. Joseph 
Frisbie, the grandfather of our subject, moved 
from Litchfield to Vernon, Oneida County, 
New York, in 1820, by wagon, and settled 
on a farm. Stephen Wade and family, old 
settlers of Connecticut, and of English de- 
scent, came at the same time. Joseph Fris- 
bie was an old man of seventy years when he 
moved from Connecticut to New York State 
with his family, then consisting of grown 
men and women with their families. He was 
married in Connecticut a second time when 
over seventy years of age to a Miss Mott, a 



relative of the famous Dr. Valentine Mott, of 
New York city. Joseph Frisbie was the 
father of six children, three by his former 
marriage: Eli, Pardon, Medad; and three by 
his second wife: T. Goodwin, Joseph and 
Seth B. 

Seth B. Frisbie, the youngest son of the 
above and the father of our subject, was born 
in Litchfield, Connecticut, August 8, 1807, 
when his father w'as seventy-five years of age 
and his mother twenty-five, a difference of 
fifty j'ears in their ages. He was married in 
Vernon, Oneida County, New York, to Eliza- 
beth Wade, and they were the parents of four 
children: Milton E., Hiram C, Seth B. and 
Helen E. Mrs. Frisbie was the daughter of 
Stephen and Louisa (Hill) Wade, and they 
were the parents of five children: Elizabeth, 
Schuyler, Tracy, Franklin and Virgil B. Mr. 
Wade was a substantial farmer, and a mem- 
ber of the Presbyterian Church, of which he 
was a deacon for many years. He died about 
ten years after coming to New York. The 
eminent Ben Wade, of Ohio, was a descendant 
of the same stock, and it is related that 
Schuyler Wade, an uncle of Captaiji Frisbie, 
was fined fifty cents for laughing in church, 
and fifty cents tor walking in the highway 
before sunset on Sunday. Seth B. Frisbie 
was a boy of fourteen or fifteen years when 
he came with his father to New York State. 
He learned farming in early life, and after 
marriage lived in Oneida and Madison coun- 
ties. In 1837 he moved to Wood County, 
Ohio, which was then a wilderness covered 
with dense timber, and where he bought 240 
acres of land, built a log house and cut out 
his farm. During the first year the only 
meat they could get was venison, with which 
the country ai)ounded. In this wilderness 
Mr. Frisbie made his home, but the severe 
labor of subduing the wilderness proved too 
much for him, and after seven years' struggle 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



405 



he died, June 8. 1842, at the early age of 
thirty-five years. Both he and his wife were 
members of the Presbyterian Church. Politi- 
cally he was an old-time Whig, and took an 
active part in the famous "Log Cabin and 
Hard Cider" campaign, which resulted in the 
election of the elder Harrison. There was 
an intense excitement in Peri-ysburg, tl\e 
county seat, and each township contributed 
logs with which to build a log cabin for 
headquarters, with a coon-skin nailed to the 
door. A barrel of cider was on the top, and 
the war cry '• Tippecanoe and Tyler too" 
has descended to this day. The election 
raised the price of coon-skins to $1 each, and 
one old bachelor of the township collected 
seventy-two of them, and was the richest man 
in cash in the township. Fi-om such rugged 
scenes as these sprang the descendants of our 
pioneer ancestors, who bravel}' entered the 
wilderness and made possible the pleasant 
homes of the present day. Mr. Frisbie was 
a man of great energy of character and a 
practical business man. He built the first 
steam Hon ring- mill in Wood County, and 
had he lived would have left the impress of 
his life well marked in that country. 

Captain Milton B. Frisbie, our subject, 
received a very limited education, as he 
was but six years of age when his father 
moved into the wilderness of Ohio, and 
the schools of that State then were few 
and far between, and the school-houses 
were built of rude logs, had puncheon floors, 
and roueh benches of slabs for seats. The 
Captain Well remembers the trip through the 
woods to Ohio by team. His father died 
when he was but ten years of age, and after 
three years his mother returned to New York 
State with her children. She was again mar- 
ried, and after four years moved to Cayuga 
County, and here our suliject lived until 
May, 1872. When Abraham Lincoln made 



his tirst call for 300,000 men. Captain Fris- 
bie promptly responded, and September 23, 
1861, enlisted in Company G, Seventy-fifth 
New York Volunteer Infantry, for tliree 
three years or during the war. He served 
as a private for thirteen months, and for 
soldierly conduct and gallant bravery was 
promoted to Captain of Company II, Third 
Louisiana Infantry, and served in that capac- 
ity until the expiration of his term of serv- 
ice. He was in the siege of Port Hudson, 
Ked River campaign, tlie capture of New 
Orleans, and many minor battles and skir- 
mishes. He was first under lire at Labadie- 
ville, Louisiana, under General Butler and 
Brigade Commander Weitzel. In the last 
year of his service he was disabled by sick- 
ness, but continned to serve until about one 
month before his time expired, when became 
home in a disabled condition. 

After his return from the war he continued 
farming in Cayuga County, New York, 
where he remained until 1872, when he 
moved with his family to Pottawattamie 
County. He had bought 240 acres of wild 
land here in 1871, and like many of our 
brave soldiers became an Iowa pioneer. 
When he came to Layton Township it was a 
new country, and Walnut had but eleven 
houses, the country being a wild prairie. 

iiy dint of hard work and energy Captain 
Frisbie has converted his land into a fine 
farm, on which he has made many improve- 
ments, beautiful groves and many fine shade 
trees. Politically he is a strict Republican, 
voting as lie sliot. He is a man of high char- 
acter, and an honorable citizen. He has 
served as Justice of the Peace, and has also 
been School Director. He is now the presi- 
dent of the School Board. He was the second 
Postmaster at Walnut, and has also served as 
Township Trustee, Supervisor, etc. Socially 
he is a Mason, being a membei' of blue 



406 



BIOGRAPniCAL HISTORY 



lodge No. 492, at Marne, Cass County, Iowa. 
He is a member of John A.Dix Post, G. A.R., 
No. 408, and was commander three terms 
from its organization. Captain Frisbie is a 
well preserved man of fifty-nine years, stand- 
ing five feet ten in lieiglit, and weighing 200 
pounds. He is a clear thinker and a good 
talker, expressing himself in good, concise 
language. 

He was married in the year 1856 to Lucy 
Knapp, a daughter cf Ezra A. and Sophronia 
(Waters) Knapp, and they have seven chil- 
dren, viz.: Milton B., who died in infancy; 
George E., who died at the age of ten years; 
Reuben F., a teacher; Helen E.. Emeline, a 
teacher; Milton B. and George E. Ezra A. 
Knapp, the father of Mrs. Frisbie, descends 
fiom a family of Saxony, Germany, who, in 
1540, emigrated to Sussex County, England, 
and in 1630 William Nichols Knapp and 
Roger Knapp emigrated to America; the 
former was born in Sussex County, England, 
in 1570, and settled in Watertown, Massa- 
chusetts, in 1630, and was one of the founders 
of that town: the latter was born in England, 
and settled in New Haven, afterward Fair- 
field, Connecticut. He was the progenitor 
of Mrs. Frisbie's family. In his will he 
mentions "wife Elizabeth and children: 
Jonathan, Josiah, Roger, Lydia, John N., 
Eliza and Mary," all of whom were settlers 
ill Fairfield, Connecticut, where the great- 
grandfather, grandfather and father of Mrs. 
Frisbie were born. Oliver Knapp, the grand- 
father of Mrs. Frisbie, was a farmer, and 
emigrated to New York in 1810, settling in 
Oneida, New York, where he lived until his 
death. They were the parents of Amasa, 
Seymour, Thomas, Ezra A., Eliard and Eliza. 
Ezra A. Knapp, the father of Mrs. Frisbie, 
was born in Connecticut in 1798, and came 
with his father to New York State, where he 
was married to Sophronia Watei's, and they 



were the parents of six children: Edwin A., 
Jairus S., Leonard, Emeline, Lucy, and one 
deceased in infancy. The eldest, Ezra A. 
Knapp, was a substantial farmer, of Oneida, 
New York. He died at the age of forty-three 
years. He was a member of the Baptist 
Church, and an old-time "Whig politically. 



■' ^ ■ | - 2"t ' ^""-" 

R. EDMUND L WOODBURY, of 

Council Bluffs, is one of the leading 
dentists of Western Iowa, and an early 
settler of this city, where he located and be- 
gan the practice of his profession July 1, 
1858. He was born in the town of Bolton, 
Worcester County, Massachusetts, March 7, 
1830. He descended from an early and well- 
known New England family. The subject of 
this sketch was born in the same place as 
were his father and grandfather, both of 
whom were named Israel Woodbury. Both 
the grandfather and great-grandfather were 
soldiers in the American army in the war of 
the Revolution. The family is of English 
origin. Dr. Woodbury's mother was Mrs. 
Olive Snow before her marriage to his father; 
her maiden name was Olive Berry. She was 
born in the town of Brewster, Massachusetts, 
on Cape Cod. The father of our subject was 
twice married, and was the father of fifteen 
children, ten of whom, including the Doctor, 
were by the second marriage. The parents 
continued to live at the old home until death. 
Israel Woodbury, the father, was a mason and 
contractor. 

Dr. Woodbury was reared in his native 
town, where ho received a good English edu- 
cation. In 1852, having completed the study 
of dentistry in Worcester, Massachusetts, he 
went to Yellow Springs, Ohio, and engaged 
in the practice of his profession, remaining 
there nearly six years, when he came to 





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OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



407 



Council Bluffs. Then lie soon established a 
good business, and his professional career has 
been a successful one, and he is numbered 
among the enterprising citizens of Council 
Bluffs. In 1890 he erected a line brown 
stone block on Pearl street, a part of which 
comprises the dental rooms of Woodbury & 
Sons. He has a tine residence on the corner 
of Bluff and Story streets. 

In 1854 Dr. Woodbury was married to 
Elizabeth Whitney, daughter of Nathan 
Whitney. Mrs. Woodbury also belongs to 
an early Massachusetts family. They have 
had six children. The oldest, Edmund N., 
died at the age of seven years; Herbert A., 
the second, is a graduate of the Boston Med- 
ical College in the class of 1880. The third 
son and fourth child is Charles E., also a 
graduate of the same dental school in 1887. 
These sons are now associated with their 
father in business. The eldest daughter and 
third child is Olive L., wife of Rev. T. B. 
Greenlee, of Hillsboro, ' Illinois. At the 
present time, January 1, 1891, Cora L., the 
fifth child, is at home; Ernest I., theyoungest, 
is at the State University, Iowa City. 

— g - i . T - g- - — 



I^ON. J. E. F. McGEE, Judge of the Su- 
perior Court of Council Bluffs, was 
born in Fedeman, West Virginia, De- 
cember 23, 1861, the son of Manasseh and 
Mary A. (Fleming) McGee, who were both 
natives of and were married in Pennsylvania. 
Shortly after marriage they located in Coun- 
cil Bluffs, where the father became interested 
in real estate, Init soon returned to the East 
and located in Grafton, West Virginia. He 
died in 1864, leaving a widow and three 
children, namely: H. G. McGee, one of the 
most prominent real-estate dealers and busi- 
ness men in Council Bluffs; Anna M., now 



31 



Mrs. "W. S. Cooper, who is also a prominent 
real-estate, loan and insurance agent at Coun- 
cil Bluffs, and J. E. F. McGee, our subject. 
About 1874 Mrs. McGee and her three chil- 
dren returned to this city, where she now re- 
sides with her son in Morning Side. 

Judee McGee received his education in 
the public schools of Emsworth, Pennsylva- 
nia, Council Bluffs, and at the Cornell Col- 
lege at Mt. Vernon, Iowa. He studied law 
first with Hon. Leonard Everett, now pres- 
ident of the City Council of Council Bluff's, 
and concluded his studies with Colonel 
Dailey. It is perhaps somewhat notable in 
this connection the number of the present 
members of the Pottawattamie County bar 
svho have been trained under Colonel Dailey's 
guidance. Among such are Mr. Finley Burke, 
of Burke, Hewett & Casaday ; "Walter I. Smith, 
now judge of the District Court; the subject 
of this sketch. Judge McGee; and Mr. Em- 
met Tinley, one of the most brilliant of the 
younger members of the bar. Judge McGee 
was admitted to the Iowa bar in 1886, upon 
examination by the Supreme Court of the 
State, and immediately afterward entered 
into practice Having exhausted- what mea^s 
he had received from his father's estate in 
obtaining his education, he was compelled to 
borrow sufficient money with which to open 
an office. In the spring of 1887 there was 
a wonderful advance in real-estate values in 
Council Bluffs. Earlier than most men, Mr. 
McGee saw the advance coming, and by 
taking advantage of it made considerable 
money. Shortly after he began the prac- 
tice of law, he became associated with 
Mr. Walter I. Smith, which association was 
continued until the election of Mr. McGee 
as Judge of the Superior Court, which oc- 
curred in March, 1890, for a term of four 
years. In a hotly contested election, Judge 
McGee was elected over the then incumbent 



408 



BIOORAPHWAL HIHTORT 



of the office by between 700 and 800 majority. 
In the fall of 1890 Walter 1. Smith was 
elected Judge of the District Court, and it 
is somewhat remarkable that these two gen- 
tlemen were called from the same office to 
the bench iu the same year. 

Judge McGee is one of the yonngebt men 
on the bench in Iowa, being now but twenty- 
nine years of age. His record, however, has 
given the most complete satisfaction. He is 
a man of learning, industry, and above all of 
a high standard of integrity, but even these 
would not be sufficient to make of him the 
successful judge and man of busniess that 
he is. He is a man of fine and well rounded 
natural ability, and one who can readily grasp 
and master legal distinctions. He is at once 
a genial and pleasant gentleman, and a firm 
and dignified judge. lie is an active mem- 
ber of the Council Bluffs Board of Trade, is 
foremost in every public enterprise, and has, 
in the few years he has been engaged in act- 
ive life by his industry and ability, accumu- 
lated a large amount of valuable property. 



{SAIAH F. BAIR, one of the old soldier 
farmers of Valley Township, who, when 
our great civil war broke out, volunteered 
in defense of the Union, and enlisted August 
22, 1862, in Company K, Twenty-second Regi- 
ment Iowa Volunteer Infantry. He served 
three years and was honorably discharged at 
Savannah, Georgia. He was in the battles 
of Fort Gibson, Champion Hill, Black River, 
siege of Vicksburg, and the Red River cam- 
paign. After this the regiment was trans- 
ferred to the Nineteenth Army Corps, and 
sent to the East, joining the great Army of 
the Potomac. He was under Sheridan at Win- 
chester, Fisher's Hill and Cedar Creek; the 
latter Mr. Bair describes as the hardest battle 



in which he participated. He was also in 
several skirmishes, after which he went ti> 
Moorhead, North Carolina; was there ordered 
to Augusta, Georgia, and was mustered out 
at Savannah, Georgia. From there he re- 
turned to Davenport, Iowa, where he was 
paid in full and returned home. 

Mr. Bair was born in the village of Will- 
wood, Knox County, Ohio, September 21, 
1843 the son of David Bair, who was a 
blacksmith by trade. He was born in Penn- 
sylvania, and was the son of Christian Bair, 
who served in the war of 1812, and alfo in 
several skirmishes. His father, the great- 
grandfather of our subject, served in the 
Revolutionary war, and was a native of Ger- 
many. He emigrated from Pennsylvania to 
Tuscarawas County, Ohio, in an early day, 
and built his log cabin in the woods. He 
was the father of four children: Michael. 
Jacob, David and Sarah. Christian Bair 
died in Indiana, at the age of eighty-three 
years; he was a member of the Dunkard 
Church, was a prominent farmer, and a man 
of integrity and honesty. David Bair, the 
father of our subject, was born on a farm in 
Pennsylvania, and was but a small boy of 
between three and four years when his father 
came to Ohio. He learned his trade in that 
State, and when a young man of twenty-one 
years, was married, in Indiana, to Rhoda 
Bybee, a daughter of John and Luceane 
(Lane) Bybee. They were the parents of 
seven children: John, Robert, Byron, Eliza- 
beth, Lucinda, Rhoda and Ann. The father 
emigrated to Utah Territory, and was one of 
the pioneers. He died in 1866. Mr. and 
Mrs. David Bair were the parents of nine 
children, viz.: Uriah, Elizabeth, who died in 
infancy; Isaiah, Byron. David, John Ciiarles, 
Harvey and Sarah. After marriage Mr. Bair 
settled in Millwood, Knox County, Ohio, 
where he worked at his trade until 1854, 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



409 



when he emigrated with his family to Green 
Township, Iowa County. He improved a 
farm in that county, and lived there until 
1882, when lie removed to Iowa City, where 
he is still living, at an advanced age. Relig- 
iously he is a member of tiie Methodist 
Church, of which he is a trustee, and socially 
he is a Mason, being a member of the bine 
lodge. He has always lived an honorable 
and upright life, and is respected by all who 
know him. 

From such old Revolutionary and pioneer 
stock, and from men who fought for inde- 
pendence and again to estaljlisli it, and who 
assisted in settling up the uiitracked forests 
and wild prairies, descends our soldier citizen. 
After his return from the war Mr. Bair set- 
tled in Johnson Cuniity on a farm until 1877, 
when he came to Valley Township and settled 
on his present farm of 120 acres. Politically 
he is a Republican, socially a Mason, being a 
member of the Blue Lodge, and religiously a 
member of the Methodist Church, of which 
he is a trustee. He has been an Assessor of 
his county, and stands deservedly high as an 
honorable citizen, whose word is as good as 
his bond. He is a self-made man, having 
accumulated his property by his own industry 
and energy. He is a commander of the 
William Layton Post, No. 358, of Oakland, 
Iowa. 

He was married in Johnson County, Iowa, 
to Alminra E. Popham, the daughter of 
Richard and Lucy (Barnes) Popham, who 
were of English descent, and first settled in 
New England. Richard Popham was born 
in Knox County, Ohio, and was the son of 
Frank Popham, who was one of the early 
pioneer merchants and financiers of that State. 
Richard and Lucy Popham were married in 
Kosciusko County, Indiana, and had one 
child, Alminra E. Popham. They lived in 
that State until 1860, when they came to 



Iowa, settling on a farm in Johnson County. 
In 1880 they removed to Hancock, Iowa, 
where the wife died in 1887. Mr. Popham 
is now living with his daughter and son-in- 
law. To Mr. and Mrs. Bair have been born 
five children, viz.: Louisa, who is the wife of 
Robert Martin; Charles is attending school 
at Iowa City; Clinton, Howard and Arza. 



^ ' i i' S ' ^ ' *"" 

RCHIBALD GLYNN, who resides on 
section 27, Silver Creek Township, is 
one of the enterprising and prominent 
citizens of Pottawattamie County. He has 
made this place his home since 1881. A 
brief sketch of his life is as follows: 

Mr. Glynn was born in County Carlow, 
Ireland, September 20, 1858, son of Walter 
and Frances (Alger) Glynn. The mother 
died in 1879 and the father in 1880. Archi- 
bald was I'eared on a farm and received his 
education in the Protestant schools and at 
the National Catholic School. His parents 
were members of the Church of England. 
To them were born eleven children, eio-ht 
sons and three daughters. One of the latter 
died at the age of two years and one of the 
sons is also deceased. At this writing the 
other nine are living. 

Archibald Glynn remained in the Emerald 
Isle until 1876, when he sailed from Queens- 
town to Philadelphia, arriving there at the 
time of the Centennial Exposition. He came 
to Mills County, Iowa, where he had an elder 
brother. He made his home in that county 
until 1881, when he came to Pottawattamie 
County and bought his present farm of 160 
acres. At the time of purchase it was all 
wild land. He has since improved it and 
made a good home. He has a comfortable 
frame house, one and a half stories, with a 
veranda on one side. The main part of the 



410 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY 



house is 14 x 26 feet, with an L, 20 x 20 feet. 
It ia beautifully situated among shade and 
ornamental trees. Mr. Glynn is engaged in 
general farming and stock-raising, and every 
thing about his premises — the btables, yards, 
feed-lots, and modern wind-pumps- all show 
thrift and prosperity. 

August 23, 1877, Mr. Glynn was married 
to Marcia King, daughter of Lewis and 
Bessie (West) King, both natives of New 
York State. Tiie mother was born near 
Lake Erie, and still resides in Mills County, 
Iowa, to which place she and her husband 
removed at an early j)eriod in the liistory of 
that county. The father died there. Mrs. 
Glynn was reared and educated in Mills 
County. Four children have been born to 
Mr. and Mrs. Glynn. Their names are : 
Frances, Bertha Rosa, Lottie May and Alfred 
Ed. In his political views Mr. Glynn is 
independent. He is a member of the Church 
of England, and Mrs. Glynn is a member of 
the Methodist Episcopal Church, of Lone 
Star. Her parents were Congregational ists. 

— ^iMf-l^..^ . 

JI^ILLIAM S. WELLS, of Hardin 
iravil Township, section 29, came to this 

[*-§^ county in the spring of 1873, where 
he has since resided. He was born in Brown 
County, Ohio, April 16, 1837, the son of 
John Wells, who was born in New Jersey, 
October 14, 1810. the son of Isaiah Wells, 
who was born in Wales. Our subject's 
mother's name before marriage was Phoebe 
Soper, and she was born in New Jersey, the 
daughter of one of the first settlers in that 
State. John Wells lived in New Jersey 
seven or eight years, and tiien ids parents 
moved to Ohio, settling in Clermont County, 
May 28, 1817, being the first settlers in that 
portion of the State. His father died there 



at the age of sixty-live or seventy years, and 
his mother at the age of seventy-five or eighty. 
He was married in Brown County, when 
twenty-one years of age, to Miss Rachel B. 
Long, who was born in Pennsylvania, the 
daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth (Iker) 
Long, the former a native of New Jersey, 
and the latter of Pennsylvania, of Dutch 
ancestry. John Wells reared seven children, 
liaving lost one by death, viz.: Thomas, who 
lives in Illinois, near Vandalia; lie .-erved in 
the Forty -eighth Ohio Infantry; Samuel, who 
resides in Marion County, Iowa; William S., 
of Pottawattamie County; Erasmus D., of 
Madison County, Nebraska, who served in the 
Third Iowa Infantry; John F., of the same 
place, who served in the Fifteenth Iowa In- 
fantry; Francis Lewis, of Madi.-on County, 
Nebraska, and David, of Sacramento Valley, 
California. Mrs. Rachel Long Wells died in 
1881, having lived with her husband for fifty 
j^ears and one month. John Wells is a man 
eighty years of age, and well preserved. 

Politically he was formerly a Whig, but is 
now a Republican. He has been a member 
of the Methodist Cluirch for titty years, and 
a class-leader in the same for many years. 

William S. Wells, our subject, was reared 
in Ohio, and when nineteen years of age his 
family moved to Marion County, Iowa, in 
1855. He afterward returned to Ohio, where 
he enlisted in the army, in August, 1864, in 
the Forty-eighth Ohio Volunteers. He served 
one year, and was in the battle of Fort 
Blakely. He was honorably discharged and 
returned to Ohio, and afterward moved to 
Marion County, Iowa, where he lived until 
1873, when he came to Pottawattamie Coun- 
ty, Kane Township, now Hardin Township. 
He bought the land where he now lives, con- 
sisting of 120 acres, which he has since im- 
proved. He was married May 11, 1864, to 
Miss Mary L. Thompson, who was born in 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



41t 



Clerinont County, Ohio, the daughter of 
Alexander and Nancy (Wood) Thompson, 
the former was born in Virginia, of German 
ancestry, and the latter was born in Cler- 
mont County, Ohio, whose ancestors were 
from the Carolinas. Mr. and Mrs. Wells 
have two children: Harry T. and Nannie A. 
Mr. Wells is a Republican politically, and is 
a member of G. A. R., of Bradford Post. He 
is a man yet in the prime ot life, frank and 
cordial in his manner, and honorable in all 
his dealings, and is one of Hardin Township's 
representative citizens. 

— ^^ ^ ^ > S■ "^^ — 



fOHN HENRY WESTCOTT, of Council 
Bluffs, traces his lineage back to the 
early settlement of Rhode Island, thus: 
The title to Providence Plantations (Rhode 
Island) from the Indians, made in 1637, was 
vested in Roger Williams alone. 

Roger Williams born in Wales, in 1599, 
Ian ied in America in 1631, in the sloop 
" Lyon," and settled at What Cheer Point, 
Seekout River, Rhode Island, in 1636. His 
first act was to divide by deeds, of date 1638, 
to twelve of his " loving neighbors," equal 
portions of the laud and rights of said plant- 
ation, reserving to himself only equal rights 
with tiiem. 

Among these twelve were Stukely West- 
cott and Richard Waterman, ancestors on his 
father's and mother's side of Mr. Westcott, 
Stukely Westcott being first named in the 
deed. Stukely Westcott and Roger Williams, 
while in Salem, Massachusetts, were "separa- 
tors from the church of England," the former 
and wife being baptized by the latter July 1, 
1639. Both had passed upon them the "grand 
censure," wiiich alienated them from the 
Salem Colony. In the line of family succes- 
sion was Stukely Westcott, Stukely, Jr., 



Jonah Nathan, Thomas and Samuel, — all of 
whom were active and influential in public 
affairs. 

Thomas Westcott, the grandfather of the 
subject of this sketch, was a civilian of note 
in Rhode Island, and was also a distinguished 
officer in the Revolutionary war. Samuel 
Arnold, his son, was born in Rhode Island, 
December 11, 1794, was engaged in a cotton 
mill until he moved to Wheeling, Virginia, in 
1820, and with the Moores, Reesides and 
Zanes was among the most active in develop- 
ing that section of the country. 

January 1, 1821, Samuel A. Westcott 
married Miss Sarah Loring Edgertou, a de- 
scendant of Richard Waterman, named above, 
whose parents, moving from Connecticut, 
were among the early pioneers of Ohio at 
Marietta. 

John Henry, of this writing, their eldest 
son, was born in Wheeling, Virginia, May 
28, 1828, resided there until 1835, then in 
Brooklyn, New York, in 1835-'36; was at 
the great tire in 1835; moved to Marietta, 
Ohio, in 1837; was in the employ of Dudley 
Woodbridge, formerly a partner of Blenner- 
hasset, of historic fame, and afterward he en- 
gaged in the mercantile business. June 16, 
1853, he was married in Rochester, New 
York (at Grove Place, the residence of her 
grandfather, Levi Ward), to Miss Fannie M. 
Ward, a lady of fine intellectual culture, of 
rare accomplishments, lovely in disposition 
and withal a Christian of high spiritual 
attainments. 

In 1854 Mr. Westcott moved to Madison, 
Indiana, and engaged in the foundry busi- 
ness until the death of his beloved wife and 
child changed his plans of life. In July, 
1855, he moved overland to Keokuk, Iowa, 
engaged in the stationery and book-binding 
business for a time; then was employed as 
accountant in the banking house of George 



412 



BIOGRAPBWAL HISTORY 



C. Anderson & Co., and afterward for four- 
teen years in the office of R. F. Bower, 
wholesale grocer. 

Witliont desire or solicitation, he was elected 
to the office of Justice of the Peace for three 
years, and then County Trustee. While 
Justice of the Peace Hon. John H. Craig, 
seconded by Hon. Dan F.^'Miller, attorneys, 
in view of some judicial decisions, moved the 
Circuit Court, Judge Jeffries presiding, that 
Mr. Westcott be admitted to the Keokuk bar 
ex gratia, all the members of the bar present 
assenting. The Honored Judge witli much 
cordiallity expressed the pleasure he felt in 
complimenting Mr. Westcott with this un- 
usual honor, and ordered it done. 

July 28, 1859, Mr. Westcott married Miss 
Adelaide Virginia Holsey, a young lady 
highly esteemed, of great energy of character 
and superior judgment, his present wife. 
In May, 1883, he, and later his family, 
moved to Council Blnifs, accepting a position 
in the Council Bluffs Insurance Company, — 
J. Q. Anderson, Secretary, — and later and 
among the most pleasant duties of his life, 
acting as Secretary to the Hon. M. F. Rohrer, 
during his administration as mayor of this 
city. The ability, integrity and success of 
Mayor Rohrer's administration as Mayor of 
Council Bluffs, is commended by his Secre- 
tary up to the intimate knowledge he has of 
the same. 

Mr. Westcott emphasizes his membership 
in the church and particularly in his relation 
to the Presbyterian Church. As early as 
fourteen years of age he connected him- 
self with the Congregational Church at Ma- 
rietta, Ohio. Soon there after he was elected 
trustee; afterward, upon request of Governor 
Ralph P. Lowe, he was elected deacon in the 
First Westminster Presbyterian Church, 
Keokuk, Iowa, and at present is serving as 
Elder in the First Presbyterian Church in 



the city, and recently was elected director 
in the Omaha Theological Seminary. He has 
represented the latter chnrch in its higher 
courts. To promote the interests of thechurch 
of the Lord Jesus Christ is his highest am 
bit-ion. 



j,^,„ATRICK LACY, a leading business man 
of Council Bluffs, was born in Ireland, 
in September, 1843. His father died 
in Ireland, and the family removed to this 
country and settled in Savannah, Georgia, in 
1850, where his mother died of yellow fever 
about three years later. 

In 1856 Mr. Lacy came to Council Bluffs 
with his sisters and brother, and here re- 
mained until he was about eighteen years of 
age, when he left home and started out as a 
teamster in a wagon train to Denver, making 
several trips to and from the Bluffs. In the 
spring of 1863 he went to the Colorado 
mines at Central City and engaged in mininLr, 
and the following year he went to Idaho. 
Here, and in Montana, he spent several years, 
visiting every mining camp of note in those 
Territories, and spending most of his time in 
mining. In the fall of 1867 he returned to 
Council Bluffs, and since that time has been 
a continuous resident of that city, making 
several trips at intervals through the West. 
As a citizen Mr. Lacy has been zealously in- 
terested in the welfare of his city; was one of 
the charter members of the first volunteer 
fire department, being its chief eight years, 
and a member of it until it was superseded 
by the paid department, when he resigned. 
Virtually he is the fatiier of the fireman's 
movement in Council Bluffs. In 1878, in 
company with five others, he organized the 
State Firemen's Association of Iowa, which 
is now one of the most prosperous organiza- 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



413 



tions of its kind. He lisis been its president 
tiiree years, 1885-'87. He has also been a 
member of the National Association of Fire 
Engineers since 1878, and is now vice-presi- 
dent for Iowa. 

In the political affairs of the city and 
county Mr. Lacy has also taken an active 
part. Ill 1887 he was elected by the Dem- 
ocratic party, a member of the Board of 
Aldermen, and re-elected in 1889; has been 
president of the board two years. He has 
been an extensive dealer in real estate in this 
city; his residence is at 231 Park avenne. 

Mr. Lacy is a member of the Catholic 
Church. He has been twice married, the 
lirst time in 1868, to Miss Annie Wickham, 
tlie second time in 1872, to Miss Mary Fee, 
of Wisconsin. To the two marriages there 
has been issue eleven children, nine of whom 
are at present living. 



— -— *i ^ - i"i ' S" '"" — 

fAMES OLDS is one of the old soldier 
tanners of Pottawattamie County, who, 
after serving his country in the great 
civil war, has settled down to the peaceful 
pursuits of agriculture. He was born on a 
tarm at Elgin, Kane County, Illinois, on the 
site where now stands the court-houae, Jan- 
uary 24, 1841. He was the son of Ransom 
Olds, who descended from an old American 
family. The great-grandfather of our sub- 
ject was a seaman, and during the reign of 
King George, of England, captured a cele- 
brated Scottish pirate, and in an encounter 
with broad-swords killed and beheaded him, 
and gained a large reward. He was a man 
of fearless courage, and this trait of character 
has descended in the family for generations. 
He was a native of England, and settled in 
Vermont. His' son George was a farmer of 
Rutland County, Vermont,' and his farm was 



on the site of the now famous marble quar- 
ries; he was a tailor by trade. He married 
Mary Ormsby, and they were the parents of 
thirteen children, viz.: James, who was a 
captain in the war of 1812, and was killed by 
the Indians; Daniel, Ezra, Gideon and Ran- 
som, are all that are known. The lather lived 
to be ninety-seven years of age. Ransom, 
the father of our subjact, was born in Rut- 
land County, Vermont, and learned farming 
in early life. He went to New York State, 
and was married at French MiUs village to 
Florella McMillen, daughter oi' Arthur Mc- 
Millen, a millwright by trade, and of Scotch 
descent. He was in the war of 1812 and 
helped to burn the fleet of vessels at French 
Mills village to prevent the British from 
capturing them. He was the father of five 
children: James, Alexander, Duncan, Mar- 
garet and Floretta. The father lived to the 
age of eighty- two years, and was killed by 
the falling of a tree at Elgin, Illinois. He 
was one of the pioneer settlers of that State. 
Ransom Olds was a soldier in the war of 
1812, and the father of thirteen children: 
Ransom, born December 19, 1800; Florilla 
H., February 29, 1807; George, November 
14, 1828; John, August 28, 1830; Mary 
Florilia, February 2, 1832; Arthur Ransom, 
October 24, 1834; Duncan M., January 26, 
1837; Lucy J., February 14, 1839; James, 
January 24, 1841; Gideon, September 8, 
1842; Daniel, September 14, 1844: Mar- 
garet, November 12, 1845; and Laverna, 
October 10, 1848. The father moved in an 
early day to La Porte County, Indiana, and 
settled on a farm at Door Village, but after 
a few years removed to Elgin, and passed 
through Chicago, which was then a small 
trading post. Mr. Olds was the first settler 
of Elgin, and took up Government land, haul- 
ing his produce to Chicago. He finally 
moved twelve miles west of Elgiu, where he 



414 



BIOORAPHICAL EISTOBT 



remained several years; then moved to s farm 
in Kankakee County, Illinois, where he died. 
He was a typical American pioneer, and was 
one of the men who helped to subdue the 
wilderness of Illinois. His two brothers, 
James and Daniel, were soldiers in the war 
of 1812. 

James Olds, our subject, enlisted in Com- 
pany B, Forty-second Regiment, Illinois 
Volunteer Infantry, at the age of twenty 
years, and served three years and ten days. He 
was in the battle of Stone River, and Chick- 
amaugua, where he was wounded in the left 
fore-arm, and he still carries the ball. He was 
in the hospital, and after recovering did hos- 
pital duty, part of the time on the United 
States hospital steamer R. C. Wood, as second 
steward. He was mustered out and honor- 
ably discharged September 10, 1864, at Lex- 
ington. Kentucky. Mr.Olds had one brother, 
Arthur R., who was in Company I, Sixty- 
fifth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and served 
nine months, and was captured at Harper's 
Ferry, paroled and exchanged, and mustered 
out. 

After the war our subject engaged in farm- 
ing in Kankakee County, Illinois, and in 
1871 went to Fillmore County, Nebraska, 
where he took up wild land and remained 
three years. In 1874 he came to his present 
farm in Lincoln Township. He descends 
from men who fought as soldiers in their 
struggle for liberty, and as pioneers helped 
to rebuild the wilderness. Both himself, 
brother and wife's brother fouo-ht for the 
preservation of the Union, and the children 
should take an honest pride in the sterling 
ancestry from which they sprang. Mr. Olds 
was married in Momence, Kankakee County, 
Illinois, to Emily Burns, who was born in 
the same county, October 17, 1849, the 
daughter of James H. and Charlotte (Force) 
Burns. The father was of Scotch descent. 



and moved from Vermont to Kankakee 
County in an early day. He was the father 
of six children, viz.: Regiah, Amaziah, 
Amasa S., Lovina, Mary A. and Emily. 
Amaziah and Amasa were soldiers in the 
civil war; the former was in Company K, 
One Hundred and Thirteenth Illinois Vol- 
unteer Infantry, and the latter served four 
years and nine months in Company D, Forty- 
second Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and was 
in all the battles of his regiment. Mr. Burns 
lived to the age of fifty years. To Mr. and 
Mrs. Olds have been born six children, four 
of whom are now living: Amasa, born Sep- 
tember 17, 1866; Nettie W., December 25, 
1868; Willie, May 22, 1871, deceased; Frank, 
July 19, 1872; Emma, January 24, 1874, de- 
ceased; and Lovina, February 10, 1877. 



W. GRAHAM, proprietor of the Gra- 
ham Planing Mill at the corner of 
* Second avenue and Thirteenth street, 
manufactures sash, doors and blinds, does all 
kinds of scroll-sawing and turns out finished 
woodwork in general. The mill was estjib- 
lished in January, 1890, being removed to 
this point from Washington avenue, and was 
first conducted by the firm of Graham & 
Cody. July 8 following Mr. Graham as- 
sumed full control. The factory, occupying 
two lots, is one of the largest and best 
equipped in the city. Mr. Graham has been 
a resident of Council Blnft's ance March, 
1888, removing from his farm in Washing- 
ton Township, this county, where he had 
been a resident thirteen years, upon a good 
farm of 200 acres, which he had improved 
from its original wild condition. He still 
owns it and keeps it in good order. 

He was born August 4, 1850, in Yates 
County, New Y'ork, and reared to farm life. 



OP POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



415 



and early learned the carpenter's trade, which 
he ever afterward followed except when he 
was upon the farm mentioned. His parents, 
Lewis B. and Pamelia (Green) Grahain, were 
also natives of New York State and of Scotch 
and Welsh origin. His father is still living, 
vei-y old, at Pen Yan, that State; iiis mother 
is deceased. After reaching manhood he 
moved to Clinton, Iowa. Decemher 9, 1874, 
at Hampton, Rock Island County, Illinois, 
he married Miss Lottie Wells, daughter of 
John and Mary (McMurphy) Wells, who were 
among the early settlers of Hampton. Mr. 
and Mrs. Graham have two children: Pamelia 
and Edgar. Mr. Graham is a Republican in 
his political views and an Odd Fellow. 



^EORGE W. HEWITT, attorney, Coun- 
cil Bluffs, was born in Franklin Grove, 
Lee County. Illinois, J uly 31, 1859, and 
is the son of Dr. George W. Hewitt and 
Caroline (Miller) Hewitt, both deceased. Dr. 
Hewitt located in Franklin in 1854 and prac- 
ticed his profession in that place until his 
death in January, 1881, save the four years, 
during the late war, he served as surgeon in 
the Thirty-fourth Regiment Illinois Vol- 
unteers. Early in his practice the Doctor 
took a high rank in his profession, which he 
dearly loved for the opportunities it afforded 
him to do good to his fellow-men. Shortly 
after his decease, a Grand Army of the Re- 
public post was organized in Franklin and it 
was named George W. Hewitt Post, No. 
398, in honor of the Doctor. Mrs. Hewitt 
died in November, 1863, and left surviving 
her the Doctor and two boys: Henry M. and 
our subject. After Mrs. Hewitt's death, one 
of her sisters. Miss A. T. Miller, remained 
in the Doctor's home and raised the children. 



Henry M. Hewitt, M. D., is now married 
and resides in Franklin. 

Our subject was educated in the public 
schools in Franklin until 1874, when he en- 
tered the Northwestern University at Evans- 
ton, Illinois, where he remained until June, 
1880, when he graduated from the college 
with the degree of A. B. In the fall of that 
year he entered the Union College of Law, 
Chicago, Illinois, and in June, 1882, received 
the degree of B. L. In the same month, he 
was admitted to the bar of the State of Illi- 
nois, and since then, to the bar of Dakota 
and the Federal Courts of Iowa. In June, 
1886, the degree of M. A. was conferred 
upon him by the Northwestern University. 

In Jnly, 1888, he located at Ireton, Sioux 
County, Iowa, and practiced his profession 
in that place until January 1, 1886, when he 
entered into partnership relations with Fin- 
ley Burke, Esq. of Orange City, Iowa, wliich 
necessitated his moving to the latter town. 
The firm of Burke & Hewitt continued to 
practice in that place until February, 1887, 
when it dissolved, Mr. Burke locating in 
Council Bluffs, Iowa, and Mr. Hewitt con- 
tinuing in business at Orange City. Here 
the latter remained until July, 1889, when 
he again joined Mr. Burke at the Bluffs 
and became a second time a member of the 
law firm of Burke & Hewitt. This firm has 
continued as such until January 1, 1891, 
when it was joined by Thomas E. Casady, 
Esq., of Council Bluffs, and the firm is now 
known as Burke, Hewitt & Casady. 

August 21, 1889, Mr. Hewitt was married 
to Viola J. East, of Clinton, Iowa. He was 
made a Master Mason, at Ireton, in the sum- 
mer of 1885; became a member of the Oc- 
cidental Chapter, No. 114, of Royal Arch 
Masons, at Le Mars, Iowa, on January 13, 
1890; and was a charter member of the Sioux 
I City, Iowa, body of the Ancient and Accepted 



416 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY 



Scottish Rite for the United States of Amer- 
ica, their territories and dependencies.. He 
is a member of tlie Republican party and 
has always voted the Republican ticket. 

«o»-tl > • ? l I T • 7 l* »B' 

til * * »^ 



ijOWARD S. WEST is a leading dentist 
of Council Bluffs, where he has been 
engaged in the practice of his profession 
since March, 1882. He was born at West 
Fairlee, Orange County, Yermont, in Jan- 
uary, 1854. His father, Leavit West, still 
lives in that place. He pursued the study of 
medicine at Chelsea, Vermont; entering upon 
the practice of his profession he pursued the 
same for a number of years, when, desiring 
to qualify himself more thoroughly in his 
profession, he entered the Dental Depart- 
ment of the University of Michigan, where 
he graduated in 1880. After his graduation 
he spent some time in the South, pursuing 
his profession at New Orleans and also at St. 
Louis, locating, as already stated, at Council 
Bluffs, in 1882. Dr. West has a large prac- 
tice and employs two assistants. 

He was married in this city to Miss Mi- 
nerva L. Langdon, who is a capable and 
valuable assistant to her husband in his pro- 
fession. She has had much experience, and 
holds a license from the State Board of Ex- 
aminers. Dr. West and his wife have two 
children, a son and a daughter. 



fOHN FREDERICK KIMBALL, of the 
banking lirra of Kimball & Champ, was 
born at Muscatine, Iowa, December 13, 
1856, a son of Alvin and Susan A. (Patrick) 
Kimball, and the youngest of their four 
children, the others being George A., Emma 
J. and J. Frank. His father was born in 



1813, near Windsor, Vermont. In 1840 he 
emigrated to Ohio with his family, and en- 
gaged in the wholesale grocery trade at Cleve- 
land. In 1853 he moved to Muscatine, Iowa, 
and engaged in the grain business, erecting 
an elevator and having a large trade; but tlie 
financial crisis of 1857 caused him great loss. 
He persevered in his business, however, and 
did well, to the time of his death, April 17, 
1865. Politically he was a prominent Abo- 
litionist, devoting both time and money to the 
relief of oppressed and fugitive slaves. He took 
an active interest in all that pertained to the 
moral welfareand material developmentof the 
community, and was respected by all parties. 
The mother of the subject of this sketch 
was born at Brownsville, Jefferson County, 
JSew York, in 1822. She was a devoted wife 
and mother, is a useful member of the Bap- 
tist Church and of good society generally, 
now living in Minneapolis. 

Mr. Kimball, our present subject, was but 
eight years of age when his father died, and 
lie was trained by his mother, who gave hitn 
all the advantages at her command, which 
however, were limited. He completed his 
school education in Brown's Academy. In 
1879, while on a tour through the West 
looking for a business location, he became 
acquainted with his present partner, George 
H. Champ, and in company with him 
bought out the abstract business of J. P. 
and J. N. Casady. To this they afterward 
added the business of money-lending, which, 
under their equitable, conservative and skill- 
ful management, at length grew to large pro- 
portions, and in 1888 they added banking, 
and in this line too their operations have be- 
come extensive. Their bank has taken rank 
among the leading financial institutions of 
the city, and even of western Iowa, eastern 
Nebraska, etc. Mr. Kimball is also a mem- 
ber of the firm of Kimball, Champ & Ryan, 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE UOUNTT. 



417 



bond brokers in Omaha, and he owns a half 
interest in the Bank of Minden, at Minden, 
Iowa. He also owns considerable land in 
Council Bluffs and elsewhere in the State. 

Politically he is a Republican, but has no 
aspirations for oiEcial position, preferring the 
seclusion of private life to public honor. He 
is a gentleman of modest and retiring man- 
ner, a shrewd business man and financier, be- 
ing deservedly a favorite among all classes. 
He is public-spirited and genial in disposition. 
The people of the city j^oint with pride to 
tiie elegant structures erected by Messrs. 
Kimball & Champ. One of these, the Grand 
Central Hotel, is acknowledged to be the 
finest building of the kind in the State. 

November 30, 1884, he married Miss 
Louise Greene, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and 
a daughter of William and Louisa (Higley) 
Greene. She was educated at Faribault, 
Minnesota, in a ladies' seminary under the 
auspices of the Protestant Episcopal Church, 
and also at St. Mary's Seminary, another 
Episcopal institution. 



W A. BOREN, a farmer of Crescent Town- 
fj ship, was born in Hancock County, Illi- 
w'^ nois, June 6, 1842, the son of J. B. and 
Nancy (Mcintosh) Boren, whose history will 
be found on another page. Reared to farm 
life, the subject of this sketch received a 
common-school education. He was but four 
years old when his parents moved to Davis 
County this State, where they remained one 
year, and they arrived in Pottawattamie 
County, June 22, 1847, locating upon a piece 
of land on which his father still lives. The 
subject of our sketch was married January 
14, 1877, to Miss Mary A. Smith, who was 
born in Michigan, October 24, 1853, of par- 



ents who were natives of New York State; 
her father was a carpenter by trade. 

Mr. Boren bought his present place of 120 
acres when it was entirely wild prairie, on 
section 11, township 86, range 44; and what 
is seen on the premises to-day are the work 
of his own hands, aided by his faithful wife, 
who died leaving two children: Francis M., 
who was born October 23, 1877, and is in 
charge of her grandmother; the second child 
died in infancy. Mr. Boren devotes his at- 
tion principally to stock-raising. He has in- 
creased his land and now has 308 acres in 
good condition, 100 cultivated with the plow. 

On national issues he entertains Democratic 
principles and takes an active interest in 
civil government. He has often been a del- 
egate to political conventions and has held 
various oflices of his township, many of them 
in Hazel Dell Township. He has been a 
School Director for a number of years, and 
at present is Treasurer of the school district. 
A man of strong convictions, he fixes him- 
self upon a well defined platform of princi- 
ples. He is a member of I. O. G. T. and of 
the Mutual Protection Society, in which he 
has held various oflices. Has held all the 
local oflices of the Good Templar Lodge, in- 
cluding that of delegate to tiie Grand Lodge. 



|EUBEN BARTON, of Weston, Potta- 
t wattamie County, is a native of Plain- 
field, Hampshire County, Massachu- 
setts, the son of Nathan and Sarah (Bur- 
roughs) Barton, and was born January 9, 
1812. His parents were natives of the same 
State, where they were married, and reared a 
family of thirteen children. In 1823 they 
removed to Phelps, Ontario County, New 
York. The same year the father died, and 



418 



BIOGSAPHICAL HISTORY 



the mother with the unmarried portion of 
the family, nine in number, returned to Mas- 
sachusetts, where they remained until 1832, 
when the subject of this narrative, at the age 
of twenty years, decided to again go West, 
and this time to Ohio, where the family, 
consisting of the mother and four children, 
arrived November 21, 1832, and settled in 
the town of Huntsburg, Geauga County. 
There, in the spring of 1833, Reuben pur- 
chased fifty acres of wild land, heavy timber, 
at $2.50 per acre, paying $30 down. Our 
subject went to work with a will to prepare 
a home for himself and mother and a young 
sister, which he did by hard and incessant 
toil, chopping aud piling the immense growth 
of timber in heaps, and burning it np! (What 
a treasure would our Iowa farmers esteem a 
few acres of such timber!) Here he re- 
mained, improving and cultivating the soil 
for about three years, wiien his mother ac- 
cepted an offer of marriage from Mr. Jacob 
Warreuer, witii whom she lived until her 
death, which occuri'ed in 1853. 

After the marriage of his mother Mr. Bar- 
ton made his home with a brother-in-law, N. 
M. Faun, for about two years, when, in Sep- 
tember, 1837, in company with the brother- 
in-law, lie removed to Coles County, Illinois, 
then mostly in a state of nature. Here he 
entered 120 acres of Government land, con- 
sisting mostly of prairie, with a good supply 
of timber, and again erected a log cabin and 
commenced his favorite occupation of farm- 
ing, while yet in single blessedness, until 
February 11, 1888, when he was joined in 
wedlock to Marcia E. Wilson, who was born 
in St. Alban's, Vermont, December 25, 1811, 
and by whom he had three children, two 
boys and one daughter: Nathan Henry, the 
eldest, born April 13, 1840, now resides at 
San Bernardino, California; Reuben Almon, 
born November 10, 1842, and resides at 



Meadville, Keya Paha County, Nebraska, 
(both have families and both served through 
the war of the Rebellion), and Marcia E., born 
in Hancock County, Illinois, July 26, 1845, 
to which county he had removed in the 
spring of 1844, and where his wife died Sep- 
tember 8, 1846, and the infant died Septem- 
ber 25, 1846. 

He had jjurchased a forty-acre farm, and 
had begun to accumulate around him the 
comforts of life, when the destroying angel 
entered and desolation reigned supreme. 
This was indeed a day of adversity, and, 
to add to his afflictions, the horrors of a 
" Mormon war " seemed impending, mo! s 
of infuriated men traversing the country 
threatening devastation and ruin! and to 
avoid the impending conflict he again re- 
moved to the adjoining county of Hender- 
son, to remain until peace and order were 
restored, which was soon accomplished. 

He thei) returned to his home in Hancock 
County, where he remained until he removed 
to Pottawattamie County, Iowa, in June, 
1852. In the meantime he took a second 
wife, by the name of Almera W. Johnson, 
by whom lie had three daughters. Her 
family were quite numerous and conspicuous 
in the Mormon church. In the spring of 
1853 he bought a claim oti section 30, town- 
ship, 76, range 43, and subsequently entered 
thesouthwestone-fourth thereof, and afterward 
added eighty acres of the same section. The 
only improvement on the land was a small 
log cabin, in which he made his home until 
1857, when by dint of hard work and strict 
economy he succeeded in erecting a comfort- 
able frame house and other necessary out- 
buildings; large and spacious barns were 
added from time to time. 

About this time and three years sub- 
sequently a warning proclamation for the 
scattered remnants of saints to tiee to the 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



419 



iriouiitains, to the only place of safety on this 
continent from the devastations of impend- 
ing war, was issued by Brigham Young, and 
there was a general departure of the taithful 
from this part of the country, and especially 
of the Johnson family; and to go and leave 
one behind was not to be thought of. Hence 
an influence was brought to bear upon Mrs. 
Barton, which culminated in her going with 
the rest in the summer of 1861. Thus in 
the forty-ninth year of his age, and twenty- 
third of liis married life, he was the second 
time bereft of wife; and this time, what was 
dearer tlian wife; three girls died, the eldest 
eleven years, and the youngest five years and 
six months; the youngest died Decemljer 
20, 1861, and the eldest died March 23, 
1870. 

The mother and only one daughter (feeble- 
minded) still live at Parowan, Utah. 

At this time (1861) the war of the Rebel- 
lion had become notorious, and Mr. Barton's 
eldest son, being of age, enlisted in Company 
B, Fourth Iowa Infantry. His other son, 
not yet twenty, received his permission, and 
enlisted in Company A, Twonty-nineth 
Iowa Volunteer Infantry; thus leaving Mr. 
Barton alone on the farm, a sort of recluse, 
to " liold the fort," and " ponder upon the 
vicisitudes of human life." At the close of 
the war the sons returned without the mark 
of a Rebel bullet, but impaired in health. 

In the fall ot 1867 our subject made a visit 
to Ohio, and October 20, 1867, was married 
the third time, this time to Maria J. Caro- 
thers, tha youngest of a large family, her 
birthplace being Phelps, Ontario County', New 
York, and born October 19, 1818. Her 
parents, John and Betsey (8ieklerj Carothers, 
were born in 1774 and 1778 respectively. 
The father's death occurred February 17, 
1842, and the mother's September 8, 1853, 
in Burton, Ohio. 



Mr. Barton is a firm believer in the Spirit 
ual philosophy, and his wife of the Christian 
Church. He is a life-long Republican, and 
was at one time the only one who cast a Re- 
publican vote in his precinct. Although his 
party was generally in the minority, he was 
often elected Justice of the Peace, and served 
as such for many years, and until he posi- 
tively refused to accept any longer. Schools 
received his early attention, and he was 
mainly instrumental in getting the first 
school district organized in his precinct, and 
drew the first public funds, and as member 
of the board did all he could to promote tlie 
best interests of the community by establish- 
ing schools. He was commissoued a Notary 
Public in 1886, and is serving his second 
term, which expires in 1892. 

In June, 1884, having arrived at an age 
when he could not attend properly to the 
care and labors of a farm, and on account of 
the feeble state of his wife's health, he was 
induced to sell the farm, which was well 
supplied with choice fruits, containing over 
300 bearing trees. This arrangement was 
carried out, and he removed to Weston, his 
present residence, where he owns one acre of 
land and a comfortable dwelling, with the 
purpose of spending the remnant of his days 
in retirement. Having commenced life 
with nothing but good health and a deter- 
mination to aciiieve a competence for him- 
self and tamily, he feels that his efforts have 
not been in vain. He has been a pioneer in 
three different States, Iowa being the last, 
where he has lived thirty-eight years and 
witnessed magnificent improvements. 

But this brief narrative of a long and 
eventful life would be incomplete and un- 
satisfactory without the following biographi- 
cal sketch, written by himself; althouo-h it 
necessitates a little repetition, the cause of 
which occurred subsequent to the writing of 



430 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY 



the foregoing, hikI published in the Council 
Bluffs Nonpareil, September 24, 1890; 

Mrs. Maria Jane Barton, consort of Renben 
Barton, departed this life, September 10, 
1890. She was born in Phelps Town, Ontario 
County, New York, October 19, 1818, and 
was the youngest of the numerous family of 
John and Betsy Carothers. Her father re- 
moved to Burton, Geauga County, Ohio, in 
1832, where he died February 17-18, 1842. 
She being the only unmarried one of the fam- 
ily, the care of her father during a lingering 
sickness fell upon her. After his death the 
care of an invalid mother, who had become 
blind and lielpless, devolved upon her until 
her death, September 18, 1853, leaving our 
subject at the age of thirty-five, with feeble 
health and quite limited means. By over- 
work in lifting her mother through a series 
of years, she had contracted a disease of 
the spine, from which she was a great suf- 
ferer. She was under medical treatment by 
eminent physicians for eleven years, when 
she was so much improved as to enter the 
marrias;e relation with Reuben Barton in the 
fall of 1867, and came with him to this coun- 
ty, where she resided until her death. She 
was a great sufferer from sickness. The 
change of climate improved her, but did not 
restore her to sound health. In 1884 the re- 
moval to Weston for a time seemed to be 
beneficial; but in September, 1887, she had 
a stroke of paralysis of the left side, from 
which she never recovered, although able to 
be about the house until the last fatal attack, 
which occurred August 9, 1890; she was 
then forced to bed, from which she never 
arooe again. She survived, in great agony, 
a month, ceasing to breathe September 10, 
when she passed peacefully away, and there 
passed from earth life one of nature's noble 
women. Her sympathetic impulses knew 
no bounds; where duty seemed to call she 



was always ready, and to a sense of duty she 
sacrificed her health and life. They laid her 
tenderly to rest September 11, 1890. 

~-^*>^>- 



fOHN A. SYLVESTER, of section 20, 
Garner Township, has been a resident of 
this county ever since 1861. He was 
born in North Carolina, Pitt County, October 
26, 1829, a son of John Sylvester, Sr., who 
was born in 1802, in Boston, of Pilgrim 
stock, and is still living. His ancestors 
participated both in the Revolutionary war 
and in that of 1812. Mr. Sylvester's mother's 
name before marriage was Cassandra Slaugli- 
ter. She too was born in Pitt County, Nortli 
Carolina. The parents of the subject of this 
sketch were married in 1828, and then emi- 
grated to Randolph County, Indiana, where 
the father was a cooper by trade; earlier in 
life he was a sailor. 

Mr. Sylvester of this sketch also learned 
the cooper trade and worked on the farm. 
Arriving at age he became a teacher, in his 
home district. In 1853 he came to Dallas 
County, Iowa; two years afterward he went 
to Minnesota, and two years after that again 
he went to Missouri and taught school near 
St. Joseph; finally he came to Council Bluffs 
in 1861. 

February 20, 1868, he married Mrs. 
Adelphia McDonald, a lady of high culture, 
born near Springfield, Sangamon County, 
Illinois, a daughter of John and Adelphia 
(Harper) Woods, natives of Kentucky. She 
was twelve years of age when her mother, in 
1838, settled in Des Moines County, Iowa, 
and she was reared there and in Henry and 
Mahaska counties, this State. On reaching 
the age of twenty-one years she married 
Milton McDonald, a resident of Mahaska 
County at that time. In 1850 they moved 



OP POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



421 



to Putnam County, Missouri, and in the 
spring of 1851 they came to Pottawattamie 
County, settling April 24, on a larra where she 
now lives, then a Mormon claim, upon which 
was a small log cabin and a limited portion 
of the gronnd broken. Here Mr. McDonald 
died, July 8, 1862, at the age of forty-live 
years, a sincere member of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church. They had four children, 
three of whom are now living: Amanda 
Ellen, now the wife of W. H. Mullen, of 
Council Bluffs; Marshall F., a prominent at- 
torney of St. Louis, Missouri; and Mary F., 
now Mrs. M. R. Frank, also of Council Bluffs. 
They lost one child by death, William F., at 
the age of seven years. By the present un- 
ion Mr. and Mrs. Sylvester have three chil- 
dren, namely: John Milton, a successful 
teacher; Ada C, and Elmer H., the latter also 
a teacher. The family occupy a tine brick 
house, surrounded by evergreen and noble 
forest trees. Mr. Sylvester is a Republican, 
and has been Justice of the Peace. He and 
his wife are members of the Methodist Epis- 
copal Church. 



^-^^^- 



fKED W. SPETMAN, of the firm of F. 
W. Spetman & Bro., merchants of Coun- 
cil Bluffs, is a native of Pottawattamie 
County, born September 18, 1855, the oldest 
son of H. H. Spetman, whose sketch appears 
elsewhere. Our subject was reared on a farm 
and received his education in the public 
schools of the township and city of Council 
Bluff's. When seventeen years of age he 
went to Davenport, and attended the Bryant 
& Stratton College, where he graduated. He 
then returned to this city, and engaged as 
clerk for Smith & Critfenden, in the whole- 
sale and retail dry-goods business, including 
both departments. He remained with them 



two years, after which he purchased a half 
interest in the store then Jknown as Galleger 
& Lee, purchasing Galleger's interest. The 
store was located on B Street, opposite the 
Ogden House, and was then known as Lee & 
Spetman. Mr. Spetman continued for two 
years, and then purciiased his partner's inter- 
est, and continued the business alone for one 
year and a half, when he sold out to J. C. 
Lee. He then, in 1877, removed to his pres- 
ent location, 509 and 511 Main Street, and 
in company with his brother, W. C, they 
carry an extensive line of general merchan- 
dise, boots, shoes and clothing, and have built 
up an extensive business. In 1880-'81 he 
served as a member of the City Council from 
the Third Ward. In 1886 he was elected 
City Treasurer, serving two terms, or four 
years. 

Mr. Spetman was married September Sep- 
tember 10, 1879, to Miss Alvena Los Kowski, 
a native of St. Louis, who came with her 
parents, Edward Los Kowski, a native of 
Germany, to this county in 1858. They 
have four children: Ella M., Lulu K., Dora C, 
and Verra R. Mr. Spetman is a member of 
the I. O. O. F., No. 49, and of the A. O. U. W. 
He is also a member of the Lutheran Church. 
Politically he affiliates with the Democratic 
party. 



lETER SMITH, Alderman of the Fifth 
Ward, to which position he was elected 
in the spring of 1890, is at the head of 
the tirm of Smith & Co., Union Bakery, 
which was established in 1883. They do a 
wholesale and retail trade, principally the 
former, their annual business amounting to 
$20,000. They ship to all ot the towns within 
a radius of seventy-tive to 100 miles by ex- 
press. Mr. Smith has been a resident of 



422 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY 



Council Bluffs since April 7, 1867. He was 
born in Germany, November 6, 1840, the son 
of Peter and Anna (Peterson) Smith. The 
parents died in Gerinanj when our subject 
was but a child, and when but ten years of 
age he came to this country with an uncle, 
locating at St. Louis, Missouri, where, he 
^rew to manhood. He remained there until 
1865, during which time he was engaged as 
clerk in a grocery store. He then went to 
Booneville, Missouri, remaining until 1867, 
when he came to Council Bluffs, where he 
has since made his home. He was engaged 
in various vocations until he connected iiim- 
self with the Muceller Music Company, of 
this city, with whom he remained eleven 
years. After leaving this firm he commenced 
his presPi.t business, which he has so far 
conducted successfully. He has always affil- 
iated with the Republican party, but has held 
himself aloof from political publicity. In 
1890 he was elected City Alderman of the 
Fifth Ward, and carried his election by 
ninety-seven votes. He is a member of the 
I. O. O. F., No. 49, Council Bluffs Lodge, 
and also of the A. O. U. W., No. 270. 

He was married, in 1868, to Mary Muel- 
ler, who was born in Germany October 1, 
1843, and they have a family of seven chil- 
dren: Frances, the oldest child, is the wife of 
Professor Charles Bactous, a resident of 
Omaha, Nebraska. 

— -^ "g'S i' S ' S" -" — 




RS. SDSANA FORSYTH, of Cres- 
[fiTOllt cent Township, was born in Alabama, 
iSillai ^p^Q 27, 1827, a daughter of Jere- 
miah Fowler, a well-to-do farmer, of German 
descent. Her parents had four sons and 
live daughters. Her father married Miss 
Sarah Johnson, whose parents were residents 
of Kentucky. Mr. Fowlor removed from 



Tennessee to Williamson County, Hlinois, 
and settled upon a farm which he had bought, 
and lived there until his wife's death, in 1836. 
Then one of the daughters, Elizabeth, kept 
house for the next two years. He then sold 
his farm, married again, and after that his 
children resided elsewhere. 

The subject of this sketch then lived with 
her sister Elizabeth until her death; and then 
for a year with old acquaintances; and then 
her youngest sister, Lucinda, married, and 
she lived with iier two years; in the mean- 
time they moved to St. Clair County, Illinois, 
and also Mrs Forsyth worked around among 
neighbors to some extent. After a residence 
elsewhere for a time she married J. S. Farris, 
March 1, 1846, and the first two years of their 
married life were passed upon the farm of 
John Griffin, with whom Mrs. Forsytli had 
been living; then a year near Fayetteville, 
which locality was so unhealthful that they 
sold out there and moved to Iowa, landing at 
Bellevue. Going out into the country about 
fifteen miles, Mr. Farris bought a farm of 145 
acres of unimproved land in Jackson County, 
and he resided upon it eight years, improving 
it; selling out again he started to Saratoga, 
but, stopping in Decatur County, he followed 
farming there one year, near Garden Grove. 
In the fall Mr. Farris enlisted for three years, 
or during the war, in the Union army; and 
two weeks before he left for the battle-field 
they lost their infant child. During her 
husband's absence in the army, the subject of 
this sketch moved to Franklin, and two years 
afterward came to Pottawattamie County, on 
a visit. Returning to her farm, she sold it 
and then moved to Crescent City, this coun- 
ty, where, December 26, 1864, she married 
John Forsyth, a blacksmith by trade. His 
parents were natives of Scotland. In 1866 
they sold their property there and purchased 
eighty acres of unimproved land on section 



,i?r^=S^?s^'^ 



"■^, 





OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



423 



12, same towaship, and beo;an to make all 
tlie iriiproveraents for a comfortable home. 
They built a two-story brick liouse, barns, 
sheds, etc., planted a grove and orchard, 
erected a blacksmith shop and a iiouse in 
which to carry on his trade. 

Mrs. Forsyth is tiie mother of seven cliil- 
dreii, three of whom are deceased. Mr. 
Forsyth died in tiie spring of 1874, since 
which time Mrs. Forsyth has superintended 
the farm as well as the house. By industry 
and economy she has managed to keep her 
family together and support it, although her 
struggle has been severe and protracted. 

« n l III * * 1 % * l * v l f *o« 



lOLONEL WILLIAM FLETCHER 
SAPP, of Council Bluffs, Iowa, was 
born at Danville, Ohio, November 20, 
1824. His grandfather, Daniel Sapp, was 
born and reared in Maryland, near Frostburg, 
from which State he emigrated to Ohio, set- 
tling in tiie eastern part of Knox County, 
adjoining and on the south side of Danville, 
which takes its name from his, where he 
lived and reared a large family, having mar- 
ried, before emigrating from Maryland, Mary 
Robinson. Daniel Sapp was one of the early 
pioneers to Knox County, Ohio, passing 
through all the vicissitudes and trials of a pio- 
neer life. He was the first County Surveyor 
of his adopted county, which was the only 
office held by him excepting that of Justice of 
the Peace, which latter office he held for many 
years prior and up to his death. Daniel Sapp, 
the grandfather, and Carl Sapp, with three 
other brothers, served in the war of 1812. 
Jolin Sapp, the father of the subject of this 
sketch, was Daniel Sapp's oldest child; he 
was born in Knox County, Ohio, and con- 
tinued to live there until his death, which 
occurred in December, 1833. John Sapp 

U2 



married Elizabeth Myers, who was born at 
Cumberland, Maryland. She emigrated, when 
but a child, with iier parents to Knox County, 
Ohio, where she was married to John Sapji. 
At the death of John Sapp, he left his widow 
and three children to survive him, two daugh- 
ters, Angelina and Louisa, and a sou, the 
subject of this sketch. The eldest daughter, 
married Dr. Allmon F. Stanley, both of 
whom are now dead. Louisa was married in 
Knox County, Ohio, where she is still living, 
having reared a family of two sons and three 
daughters, all of whom are married. From 
this sketch it will be seen that William 
Fletcher Sapp is of Maryland stock, the par- 
ents of both his father and mother having 
been reared in Maryland. John Sapp was 
what was commonly called a very prosperous 
and thrifty man, and was greatly beloved by 
all who knew him, for his honesty, generosity, 
and superior judgment. At his death he 
left his widow and children in very good cir- 
cumstances for that day. Prior to his death, 
John Sapp made arrangements to move his 
family to St. Louis, Missouri, and in further- 
ance of that design he converted all his 
property into available means. On his death- 
bed, he purchased a farm, upon which his 
widow maintained herself and raised her 
three children. The farm adjoined the town 
of Danville on the west, and to this day it is 
looked upon as one of the best farms in that 
part of the country. 

William Fletcher Sapp continued to live 
with his mother and sisters, workiug on the 
farm in the summer, and attending the pub- 
lic schools in the winter, taking but little in- 
terest in education further than to identify 
himself with the debating societies or ly- 
ceums then prevalent in that community, 
and in which he, when but a young boy, be- 
came a prominent debater. At the age of 
fifteen years he began putting in ranch of his 



434 



BIOQRAPniCAL BISTORT 



time during the summer montlis in reading, 
and in such other studies as he was able to 
master without a tutor, still continuing to at- 
tend the public schools in the winter seasons. 
At tlie age of eighteen years he attended 
school at the Martinsburg Academy, an in- 
stitution of learning under the manHg-emeiit 
ment of the Presbyterian Church in his na- 
tive county. When he felt himself qualified 
for that purpose, he commenced teaching 
school in the winter seasons and attending 
school at the academy in tlie summer, and 
continued doing so until he commenced read- 
ing law in the spring of 1847 in the office 
of Hon. Coin iiibus Delano and Hon. William 
K. Sapp, his uncle, in the now beautiful 
and prosperous city of Mt. Vernon, Ohio, 
the county-seat of Knox County. His apti- 
tude in debate gave him a liking for the law, 
and he had scarcely begun reading for his 
chosen profession until he was employed by 
his friends and admirers to attend cases be- 
fore justices of the peace. It is his pride 
now to tell that during the time lie was a law 
student, he made enough in petty cases before 
justices of the peace to maintain himself, 
and when admitted to the bar to buy a small 
library of books with which to commence 
the practice. The rapidity with which he 
ran into practice after his admission to the 
bar was most remarkable, having had during 
the very first term following his admission, 
H dozen or more cases in the Court of Com- 
mon Pleas of Knox County. He was ad- 
mitted to the bar on the 27th day of June, 
1850, and immediately opened a law office 
with Hon. Walter H. Smith, then a yonng 
man who had i-ead law in the same office with 
him. He was engaged in the trial of a num- 
ber of important civil and criminal cases 
during the first year after his admission. 
His success in his practice, and his ability in 
the trial of jury cases led his Whig friends to 



put him on their ticket as their candidate 
for the office of Prosecuting Attorney in the 
fall of 1850. At that time, Knox Connty 
was nearly 900 Democratic. The Democrats 
had nominated General George W. Morgan 
as their candidate, lie having returned from 
the Mexican war with an envialile reputation 
for iiis services rendered therein. When the 
official votes were counted it was ascertained 
that General Morgan had but thirty-two ma- 
joiity over Mr. Sapp, who was then a mere 
boy. 

In 1854, at the formation of the Republican 
party, lie took an active stand in the organ- 
ization of this new party, was nominated, witli 
out being a candidate for the office of Pros- 
ecuting Attorney, and was electeil over James 
G. Chapman, his Democratic opponent, by 
800 majority. In 1856 he wa> re-elected 
over Hon. Charles Scribner, now of Toledo, 
Ohio. In 1856 he was engaged in making 
politicarspeeches for three months and more, 
being called upon to go far and near, and so ex- 
posed himself during that campaign that his 
health seriously failed him. 

On December 29, 1856, he was married to 
Mary C. Brown, of Mt. Vernon, Ohio, daugh- 
ter of Captain Richard Montgomery Brown, 
he having commanded a company during the 
war of 1812. Miss Mary C. Brown was a 
most accomplished and beautiful girl, and 
was, in the truest sense of the term, a help- 
mate to her husband all through life. 

But few young men succeed on their own 
merits in acquiring so lucrative a practice as 
William Fletcher Sapp did at the bar of his 
native county in Ohio. Hi*; reputation as a 
young man of ability in his own profession 
was not confined to iiis own county, but ex- 
tended almost through the whole State of 
Ohio. He often refers to his early practice, 
saying that from 1850 until 1860 he made more 
money in the practice of law than ho has ever 



OP POTTAWATTAMIE! COUNTY. 



425 



made in the same length of time since. From 
1856 to 1860, his health was such that he de- 
cided to remove to a locality where the atmos- 
phere was purer and dryer than that of central 
Ohio, and in the fall of 1859 he started out 
in search of a new locality. After traveling 
very considera'ily through the West, he made 
up his mind to remove to Omaha, Nebraska, 
which he did in the spring of 1860, where 
he acrain entered upon the practice of his 
profession. Omaha was then a village of 
from 1,800 to 2,000 inhabitants, and that 
now prosperous city and the Territory of 
Nebraska had not recovered from the crisis 
of 1857. In the summer of 1861 he was 
appointed Adjutant General of Nebraska 
Territory by Governor Alvin Saunders, and 
in the fall of that year he was nominated 
a member of the Territorial Legislative Com- 
mittee by the Republicans of Douglas County 
to till the vacancy occasioned by the resigna- 
tion of General John M. Thayer, and was 
elected to that position by the people over 
Hon. John I. Reddick, then a prominent at- 
torney of Omaha, which position he tilled to 
the entire satisfaction of the people of that 
county. 

In 1862 Major-General Pope issued an 
order for a regiment of cavalry to be raised 
in the Territory of Nebraska, to serve for 
nine months on the frontier against the In- 
dians, and relieve the regular army then 
stationed at Fort Kearney and other military 
posts. As Adjutant-General he Raided Gov- 
ernor Saunders in raising said regiment, and 
was appointed Lieutenant-Colonel of that 
regiment by the Governor. During the 
time or his military service he was put in 
command of the Department of the Platte 
upon the resignation of General James Craig, 
of St. Joseph, Missouri, which position he 
filled until he was relieved by General Mc- 
Kane. Before the Second Nebraska Cavalry 



was mnstered out of service. Colonel Sapp 
had made arrangements for a law i)artnership 
with Samuel Clinton, of Council BluflTs, and, 
after spending the winter with his family in 
Ohio, he came to Council Eluti's and entered 
into practice under the arrangement so made 
with Judge Clinton, under the tirm name of 
Clinton & Sapp. They had a large and lucra- 
tive practice in Pottawattamie and adjoining 
Counties, practicing law in the Federal as 
well as State courts. 

In the fall of 1865 he was elected to rep. 
resent Pottawattamie County in the State 
Legislature, which position he tilled with dis- 
tinction, and during the session of which he 
Wi'.s a member he introduced and had passed a 
bill locating the Deaf and Dumb Asylum at 
the city of Council Bluffs. He also in- 
troduced and had passed through the House 
of Representatives a bill for holding the 
State Supreme Court at Council Bluffs. He 
was a most efticient and active member. He 
declined a re-election to the Legislature. In 
1869 he was appointed United States District 
Attorney for the State of Iowa by President 
Grant, filling that position four years, with 
honor and credit. It is said that his success 
in that office, as shown by the report of the 
Attorney General of the United States, is 
considerably in excess of that of any other 
United States Attorney for that period. 

He was nominated by the Republican 
party as their candidate for Congress in the 
Eiglith Congressional District to the Forty- 
tifth Congress. At that time the District 
was composed of the following counties: 
Adams, Audubon, Cass, Fremont, Harrison, 
Mills, Montgomery, Page, Pottawattamie, 
Ringgold, Shelby, Taylor and Union. He 
was elected over Hon. Lemuel R. Bolter, the 
Democratic and Greenback candidate, by over 
4,000 majority in the above named counties, 
and was again re-nominated by the Repub- 



4i6 



HlDGBAPllfCAL msTORT 



licans as their candidate to the Forty-sixth 
Congress without opposition, and was re- 
elected as tlieir Representative from the 
Eighth Congressional District, receiving 15,- 
343 votes aeainst 7,453 votes for Colonel 
John H. Keatley, Democrat, and 7,760 votes 
for Mr. Hicks, National. During the time 
he was a Representative from the Eighth 
Congressional District, he introduced and 
secured the passage of a bill providing for 
liolding the United States Circuit Courts at 
the times and places where the United States 
District Courts were then held, — that is, at 
Dubuqne, Ues Moines, Keokuk and Council 
Bluffs. He also succeeded in getting bills 
passed through Congress, giving to the city 
of Council Bluffs Big Lake ami Car Lake, 
which are now the properties of said city. 
He also introduced and had unanimously re- 
ported by the Committee on Public Grounds 
in both the Forty-fifth and Forty-sixth Con- 
gresses, a bill for the purchase of grounds 
and erection of a Government building at the 
city of Council Bluffs; but, owing to the 
stern opposition of Hon. Samuel J. Randall, 
then Speaker of the House of Representa- 
tives, to appropriations for Government 
buildings, he was refused a recognition to 
move and suspend the rules and have the 
bill passed, at both sessions, which, doubtless, 
he would have procured but for the stern op- 
position of the Speaker. As a Representa- 
tive in Congress he devoted himself most 
assiduously to all the wants and interests of 
the people of his district. It is said of him 
that during the time he so represented the 
people, he was never absent from a roll-call 
during either the Forty-fifth or the Forty- 
flixth Congress. He never failed to answer a 
letter written to him as such Representative 
by any one in his district. In all his official 
conduct, he deported himself most honorably 
and uprightly. It can be said of him justly. 



that there was never a murmur asainst iiiii; 
as an officer as respects his integrity, honesty 
and application to his duties. He was nomi- 
nated by the State Convention of Iowa, by 
acclamation, as Elector at Large for Hon. 
James G. Blaine, the Republican candidate 
for President, and made quite a State canvass 
during that campaign. 

From the time he was admitted to the bar, 
he devoted himself most assiduously to the 
practice of law, excepting while he wa-^ in the 
military service and in Congres>, and may be 
said to be a very successful practitioner. The 
Union Pacific Railroad Company undertook 
to procure a separate bridge charter over 
the Missouri River. Against this scheme 
Colonel Sapp took a most active intere&t; 
went to Washington, and, mainly through Ids 
influence, the proposition for the bridge 
charter making the terminus of the Union 
Pacific at Omaha was defeated. Subsequent 
to this, he, assisted by others, procured tiie 
necessary legislation to compel the Union 
Pacific Railroad Company to build their 
bridge as a part of the line of their rond, and 
to compel them to perform their legal obliga- 
tions, and authorized proceedings by man- 
damus to compel them to do so. Attei' tliis 
provision passed Congress he took an active 
part in the litigation following to compel the 
Union Pacific Railroad Company by man- 
damus to operate tiieir road as a continuous 
line to and from Council Bluffs. By his 
advice Hon. John N. Rogers of Davenport 
was employed, who, in conjunction with 
Colonel Sapp, commenced a procteding by 
mandamus in the United States Circuit Court 
at Des Moines, which was decided in favor 
of the city of Council Bluffs. An apjjeal 
was taken from this decision to the Supreme 
Court of the United States, and the decision 
of the Circuit Court holding Council Bluff's 
to be the terminus ot the Union Pacific Rail- 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE! COUNTY. 



4;7 



road Company was affirmed, t'lat court de- 
ciding that the tenniiuis of the Union Pacitic 
Railroad Company was at Council Bluffs and 
not at Omaha. This decision was a matter 
of vital interest to the city of Council Bluffs, 
and its terminus was greatly to its advantage. 
All the assistance he rendered in that litiga- 
tion and the legislation that led to it, as well 
as the two arguments upon the terminus 
question made by him, was free of any charge 
to the city, he always absolutely refusing to 
accept any pay for his services in this respect, 
and bearing his own expense to and from 
Washington, and in having his arguments 
printed. The people of Council Bluffs re- 
member his action and service in that regard 
fully and with gratitude. On this question 
of the terminus of the Union Pacific Railroad 
Company, Council Bluffs had a most earnest, 
sincere and effective friend in Colonel Sapp. 
He was most diligent in procuring the in- 
fluence of the Iowa delegation in Congress 
necessary for the needed legislation. 

After the firm of Clinton & Sapp was dis- 
solved, Colonel Sapp formed a partnership 
with the Hon. Joseph Lyman and Hon. S. 
J. Hanna, the firm being known as Sapp, 
Lyman & Hanna. In a short time Judge 
Hanna removed to Chicago, after which the 
firm name was Sapp & Lyman, which firm 
continued for fifteen years, during all of 
which time they did a very extensive law 
practice in the State and Federal courts. 
January 1, 1884, Hon. Joseph Lyman was 
appointed Judge of the Circuit Court by 
Governor Sherman. Immediately upon 
Major Lyman going upon the bench, Colonel 
Sapp formed a partnership with N. M. Pusey, 
a prominent attorney of Council Bluffs, 
since which time he has continued in 
the active practice of the law, the firm name 
being Sapp & Pusey. 

Whether we view him as a practicing at- 



torney, as a citizen, or as an officer, his record 
is a most honorable one. As a trial lawyer, 
he has few equals in the State, and is rej^arded 
as a formidable man to meet in a contest be- 
fore a jury. His recollection of the testimony 
of witnesses by which he is enabled to repeat 
over their very words, and his sound juilg- 
ment as to the policy to pursue in the con- 
ducting of a trial, are among the things lead- 
ing to his success as a trial lawyer. Colonel 
Sapp is a man of very vigorous and healthy 
constitution, and it is said of him, by the 
brother members of the bar, that he can 
endure more hard work than any man at the 
Council Bluffs bar. He is a man of very 
quick and active perception, a very retentive 
memory, and very superior judgment. 

Colonel and Mrs. Sapp were the parents of 
three children, of whom one sou still survives, 
William F., Jr., the eldest; two sons died in 
infancy. Mrs. Sapp was a daughter of Cap- 
tain Richard Montgomery Brown, who com- 
manded a company during the war of 1812, 
and was at the battle where Hull surrendered; 
Init rather than surrender he marched his 
troops through the wilderness to Mansfield, 
Ohio, and continued in the service until the 
close of the war, after which he located at 
Mount Vernon, Ohio. He was a native of 
New England, and was remotely related to 
Daniel Webster. At the end of the war he 
married Miss Mary Honn, a resident of Knox 
County, Ohio. She was a native of Hagers- 
town, Maryland. They resided in Mount 
Vernon, Ohio, where Captain Brown was en- 
gaged in the mercantile business, from which 
he retired with a competency. They reared 
a large family of six sons and four daughters, 
Mary C, the wife of our subject being the 
second daughter. 

Since the above was written Colonel W. F. 
Sapp has died, his death occurring on Nov- 
ember 22, 1890, just one day and a half after 



438 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



his sixty-sixth birthday. His death was con- 
sidered a public calamity, and he was mourned 
by rich and poor, black and white alike. 

Resolutions of respect and condolence were 
passed by many organizations in Council 
Bluffs and sourrounding counties, and, for 
the first time in the history of Pottawattamie 
County, and as an especial mark of respect, 
a day was appointed and observed by the bar 
of his home county, of which he was presi- 
dent, fur memorial services, at which eulogies 
were pronounced upon his life and character. 

Colonel Sapp was laid to rest by the side 
of the wife he loved so well in the beautiful 
little cemetei-y at Mount Vernon, Ohio. 

■°»"»» 4 » S '« S ' g i<-»°« 

fRANCIS T. McPHERRON, who resides 
on section 8, Hardin Township, came to 
this county in 1877, where he has since 
made his home. He was born in Henry 
County, Iowa, January 20, 1850, near Mt. 
Pleasant, the son of J. W. and May E. (Cook) 
McPherron. The father was a native of 
Knox County, Tennessee, and the son of 
William McPherron, who was a native of 
Pennsylvania, and of Scotch-Irish ancestry; 
the mother was born in Mansfield, Ohio, the 
daughter of Luther Cook, a native of Penn- 
sylvania. The father settled in Henry Coun- 
ty, Iowa, in 1837, before it was admitted to 
the Union, and when it was inhabited by the 
Fox and Winnebago Indians. They reared 
a family of six children, three sons and three 
daughters, of whom our subject was the 
second child. Mr. McPherron still resides 
in Henry County on the farm which he has 
owned for over fifty years. 

Francis T. was reared on the old farm, and 
at tlie age of twenty years he began work at 
the carpenter's trade in Henry County, which 
he continued until 1878, when he carne to 



Council Bluffs and worked at his trade one 
year. In 1877 he bought eighty acres of wild 
prairie land, of which he broke forty acres, 
and the next year he rented the land for one 
year. In 1879 he built a small farm house, 
and in 1890 a good frame house, and made 
'iiany other improvements. The farm con- 
tains a grove of eight or ten acres and an 
orchard. He now owns 200 acres of land, 
and is engaged in general farming and ttock- 
raising. 

Mr. McPherron was first married in 1874, 
in Henry County, Iowa, to Miss Helen Eve- 
land, wlio was born in Henry County, the 
daughter of James W. Eveland. By this 
union there was one child, Helen. Mrs. 
McPherron died the same year they were 
married, in 1874. In 1779 he married Anna 
B. Henderson, of Henry County, Iowa, the 
daughter of J. W. Henderson. They have 
four children: Vernon F., Perry E., Ira C. 
and Stacy W. Politically Mr. McPherron is 
a Republican. He is a member of the I. O. 
O. F., Trenton Lodge, ISIo. 57, at Trenton, 
Iowa, and of the I. O. G. T., of Downsviile, 
Norwalk Township. He was raised a Pres- 
byterian, and his wife is a member of the 
Christian Ciiurch. 



fDLIUS MULLER, a prominent citizen 
near Crescent City, was born April 8, 
1836, in Colmar, Alsace, France, whicli 
has been a province of Germany since the 
Franco-German war of 1870-'71. His par- 
ents, William and Madaline (Rebert) Mul- 
ler, were also natives of France. His father 
was a bookbinder by trade; he had four chil- 
dren, of whom Julius was the second. In 
1851, leaving his family for the purpose, he 
came to America, sailing from Havre to New 
Orleans, arriving eight weeks later. Coming 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNT T. 



429 



on up to St. Louis, he was there engaged at 
his trade. During the month of December 
the ne.xt year liis family arrived. A year 
afterward he went to Davenport and estab- 
lished himself in his trade there, where also 
Julius, having previously served his appren- 
ticeship in the same, remained a short time. 
Going next to Cassville, Wisconsin, he 
entered 160 acres of land and began improv- 
ing it, but after a time he sold it, visited 
Lancaster, Wisconsin, and then located in 
Rock Islaml, Illinois, where he carried on his 
business extensively until he was burned out. 
His wife, being an invalid, was living with 
her daughter in Davenport, when she died in 
1875. After her death he made a number 
of changes until lie finally settled in Daven- 
port, where he still resides. 

October 2, 1859, Mr. Julius MuUer mar- 
ried Ann Bird, who was l)orn near Quebec, 
Canada, May 2, 1838, of Irish ancestry. She 
was brought by lier parents to Illinois in 1852, 
and to Clay County, Iowa, in 1855. After his 
marriage Mr. Muller bought a tract of bot- 
tom land in Harrison County, this State, and 
resold it in 1866; but in 1864 he was drafted 
into the military service, placed in Company 
E, Thirteenth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and 
was in service at Nashville, Tennessee. Next 
he was detailed upon a scouting expedition 
through Tennessee, Georgia and Alabama, 
and thence to Annapolis, Maryland, whence 
he was sent down the coast on vessels to 
Morehead City, North Carolina, thence to 
Newbern and Kingston, where they were en- 
gaged in a severe fight, Mr. Muller having a 
narrow escape from the bullet of a sharp- 
shooter. They then joined Sherman in his 
march from the sea. At Raleigh they heard 
of the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. 
They proceeded on to Washington and thence 
to Louisville, Kentucky, where they were 
mustered out, July 21, 1865. 



Mr. Muller then went to Denver, looking 
for a place to locate, but returned to Potta- 
wattamie County, and in 1867 purchased 
forty acres of land entirely wild, and began 
improving it. He has since added to his 
first purchase until he now has 164 acres of 
good land, on sections 13 and 24. tie has a 
good story -and-a-half house with farm build- 
ings, etc., a fine orchard and evergreen or- 
namental trees about the premises. His 
specialty is the rearing of domestic animals, 
chiefly horses. 

Politically Mr. Muller is a Eepublican, 
but in the primaries he votes for " the best 
man." He is a member of the M. P. Society, 
and has held various offices. He and his 
family are liighly respected. His children 
are: Mary, born January 25, 1861, residing 
at home; William, born April 8, 1862, resides 
in Missouri Valley, Iowa; Charles, born Jan- 
uary 22, 1867; Minnie, born August 15, 
1870; and Thomas, born November 26, 1871, 
all three of these last still at their parental 
home. 



;R. OLIVER WALKER GORDON, of 

Council Bluffs, was born in Wayne 
County, Indiana, in 1887. His father, 
William M. Gordon, was a native of Ohio. 
His grandfather, Robert Gordon, removed 
from Pennsylvania to Ohio, and thence to 
Indiana. The Gordon family is of Scotch 
ancestry. William M. Gordon was a youth 
when he moved to Wayne County, Indiana, 
where he was a pioneer. He married Miss 
Deborah Mendenhall, a daughter of Daniel 
Mendenhall. The latter was a Quaker and a 
native of North Carolina. True to his con- 
victions as a Quaker, he was opposed to the 
institution of slavery, and although in his 
early days was an owner of slaves, his con- 



430 



BIOORAPHIOAL HISTOR? 



science would not permit him to remain such, 
and he consequently set his negroes free and 
emigrated to Indiana, where he remained till 
death. William Gordon, the father of the 
subject of this sketch, continued to reside in 
Indiana a number of years after his marriage, 
when he emigrated to Iowa. Later he re- 
turned to Indiana with his family for the 
purpose of giving his children better advan- 
tages for education than Iowa in those early 
days afforded. He settled in Boone County, 
Indiana. While living here he represented his 
county in the Legislature. Later he returned 
to Henry County, Iowa. In early life he 
learned the trade of harness-maker, but did 
not long follow it; adopting the profession 
of law, he became a well-known lawyer and 
land speculator. His wife died in 1887, 
while on a visit to her daughter, Mrs. Esther 
Frame, the eminent Quaker evangelist. After 
the death of his wife, William M. Gordon 
removed to Fairfield, Jefferson County; re- 
married and has since died. He was a well- 
known citizen of Iowa; was a Democrat in 
politics, and in the administration of Buch- 
anan was appointed by that executive general 
mail agent, but later, endorsing the prin- 
ciples of Douglas, he was removed from this 
official position by Buchanan. He promptly 
took the side of the Union at the outbreak 
of the Rebellion, entered the army as a Lieu- 
tenant and was wounded at Fort Donelson, 
which resulted in his retiring from the 
army, and from his wounds he never fully 
recovered. He and his first wife were the 
parents of three sons and four daughters, 
who grew to mature years. Another daugh- 
ter, Eliza Jane, died in Indiana in infancy. 
The youngest daughter, Arrenetta, married 
and died in Minneapolis. The eldest mem- 
ber of the family is Rev. Luther B. Gordon, 
a Quaker preacher, residing near Los Angeles, 
California; the subject of this sketch is the 



second son; the next in order of age is Mrs. 
Esther Frame, the Quaker evangelist; Mrs. 
Lydia Manley is the wife of Rev. William 
Manley, a Quaker clergyman. Mary Emma 
is the wife of Rev. Philip Heck, of Moline, 
Illinois; Leroy A. is a merchant in Minnea- 
polis. 

The subject of this notice spent the most 
of his life in Iowa. Early in life his inten- 
tions were to follow the profession of law, 
but after pursuing legal studies for a time he 
abandoned them for the profession of medi- 
cine. Early in the war of the Rebellion he 
was assistant to Surgeon Hughes of Iowa, in 
the hospitals of Keokuk, and later assisted 
Surgeon Woods in the United States army, 
with whom he remained for a time, when he 
was transferred and his services were jjiven 
to the colored troops. Still later he returned 
to Surgeon Woods, with whom he remained 
until the close of the war. After the war he 
located at Bloomfield, Iowa, in the practice 
of his profession, and thence removed to 
Mount Pleasant; going thence to Chicago, 
he engaged in practice there, and was also 
for a time editor of a medical journal. From 
Chicago he removed to Minneapolis, from 
which city he removed to Council Bluffs in 
1883. 

Dr. Gordon's first wife was Miss Mary 
Wright, a niece of Judge Wright, of Des 
Moines. His present wife was formerly Mrs. 
Mary C. Walker, of Council Bluffs, and a 
daughter of Dr. Edward S. Williams, a well- 
known early settler of this city. Dr. Gordon 
has two children by his first marriage: Will- 
iam and Annie, the latter being the wife of 
Elias Baker, of Lincoln, Nebraska. The 
Doctor and his present wife have a daughter, 
Deborah M., and an adopted son, Luther W. 
The present Mrs. Gordon was formerly the 
wife of Thomas A. Walker, of Council Bluffs, 
and has by that marriage four ciiildren. 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



431 



Edward S. Williams, father of Mrs. Gor- 
don, was born iu Campbell County, Virginia, 
wliero he was reared - and educated. He 
married Miss Mary Brown Austin, a native 
of the same county as her husband. Mr. 
Williams was by occupation a silversmith 
and dentist. He came to what is now Coun- 
cil Bluifs in 1852, and entered 160 acres of 
land, and also entered a quarter section, which 
includes Fairmount Park, and also included 
what is known as Williams' first and second 
addition to Council Bluifs. Mr. Williams 
did not come here directly from his native 
State, Virginia, but had removed to Missouri 
many years before. In 1852 he started over- 
land to California with his family. They 
included a part of quite a large body of 
emigrants who started for the land of gold, 
but on reaching Fort Laramie they were at- 
tacked by sickness, which carried oflF nearly 
the whole of them, only two men of the 
eighteen which accompanied the train, sur- 
viving. These, with the surviving women 
and children, left everything behind them, 
and, dislieartened by the results of the terri- 
ble scourge that had swept off so many of 
their numbers, retraced their steps as rapidly 
as possible. Stopping on their return to 
Council Bluffs, then known as Kanesville, 
Mr. Williams pre-empted the land above 
mentioned, but with the surviving members 
of the party they returned to Missouri. In 
1856 he came back to Council Bluffs and 
laid out Williams' First Addition to the 
city, and continued here till about 1859. 
But the country here was then new and wild, 
and the wife and mother becoming dissatis- 
fied they returned to Missouri. Later Mr. 
Williams returned alone and laid out Will- 
iams' Second Addition, and in 1868 the 
family all returned, residing here until 1877, 
when Mr. Williams and wife returned to 
Denver, where they still live. They are the 



parents of nine children; five others died in 
early life. The entire family are residents 
of Colorado, except Mrs. Gordon, who has 
continued to reside here since she came with 
her father's family in 1868. Here she was 
married in 1871, to Thomas Walker, who 
was born and reared in the city of Baltimore. 
Mr. Walker died in this city in 1882. Mrs. 
Gordon's children by her first marriage are 
two sons and two daughters, viz.: Gulielma 
F., Brown Austin (daughter), Edward W. 
Walker and Archibald Alexander. Dr. Gor- 
don and wife have a beautiful home situated 
on Graham avenue, on a fine elevation, sur- 
rounded by shade and ornamental trees, and 
the view of the city of Council Bluffs from 
the residence is a pleasant and beautiful one. 



fEFFEIiSON P. CASADY is one of a 
family of brothers who are thorouo-hlv 
identified with the history and growth 
of the State of Iowa, the others being Hon. 
P. M. Casady and Weir Casady, of Des 
Mcines, the late Hon. S. H. Casady, of Sioux 
City, and J. N. Casady, of Council Bluffs. 
Each of these has been active and energetic 
In all that pertained to the welfare and devel- 
opment of the State. 

The subject of this sketch was born Septem- 
ber 1, 1828, at Connersville, Indiana, a son 
of Simon Casady. He is of that sturdy, 
strong Scotch-Irish ancestry which has pro- 
duced so many of the notable men of Amer- 
ica. Until eighteen years of age his life was 
spent upon the farm and attending the public 
schools, and afterward pursuing an academic 
course of study. Having but little tasle for 
farm life he took up the study of law, and 
received his training principally from Hon. 
Samuel W. Parker in the days when the 
principles of the law rather than the cases 



432 



BIOOBAPHICAL HI8T0BT 



were studied, and when the eminent lawyers 
of the day kept the Bible and Blackstone 
side by side upon their desks. Judge Casady's 
tutor was one of a coterie of great lawyers 
who made the bar of Indiana famous, and he 
thus imbibed an exalted opinion of the law, 
as practiced by men of learning and virtue. 

In 1852 he removed to Des Moines, Iowa, 
and was admitted to practice. In 1853 he 
moved to Council Bluffs, and in conjunction 
with Hon. Hadley D. Johnson opened a law 
office in the city and engaged also in the 
land business. As a lawyer he preferred 
civil business, and being by nature conserva- 
tive, cautious and prudent he soon became 
widely and favorably known; and in 1858 his 
fellow- citizens, recognizing his legal and 
financial ability, elected him to the office of 
County Judge. It is due to J udge Casady to 
say that this office was wholly unsought by 
him. Each political party had put forth its 
candidate for the office, but the people, being 
disatislied with the party nominees, repudi- 
ated the nominations and without dissent or 
regard to political prejudices elected Mr. 
Casady. Under the law as it existed at that 
time, the County Judge had full management 
of all the financial affairs of the county, and 
also of the Probate Court, thus putting upon 
that officer an unusual amount of hard work 
and responsibility. Judge Casady filled the 
office with remarkable ability and at that same 
time conducted his private business, which un- 
til 1868 consisted largely of real-estate opera- 
tions. During this latter year he was elected 
to represent the counties of Pottawattamie, 
Mills, Fremont and Cass in the State Senate 
for four years. 

In July, 1861, he was elected a director of 
the Council Bluffs & St. Joseph Kailroad, 
and afterward was elected president of the 

road. 

In political sentiment Judge Casady is a 



Democrat, a Democrat in the broad and Jef- 
fersonian sense of the word, being a believer 
in the brotherhood of man and in the dignity 
of all honest labor. He has always been 
active in the councils of his party, having 
frequently been a delegate to its State conven- 
tions, and in 1880 was one of the Vice-presi- 
dents of the National Convention. In 1872 
he was nominated for Auditor of State and 
ran far ahead of his ticket, though the State 
was so overwhelmingly liepublican that he 
was not elected. Judge Casady uniformly 
polled his party strength and also a large 
number of votes from the opposition, out of 
compliment to his sterling manhood and 
integrity. He has never coveted office, and 
never accepted one except at a personal sacri- 
fice and out of a sense of duty. 

Judge Casady has always been public- 
spirited, and has invariably shown his sym- 
pathy with all local enterprises and improve- 
ments. 

While in the State Senate he gave to the 
business of legislation the same care and 
conscientious attention that he gave to all 
macters of duty entrusted to him; and it was 
his skill, diplomacy and untiring effort that 
secured the appropriation for the building of 
the Deaf and Dumb Institute at Council 
Bluffs. 

It is somewhat notable in this connection 
that Hon. P. M. Casady, of Des Moines, rep- 
resented that district in the State Senate, 
Hon. Samuel H. Casady represented the 
whole northwestern portion of Iowa, contain- 
ing Sioux City, in the lower house of the Iowa 
Legislature, and Hon. J. P. Casady represented 
the Council Bluffs district in the Senate. 
It is another coincidence that his partners, 
Hon. Hadley D. Johnson and Hon. James 
D. Test, also represented the Council Bluffs 
district in the Legislature. The impress of 
his character has been silently felt throughout 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



433 



the county ever since its organization, and it 
is safe to say that there is not a man in the 
county better or more favorably known 
throughout every part of it than he is. In 
business, while thoroughly conservative, he 
has been successful, and his name wherever 
known is a synonym for honest and fair 
dealing. No man iu the coiinty ever enjoyed 
the confidence and good will of the farming 
community to the degree that he has enjoyed 
it. Intimate acquaintanceship with such a 
man has a beneficial influence upon character, 
and more than one of the clerks and employes 
in his ofHce have become noted and success- 
ful men, owing to the admirable business 
training received there. Many young men in 
politics, in the law, and in other walks owe 
their start in life, in part at least, to the kindly 
interest in their welfare shown by Judge 
Casady, and some of his warmest friendships 
have originated in acts of kindness on his 
part toward young men. In his friendships 
he is loyal and unswerving. Socially he is 
a well informed, agreeable, companionable 
man. As a citizen he is univer.sally liked 
and respected. Years ago he became identi- 
fied with the Independent Order of Odd Fel- 
lows, and one of the charter members of 
Council Bluffs l.odge No. 49. 

He married Miss Hannah Joiner, June 16, 
1856, and they have had five children: Law- 
rence and Jefferson J., both of whom are dead; 
Thomas E., Ida and Albert W. The eldest 
son, Thomas E. Casady, is a practicing lawyer 
in Council Bluffs, and the youngest, Albert 
W., is a contractor. After living together in 
unusually happy domestic life for over twenty- 
five yeai's. Judge Casady's wife was taken 
from his household by death, May 6, 1882. 
Early in their married life they became mem- 
bers of the First Presbyterian Church of 
Council Bluff's, and have brought up their 
family in that faith. Judge Casady is still a 



member and one of the liberal supporters of 
that church. 



P. COOPER, who resides on 160 acres 
of land in Garner Township, on sec- 
* tions 34 and 35, is one of the well- 
known and successful farmers of that part of 
the county, where he has resided since 1884. 
He was born in Germany, November 14, 
1844, the son of Joseph and Maria (Keller) 
Cooper. A. P. was a lad of thirteen years 
when, with the consent of his parents, he 
came with kin and acquaintance to Jackson 
County, Iowa, where he remained until 1860. 
He received his education in Germany and 
in the Jackson County schools. In 1860. 
he started for California, with a company of 
about eight men from Jackson County. They 
had ox teams and horses, and took with them 
about 160 head of cattle. They crossed the 
Missouri River, May 10, 1860, and traveled 
over the North Platte route, by the way of 
Landers' cut-off. They arrived in California 
October 1, 1860, being six months on the 
road. They frequently met bands of Indians 
and gave them tobacco and groceries, they 
being very troublesome that season. Mr. 
C<^oper resided in California about twenty- 
five years. He first engaged in buying stock 
mostly, and afterward was engaged in raising 
wheat, grain and hay in Santa Clara County 
and Valley. He was successful, and was 
considered among the first-class farmers of 
that county. In 1884 he sold his personal 
effects and returned to Iowa, and on his 
arrival in Council Bluffs he bought 160 acres 
of land of Austin Howard, who was one of 
the most prominent citizens of Pottawattamie 
County; Mr. Squires acting as agent. The 
farm is situated two and a half miles from 
the city limits, and under a good state of 



434 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY 



cnltivatioi). It is well-watered by a bubbling 
spring, which sends up a large stream of 
water near the house. He is engaged in 
general fanning and stock-raising, and has a 
good orchard and about one and a half acres 
of grove. 

Mr. Cooper was married in December, 
1884, to Miss Minnie Viella Paup, who was 
born in Jackson County,- Iowa, the daughter 
of William and Charity Paup, who reside in 
Harlan, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Cooper have 
had one child, a son, Leland Levan, who was 
born October 29, 1885. Politically Mr. 
Cooper is a Republican. He is a man in the 
prime of life, and is well-informed on all 
general topics. He is frank and cordial in 
his manner, as most men are who have spent 
many years on the coast and plains. 



" l ' i * n - 



< i*' >«!»■ 



fINCENT BATTIN, contractor and 
builder, has his office on Seventh 
street, between Broadway and First 
avenue, and his residence on the corner of 
Mynster and North Eighth streets. He es- 
tablished his business in Council Bluffs in 
1867 and since that time has been actively 
engaged here. Some of the principal build- 
ings erected by him are the Ogden Hotel, 
Whitney Block, Everett Block, corner of 
Pearl street, Key Block, Earnsworth resi- 
dence. Champ's residence and J. J. Brown's 
residence, besides many others that might be 
cited. 

Mr. Battin was born in Columbiana 
County, Ohio, in 1833, son of Ezra and Ju- 
lina (Keith) Battin, natives of Pennsylvania, 
and Virginia, who came to Ohio while quite 
young. The paternal ancestors were Welsh 
and Irish and the maternal English. Vin- 
icent was reared in Ohio and educated in the 
public scliools of that State. He also learned 



the carpenter's trade in his native State. At 
the age of twenty he went to Indiana, and 
spent four years in Greensburgh; thence to 
Lawrence, Kansas, two years; thence to Col- 
orado, spending three years in Denver and 
the mines; thence to Idaho and Oregon, 
three years, working at his trade and mining. 
In 1867 he came to Council Bluffs, and since 
then has been an active and enterprising 
business man of this city. He employs an 
average of ten men the year round, his pay 
roll amounting to $6,000 annually. His 
annual business averages about $25,000. 
Politically Mr. Battin is an independent 
Republican. 

He was married in Idaho, in 1866, to Jen- 
nie Rogers, who was born in Illinois, in 
1843. Mr. Battin and his wife are worthy 
citizens of Council Bluffs and are favorites 
in society circles. 



'IIOMAS B. LACEY, M. D., of Coun- 
cil Bluffs, is one of the leading physi- 
cians of this city, where he located in 
March, 1876, and has been continually in 
practice since that date. He was born in 
New Milford, Connecticut, in 1853. His 
parents were Thomas and Rachel (Noble) 
Lacey. The family emigrated to Racine, 
Wisconsin, from New England, and thence 
to Chicago, in 1863. Both the father and 
the paternal grandfather of the subject of 
this sketch were physicians. The mother 
survives her husband, being still a resident 
of Chicago. The Doctor has but one sur- 
viving brother, Fred N., a resident of Chicago, 
who is connected with the Pullman Palace 
Car Company. He lost two brothers, Ar- 
thur at the age of twenty six years, and Ed- 
ward at the age of sixteen. He has one 
sister, Mrs. H. A. Summer, of Chicago. 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



435 



The Doctor received his literary education 
at Oberlin College, Ohio, and graduated at 
the Chicago Medical College in 1875. The 
Doctor was in practice at the Soldiers' Home 
in Milwankee for a year after graduation, but 
nearly all his professional life thus far has 
been spent in Council Bluffs. Doctor Lacey 
is a gentleman of culture, possessing excel- 
lent literary attainments, and is recognized as 
one of the leading physicians of western Iowa. 
He is at present Medical Director of the 
United States Masonic Benevolent Association 
of Council Bluffs. He was associated with 
Drs. Macrae and Thomas as a Board of Pen- 
sioning Examiners for a period of four years. 
The Doctor is a prominent Mason, having 
taken the higher decrees of that order. He 
has a son named Tliomas B., born October 
12, 1880. 



fOHN P. STUHK, one of the leading 
merchants of Mindeii, was born in Schles- 
wig, Germany, January 12, 1844. Sep- 
tember 12, 18tj2, he came to Davenport, Iowa, 
where he attended schoul until September G, 
1864, when he enlisted in Company B, 
Eighth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and served 
under General A. J. Smith. He fought in 
the two battles of Spanish Fort, Mobile, Fort 
Blakely, Alabama, at Island No. 13 against 
the famous Quantrell in 1864, and at Mem- 
phis, Tennessee. He was wounded in the 
knee by a bayonet at Island No. 13, in an 
encounter with Quantrell and the James boys, 
but was taken from the tield on a mule by a 
comrade. Previously he had a very narrow 
escape from these same guerrillas. With 
thirteen companions he was detailed from 
the picket boat Pocahontas by First Lieu- 
tenant John Nelson Gardner to Island No. 
10, to search for bushwhackers, rebels and 



cotton. This little command, under the lead- 
ership of Mr. Stuiir, landed on the island, and 
he pushed his way througii the dense cane, 
which grew twenty feet high, with liis hands 
for about one and a half miles at the head of 
the detail. The party finally came to a clear- 
ing of about forty acres, where a small cabin 
was found containing two men and two 
women, who wore badly frightened. Forcing 
them to stand in the corner, Mr. Stuhr and 
three companions, they having been separated 
from the rest in the dense cane, ate a scanty 
meal of baked beans and pork; then, ieavincr 
the people in the cabin, proceeded. In about 
four hours' travel they came upon another 
small cabin made of logs, and here Mr. 
Stuhr opened the door and found two small 
boys. Upon asking for food the boys replied 
that they had biscuits and molasses, and told 
the soldiers to help themselves. While eat- 
ing a shadow passed the window, and Mr. 
Stuhr ran out and called to the man to halt, 
and bringing him in the cabin made him 
stand in the corner. The prisoner, speaking 
in low German, asked if Mr. Stuhr was not 
a low German and came from Schleswig. 
Mr. Stuhr said that he was, and the prisoner 
asked why he was there; and on being an- 
swered that the party were from a steamer in 
the river and were searciiing for bushwackers 
and cotton, the prisoner replied that it was 
fortunate for them that they went no further, 
and said that a short distance away were 300 
guerrillas, and that by stepping to the door 
and whi8tlii]g they could be called at anv 
moment. Mr. Stuhr took him to the door 
and said, show me to their camping place, 
telling him that if lie whistled or made any 
sign, even if lie was a countryman, he would 
shoot him on the spot. They proceeded 
about 120 rods, and saw through the cane 
into another clearing about 300 yards away 
about 300 bushwackers amusing tiiemselves 



436 



BIOORAPHICAL HISTORY 



by jumping. Taking his prisoner with him 
and commanding silence at tiie peril of bis 
life, he retreated with his companions to the 
shore and found their steamer within hailing 
distance, and leaving their prisoner behind 
were soon safely on board. Had they not 
found the steamer they would have been 
forced to take the prisoner and little boys to 
Memphis. This is one of the most narrow 
escapes from hanging on record. The names 
of Mr. Stuhr's companions were: Charles 
Asherman, Christ Muhl and Gotfrled Man- 
bauver. 

While on duty at Memphis, Tennessee, in 
the slaughter-house, a Second Iowa Cavalry 
man, by the name of Christian, came in 
with an order for a fore-quarter of beef, and 
tried to force Mr. Stuhr to give him a hind 
quarter. Mr. Stuhr immediately placed his 
bayonet at ids breast, and the cavalryman 
gracefully retired with his fore-quarter. On 
a trip down the Mississippi on a steamer Mr. 
Stuhr and three companions captured two 
Confederate soldiers, a Captain and a Lieu- 
tenant, by the vigilance of Mr. Stuhr, who 
called attention to them. 

Mr. Stuhr came to Minden in 1875, and 
on Aucrust 1, 1881, lie bought the store of 
Bartlett & Co., and engaged in the general 
merchandise business, in which he has since 
continued. He has been Township Assessor 
in this county, also Road Supervisor in Scott 
County. Politically he is a Democrat, and 
socially a member of the Kniglitb of Pythias. 
He is one of the most popular jnen in Min- 
den, and has been recently elected by a large 
majority as the iirst Mayor of Minden, the 
town having been recently incorporated. He 
was also Fostinaster of that town four years, 
under Cleveland's administration. He is well- 
known as a sociable and enterprising mer- 
cliant. It can well be said of him that he 
has done as much toward building up Min- 



den as any other prominent man of the town. 
His son, Julius, a capable clerk in his father's 
store, was elected Recorder of the town at 
the same election. 

He was married in Davenport, Iowa, May 
26, 1866, to Amelia Cornelius, who was born 
in Germany, October 28, 1846, the daughter 
of Marcus and Anna (Muller) Cornelius, 
both natives of that country. Mr. and Mrs. 
Stuhr have six children: Alvina A., Julius, 
John M. R., Adelia H., William and Walter. 
They are both members of the Lutheran 
Church. Socially, Mr. Stuhr is a Knight of 
Pythias, and politically a Democrat. He is 
now the leading merchant and the Mayor of 
Minden, to which office he was elected by a 
large majority. 



•it* f 



BRAHAM HOOGEWONING, one of 
the prominent business men of Avoca, 
was born in Rysburg, Province of 
South Holland, March 24, 1851, the son of 
Peter Hoogewoning, a native of the same 
place. He was married in the same town, 
and was the father of tiVe children: Abra- 
ham, William, Catharina, Charles and John. 
He lived to the age of seventy-two years, and 
was killed by an accident on the railroad at 
Ottumwa, Iowa. He came to America in 
1868, and settled at Pella, Marion County, 
where he became a popular man. 

Abraham Hoogewoning, our subject, came 
to Pella, Iowa, when seventeen years of age, 
and eno-aired in farm work six months. He 
attended school one month and evening 
school two winters, and was at first placed 
with the small scholars on account of not un- 
derstanding the language, but his natural 
scholarship was such that after one day he 
was advanced to the higher classes. Decem- 
ber 31. 1876, he came to Avoca, and has 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



437 



since been engaged in the real-estate busi- 
ness, house renting and money lending. He 
was married in Des Moines, Iowa, January 
16, 1877, to Cornelia "Van De Peppel, young- 
est daughter of Cornelius and Mariya Van 
De Peppel, a native of Holland, and they 
are the parents of four children: Peter, Cor- 
nelius, Abraham and Henry. It is gratify- 
ing to note that while our subject began life 
as a vegetable peddler when a mere boy from 
thirteen to sixteen years of age, in the Hague, 
the capital of Holland, he has, by his own 
nnaided efforts and with great perseverance, 
become a reliable citizen. He has never 
been above earning an honest dollar in any 
legitimate manner, and it may well be said 
that he has come by his property honestly. 
It is needless to stale of Mr. Hoogewoning, 
that he is rated high in the commercial re- 
ports and that he is regarded as a straierht- 
forward and reliable man. He is also a man 
of excellent natural ability, and, as he is still 
a young man, should take a high rank in the 
future. Coming from Holland, England and 
Germany, and speaking foreign languages, 
he has, by his force of character alone, over- 
come obstacles which would have been insur- 
mountable by many others. 




~-*£-^«^^**-~^ 

llLLIAM U. BROWN, who owns 264 
acres of land on section 36, Garner 
Township, came to Pottawattamie 
County in 1862. He was born in Indiana, 
June 26, 1836, the son of John and Rachel 
(Peterson) Brown, the former a native of 
Kentucky, and the latter a descendant of old 
Virginia families. They were the parents of 
four children, three sons and one daucrliter. 
William R. was but a babe when his parents 
moved to Marion County, Indiana, about six 
miles south of Indianapolis, and at twelve 



years of age his mother removed to Cass 
County, Indiana, where he remained until 
our subject was matured, having passed his 
youth on a farm. At the age of nineteen 
years William R. came West, and arrived at 
Omaha on May 15, 1862, when it was but a 
small village of about 1,000 inhabitants. He 
first engaged in teaming, then in working a 
stone quarry, in which he bought an interest 
and remained two years. He then sold out 
and engaged in freighting to Denver, Col- 
orado, for one year; he then worked in a 
brick-yard one year; and then engaged in 
carpentering, a trade which he had followed 
in Indiana. In 1867 he went to work in 
the Union Pacific Railroad shops, where he 
remained until 1877, when he rented some 
land east of Fort Omaha, and engaged in 
farming one year. He next went on the 
Kunce place, now in Omaha, where he re- 
sided six years. Here he bought 160 acres 
of land near Fort Omaha, which he kept two 
and a half years, and then sold it at a good 
advance. He then returned to Des Moines, 
and bought a car-load of horses, which he 
sold, and bought the Scotield farm of lOOJ 
acres, which he owned nine months, and then 
sold at an advance of $40. Mr. Brown then 
purchased his present farm, in October, 1887, 
which was known as the Van Silver farm, or 
the White farm: it is well watered by Pony 
Creek, whicli flows through it. 

He was married in Warren County, Iowa, 
near Fort Hartford, in 1861, to Miss Mar- 
garet L. Lewin, who was born in the eastern 
part of Iowa, the daughter of Washington 
Lewin, who came to Omaha in 1856. They 
have five sous and four daughters, viz.: 
Charles, who is married and resides in Omaha; 
James, a commercial ti-aveler, residing in 
Galesburg, Illinois; Mary, wife J. K. Haz- 
zard, of Omaha: Albert, who resides in 
Omaha; Dolly, living at home; Nellie, Ben- 



4J8 



BIOGRAPniCAL HISTORT 



nie, Delphia, Salome and Oscar. They have 
lost five children by death in childhood. Po- 
litically Mr. Brown is a Republican; he is a 
member of the I. O. O. F., Council Bluffs 
Lodge, No. 49. 



fH. C. STUHR, one of the most prom- 
inent business men of Minden, was 
^ born in Holstein, Germany, February 
27, 1841, and was but sixteen years of age 
when he came to America. In 1857 he went 
to Davenport, Iowa, where he worked at the 
trade of stone mason and also at farm work; 
he was a weaver by trade in the old country. 
In 1861, after the three months' service men 
had returned, he enlisted in Company I, 
Twelfth Missouri Infantry, as a private. He 
had previously made several attempts to en- 
list, but failed owing to the eagerness to en- 
list in Iowa regiments. He missed the bat- 
tle of Pea Ridge, owing to sickness, and was 
in the hospital at St. Louis six weeks. He 
then returned to his regiment, and was on 
the march through Missouri, Arkansas and 
in many skirmishes. His first severe battle 
was at Vicksburg. He was next at P'ort 
Heintman, on the Little Red River; next at 
Looivout Mountain, where he captured thir- 
teen prisoners and afterward had charge of 
them; lie himself carried their arms. Tlien 
he was at the battle of Mission Ridge, and 
afterward at that of Ringgold, Georgia, and 
here his regiment met with severe loss in 
men and officers. He was also in the battle 
of Atlanta, Georgia, detailed as Orderly, and 
from there he went with Sherman on his 
famous march to the sea as far as Savannah, 
Georgia. He became a dispatcher for Gen- 
eral Osterhouse, and also served a short time 
under General John A. Logan as Orderly, 
and still has in his possession one of the Gen- 
eral's passes. He served altogether four 



years and five mouths, and was honorably 
discharged at St. Louis, Missouri, January 
15, 1866. Mr. Stuhr served three years as 
drummer in the old State militia, and at the 
battle of Lookout Mountain he served as bu- 
gler. At Ringgold, Georgia, when his Cap- 
tain, Joseph Ladegerber, was shot and 
mortally wounded, he was carried off the 
field by Mr. Stuhr and three companions, 
under a flank fire. He says that $10,000 
would not tempt him to take such a risk 
again. They took the Captain along the 
railroad over or^e and a half miles distant, 
and all the way the enemy poured a fierce 
fire at them. Throughout all his experience 
Mr. Stuhr received no wounds, but at one 
time his blanket was shot through without 
touching him. Thus our young soldier faced 
the Rebel bullets for his adapted country, 
and then resumed peaceful pursuits. 

Returning to Davenport, Iowa, he engaged 
in teaming, and the next year rented a farm 
in Scott County, where he resided until 1875, 
when he came to Pottawattamie County. 
Here, in company with J. Stamp, he pur- 
chased 205 acres in Pleasant Township and 
160 acres in Harrison County, but dissolved 
partnership in 1888. In 1887 he came to 
Minden, where he became business manager 
for John L. Daw & Co., in buying grain; 
this season he bought 60,000 bushels of bar- 
ley. Mr. Stuhr is a self-made man, having 
worked his way up from boyhood in a strange 
country, becoming first a soldier and defender 
of his country's rights, and is now an honor- 
able American citizen. Socially he is an 
Odd Fellow, and has held theofiices of Noble 
Grand and Treasurer. He is a member of 
the Dick Yates Post, G. A. It., at Shelby, 
Iowa. He is a man who is best known for 
his sterling qualities and integrity, and he is 
a credit to the sturdy German stock from 
which he came. 



OP POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTS. 



43d 



Mr. Stuhr was married October 6, 1866, 
to Eva Aron, and they are the parents of 
eight living children, namely: Emma, Will- 
iam, Mary, Clara, Katie, Matilda, Dora and 
Hannah. Mr. Stiilir's first wife died, and 
he was again married to Abel Linan, and by 
this marriage there are four children: Emil, 
Olga, Alma and Johnnie. 



IcfUOMAS E. CASADY, of the law 
firm of Burke & Casady, is one of the 
brightest among the young members 
of the bar. He was born at Council Bluffs, 
Iowa, April 27, 1868; attended the public 
schools of his native city until 1884, when 
he entered Parsons College at Fairfield, Iowa, 
where he graduated with honors June 6, 
1888, and immediately began the study of 
law in the office of Finley Burke, Esq., at 
Council Bhifl's. In September, 1888, he 
entered the law department of the Iowa State 
University and remained there until the pro- 
tracted illness of his father required his re- 
turn to Council Bluffs, wliere he continued 
his law studies with his former preceptor 
until, after thorough examination in open 
court by the Supreme Court of Iowa at its 
October (1890) terna, he was licensed as an 
attorney and counsellor of that court. 

Few, if any of the lawyers in Western 
Iowa have had better educational training 
than Mr. Casady, or taken deeper interest in 
scholastic matters. He is President of the 
Alumni Association of Parsons College and 
is recognized as one of the brightest men 
graduated at that well-known institution of 
learning. On account of his attainments he 
has received from Parsons the degree of 
Master of Science, conferred by that college 
on such of its graduates as have earned it. 
Mr. Casady is a man of high personal char- 

33 



acter and integrity, and enjoys the confidence 
of the people both on the score of ability and 
responsibility. He is possessed of a logical 
mind, studious habits, courteous bearing, an 
ability to talk well and to the point, good 
judgment and common sense and a fixed 
pride and determination to succeed in what 
he undertakes. He has a host of friends and 
is a favorite with all who know him. In 
politics he is a Democrat. 

He is the eldest son of Hon. J. P. Casady, 
one of the early settlers of Pottawattamie 
County and a member of the well-known 
Casady family whose names are interwoven 
with the history and legislation of the State. 

~-f*^>^^|^->~ 

fAMES M. BOLTON is ranked among 
the intelligent and well-known citizens 
of Washington Township, Pottawattamie 
('ounty, and resides in section 24. He was 
born in Botetourt^County, Virginia, Septem- 
ber 14, 1850, son of David and Martha 
(Fisher) Bolton, natives of Virginia. James 
was twelve years old when his parents moved 
to Cedar County, Iowa. The family lived 
there for many years, after which they came 
to Pottawattamie County. His parents are 
now residents of Wheeler, tiiis county. To 
them were born eleven children, James M. 
being the third. He was reared on a farm 
and educated in the public schools of Cedar 
County. He moved to Guthrie County, 
Iowa, and three years later to Grove Town- 
ship, Pottawattamie County. After residino- 
there several years he moved to Mapleton, 
Monona County, same State, where he en- 
gaged in the dairy business. In 1886 he re- 
turned to Pottawattamie County and bouCTht 
his present farm of A. B. Clark, who had 
partly improved the place. Here he has 
since made his home, having 160 acres of 



440 



I^tographioaL history 



land under a splendid state of cultivation. 
lie has a good two-story house, 18 x 26 feet, 
well located with a grove and orchard near 
by. His barn is 30 x 38 feet; Mr. Bolton 
is encrao-ed in general farinina; and stock- 
raising, and has met with success in his agri- 
cultural pursuits. He is an expert mechanic, 
and has invented two machines which he has 
liad patented. One, a four-row corn-planter, 
was patented September 14, 1885, and has 
proved to be a valuable machine, giving Mr. 
Bolton no little notoriety. The other, a wash- 
ing-machine, was patented in June, 1890, 
and is equally successful. It has six small 
rollers and one large fluted cylinder roller. 
It is considered the best machine in the 
county for practical use. 

When he was twenty years old Mr. Bolton 
was married to Sarah Anderson, a native of 
Miami County, Indiana, daughter of Charles 
and Elizabeth (Drake) Anderson. To them 
six sons have been born: Clyde, Herbert, 
Ilomei-, Roy, Harry and Grant. Their only 
daughter. Grade, is deceased. In his political 
views Mr. Bolton is a Republican. He is a 
member of the Farmers' Alliance. In all 
his business relations he is regarded as an 
honorable and upright man. 



fllOMAS J. JONES.— One of the 
YMk- honored and esteemed citizens and 
pioneers of Pottawattamie County, 
Iowa, is the gentleman whose name heads 
this sketch. He resides in section 9, Silver 
Creek Township. 

Mr. Jones is a native of the Old Domin- 
ion, having been born in Mason County, near 
the Ohio River, November 16, 1883. His 
father, Charles Jones, was born and reared 
in Monroe County, Virginia, and his grand- 
father, William Jones, was a native of Ire 



land, an intelligent and educated man, and a 
member of the Methodist Church. Mr. 
Jones' mother, Rhoda N. (Wright) Jones, 
was born in New York State, the daughter 
of Gad and Rhoda (North) Wright. Mr. 
Wright was born in the Empire State, and 
his wife was a native of Connecticut, a de- 
scendant of a prominent and wealthy family 
of that State. Charles Jones and wife were 
married in Mason County, Virginia, and 
when their son, Thomas J., the subject of 
this sketch, was three years old they removed 
to Union County, Indiana, where they re- 
mained two years. They then spent two 
years in Butler County, Ohio, after which 
they returned to Indiana and located in 
Decatur County. The father died there in 
July, 1882, at the age of seventy-six years. 
He was engaged in agricultural pursuits all 
his life, lie was a member of the Christian 
Church, and in politics cast his vote with the 
Whigs. He supported General Fremont 
when he was a candidate for the presidency, 
as also did his son, Thomas J. To Cliarles 
Jones and wife thirteen children were born, 
six of whom are living. Three daughters 
are in Indiana and two are in Nebraska. 
The mother lives with her son in this county, 
and at this writing has reached the advanced 
age of eighty- two years. 

Tliomas J. Jones was reared on a farm in 
Decatur County, Indiana, and while he was 
taught to chop wood, grub and clear land, he 
also learned lessons of honesty and frugality, 
all of which have served him well in after 
life. He was married in September, 1858, 
to Miss Ann Elizabeth Clark, a native of 
Decatur County, Indiana, who was reared 
and educated there. Her father, William 
Clark, also a native of Indiana, was a son of 
Joseph Clark, a Kentuckian, and her mother, 
nee Ritty Jane Menefee, was born in Ken- 
tucky, daughter of Larkin Menefee, also a 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



441 



native of Kentucky. Her parents now live 
in Decatur County, Indiana, the fatlier being 
seventy-eight and the mother seventy-four 
years of age. They reared three children, 
two of whom are living: Mrs. Jones and her 
brother, Thomas J. of Indiana. In 1872 
Mr. Jones came to Pottawattamie County, 
Iowa, and bought a farm of 160 acres of wild 
land wiiere he now resides. This he has 
improved in a good manner; has a comfort- 
able cottage home surrounded by a fine grove 
and orchard. His farm is watered l)y springs 
and is well adapted for general farming and 
stock-raising. All the farm conveniences — 
stables, cribs, feed lots and fences — show 
thrift and prosperit}'. 

Mr. and Mrs. Jones have three childi-en as 
follows: Martha Jane, wifeof Orlandu HamiU 
ton, of Washington Township, has seven 
childreti; Elnora, wife of William Shelton, 
of Pottawattamie County, has three children, 
and Rlioda, wife of Angus McKenzie, of 
Silver Creek Township, has two children. 
One son, William Clark, is deceased. Mr. 
Jones is a Republican. He and his wife are 
members of the Christian Church. 



i-SmJ-. 



K. PARKER is one of the prominent 
citizens and successful stock men of 
** Pottawattamie County, Iowa, where he 
has lived since 1869, and where he has been 
an important factor for good in the com- 
munity'. 

Mr. Parker was born in Clark County, Ohio, 
October 7, 18-44. His father, Emery Parker, 
was born in New York State, the son of 
David Parker; and his mother, whose maiden 
name was Delopha Bailey, was born in New 
Hampshire. The Baileys were an old New 
England family. Mr. and Mrs. Parker were 
married in Clark County, Ohio, and when 



D. K. was four years old the family moved 
to Putnam County, Illinois. Some time 
later they located in Henry County, same 
State, where the father died at the age of 
sixty-three years, and the mother at the age 
of sixty-four. Mr. Parker was in the boot 
and shoe business until the latter part of his 
life; then he was on the farm until death. 
His vote and influence were cast with the 
Democratic party. Of the seven children 
born to this worthy couple, the subject of 
our sketch was the fourth. He was reared 
on a farm and educated in the common 
schools. 

Mr. Parker was engaged in ag-ricultural 
pursuits in Illinois until 1869. In that year 
he came to Pottawattamie County, Iowa, and 
and bought land in section 25, Waveland 
Township. After making some improve- 
ments on it he sold the property and bought 
160 acres where he now lives, in section 16. 
The soil had been broken, but there were no 
buildings on the land. Mr. Parker has im- 
proved this farm, and has added to it by other 
purchases until he is now the owner of 400 
acres of as rich land as can be found in Iowa. 
His first house was a small frame one, 16 x 20 
feet. This with other additions was burned 
down in 1886, and the next year was replaced 
by a more modern home. This is one of the 
best farm residences in the eastern part of 
the county, is built on a rock foundation, has 
bay window and porches, and was erected at 
a cost of $3,000. It is beautifully located 
and the lawn which surrounds it is dotted 
over with flowering shrubs and ornamental 
trees. Mr. Parker has a grove and orchard 
of four acres. His barn is 36 x 50 feet, and 
his other improvements, wind-mill, sheds for 
stock, fences, etc., are all of a substantial 
character. 

In Henry County, Illinois, May 4, 1869, 
Mr. Parker married Miss Lucretia Bollen, 



443 



BIOGRAPHICAL UISTOnr 



who has since been the sharer of his joys and 
sorrows. She was born in Henry Connty, 
Illinois, April 20, 1849, daughter of John 
and Permelia BoUen. Mr. and Mrs. Parker 
have four children: Alfred L., Ethel Pearl, 
Lewis Elmer and Coral Evelyn. They lost 
one child, Effie Permelia, who died at the age 
of thirteen months. Mr. Parker is a Repub- 
lican; has served as Township Trustee and as 
Treasurer of the School Board for twelve 
years. He is a member of the Masonic 
fraternity, Cass Lodge, No. 412. He is well 
posted on the general topics of the day, is 
broad and progressive in his views, and is a 
friend to both education and religion. He 
is a member of the Church of Christ of 
Waveland Township, to which he gives his 
liberal and earnest support. 



- l ' l *< \ ' l" ^ 

S. BARNETT was born in New Haven, 
Connecticut, January 14, 1833, son of 
I* Willis and Eosetta (Smith) Barnett, 
natives of Connecticut, of English and Scotch 
oricrin. The mother died in New Haven 
in March, 1855, and the father died in 1871, 
at the age of seventy-one years. 

Mr. Barnett was reared in his native State 
and remained there until 1857, when he came 
to Iowa. He was educated in the public 
schools and attended an academy one term. 
During his youth he took up the edge-tool 
trade, receiving instructions from a thorough 
mechanic and following that trade for a time. 
After coming to Iowa he turned his attention 
to blacksmithiug, which he engaged in for a 
number of years, in fact, until about 1876, 
when he suffered a partial paralysis of his 
right arm, and was forced to give up his 
trade. In 1878 he was appointed deputy 
revenue collector, in which capacity he served 
seven years. In 1886 he was elected Justice 



of the Peace, and was re-elected in 1888. 
Politically he is a Repulilican, and is one of 
the active members of tliat party. He has 
held the office of Street Commissioner. Mr. 
Barnett came to Pottawattamie County in 
1866, and has been a resident of this county 
since that time. He is one of the leading citi- 
zens of Council Bluffs, and an active worker 
in anything that tends to the public good. 

He was married, in New Haven. Con- 
necticut, May 30, 1854, to Sarah A. Jacob-^, 
a native of that State, and a dauiihter of 
Enoch and Sarah (Brown) Jacobs', who were 
of French descent. Mr. and Mrs. Barnett 
are the parents of two children: Lena, wife of 
Jonathan Chase, of Weeping Water, Nebrat?- 
ka; and Catharine, wife of F. H. Young, 
of Durango, Colorado. The family are mem- 
bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church, Mr. 
Barnett having been associated with the 
church since he was nineteen years old. He 
is now treasurer of the church board and 
also a steward. Mr. Barnett is a member of 
the I. O. O. F., Hawkeye Lodge, No. 184, 
and of the 1. O. G. T. 



LTGUST BOSTEDT, one of the Com- 
missioners of Pottawattamio County, 
was born in Barmstedt, Germany, July 
8, 1859, a son of J. Bostedt, who was a well- 
to-do farmer of that place. He was the father 
of fourteen children, twelve of whom are now 
living, namely: August, William and Lizzie, 
are now citizens of Pottawattamie County ; 
John, Lona, Fred, Katie, Henry, and Ernest 
are the children by his first wife; by his sec- 
ond wife there are William, August, Lizzie, 
Emma, Helen and Frederick. Their mother's 
maiden name was Mary Morris. The father 
died August 16, 1882, at the age of eighty- 
two vears. 



OF POrTAWATTAillB COUNTY. 



443 



III 1880. at the agn of twenty years, Au- 
gust Bostedt ca'ne to America, and after 
landing in New Yurk came direct to Minden, 
Iowa, where he began worii at the carpenter's 
trade, which he had learned in the old coun- 
try. Politically Mr. Bostedt is a Democrat, 
and has taken an active part in political mat- 
ters. He was elected Constable and served 
four 3'ears, and in 1889 was elected County 
Commissioner by the large majority of 1,300 
votes, which office he is still holding, to the 
general acceptance of the people. Since July 
4, 1890, he has built thirty-six bridges, which 
had been washed away by the floods of June^ 
1890, and which is an astonishing number 
for such a short time. Mr. Bostedt has the 
confidence and respect of the people on ftc- 
count of his sterling honesty and a desire to 
do what is right. He is descended from the 
sturdy old German stock, who have helped to 
build up America. He is a lover of good 
books, and a believer in self-education and 
cultivation. He was married April 23, 
1887, to Mary Goethje, a daughter of Christ 
Goethje, and they have one child, Minnie. 

-. .^ . 2 .. I . |. ...~ 



fOHN T. BALDWIN was born October 
12, 1820, Washington Comity, in the 
State of Pennsylvania, and died in Coun- 
cil Bluffs, Iowa, on January 30, 1890. While 
his education was not what is termed liberal, 
yet he was a man of extensive observation, 
a great reader, possessed of strong intellec- 
tual powers, which he so thoroughly devel- 
oped that he was at all times enabled to sue- 
fully cope with the best minds that he came 
in contact with. Having large practical ex- 
perience in business, a sound judgment, 
coupled with good common sense, he mingled 
largely with men of affairs, both in the State 
and in the Nation, and became himself pre- 



eminently a man of affair^ and one of the 
leading and most influential men of Iowa, his 
adopted State. 

About the time that he attained his major- 
ity he engaged in mercantile pursuits in the 
village of Washington, Pennsylvania, and in 
the year 1844 removed to Fairfield, Iowa. 
In 1853 Mr. Baldwin closed out his business 
interests in eastern Iowa and removed to 
Council Bluffs, where he resumed his mer- 
cantile pursuits. In 1856 he established a 
land agency in Council Bluffs and also en- 
gaged in banking. While so engaged in 
banking and land agency from 1856 to 1869, 
he was associated with General G. M. Dodge, 
under the firm name of Baldwin & Dod^e. 
In 1869 he organized the Pacific National 
Bank, and became a director and vice-presi- 
dent of the same. In March, 1877, as prin- 
cipal owner he organized the Broadway 
Street Railway Company and constructed and 
operated in Council Bluffs the first street rail- 
way, running the same to the Union Pacific 
Railway depot, the Chicago, Burlington & 
Qiiincy Railroad depot and to other portions 
of the city. 

In 1854 he was elected a member of the 
State Legislature on the Republican ticket. 
He discharged his duties with ability, and 
was ever faithful to the trusts committed to 
his charge. As a member of the Legislature 
of Iowa he was active and attentive to his 
duties and diligent in performing them. He 
was watchful in protecting the rights and pro- 
moting the interests of the people he repre- 
sented, lie was possessed of much and 
varied knowledge, which he was always ready 
to use in promoting the prosperity and wel- 
fare of his adopted State. When Council 
Bluffs first became incorporated he was elected 
a meml)er of the City Council, and in March, 
1877, he was elected to the office of Mayor. 
In 1876 he was sent as a delegate to the 



44-1 



BIOORAPHICAL UISTORY 



National Republican Convention held in 
Cincinnati, Ohio. No man could be more 
devoted to a city than he was to the city of 
Council Bluffs, and no man who ever lived 
in the city did as much for it as did Mr. 
Baldwin. He was ever watchful of its inter- 
ests, rights and honors, and when in office 
served the city faithfully. He experienced 
great pleasure in contemplating its growth 
of population and industries. Coming to 
Council Bluffs when it had a population of 
less than 5,000, he witnessed its slow but 
sure growth into a city of 35,000. He also 
took a deep interest in the western section of 
our country — in the advancement of its civil- 
ization and the development of its material 
interest. He was in all respects a splendid 
type of a western man. He was energetic, 
enterprising, industrious and self-reliant. 

Mr. Baldwin was married in August, 
1843, to Miss Jane Hunter, of Washington, 
Pennsylvania, and by her had three daugh- 
ters. In private life he was a genial and 
agreeable companion, a warm and sincere 
friend. No man could hear him talk as he 
often did of his mother, wife and children 
without being impressed that he was an 
affectionate son, husband and father. 

S ' i"t ' S" "" ~ 



j,.^^R. J. W. NDSUM, of Crescent City, 
was born in Greene County, Pennsyl- 
vania, December 19, 1848. His father, 
George G., was born in Virginia, September 
2, 1822, a son of Silas and Charlotte (Frost) 
Nusum. Mr. Silas Nusum was a native of 
Virginia, and served in the battle of Novem- 
ber 4, 1791, under General Arthur St. Clair; 
was taken to Ohio, where he was in the mas- 
sacre or defeat at Fort Recovery, in which 
seven men were taken captives. He and a 
man named George Gallagher narrowly es- 



caped from being burned alive at the stake. 
Gallagher first broke loose and then set Mr. 
Nusum free, and they then fought for their 
lives. They were, however, held captive for 
three years, and one day when, at Hanging 
Rock, Ohio, they were making their escape, 
Gallagher fell from the rocks and broke his 
hip; but he hid among the rocks on the 
banks of the Ohio River. Nusum swam the 
river and escaped, the Indians being in hot 
pursuit. After night he swam the river back 
to where Gallagher was, made a raft of some 
logs, put him upon it and paddled him over 
to the other side, and thus succeeded in sav- 
ing his life. He then carried him for three 
days before finding medical aid. He re- 
covered and entered the practice of law, 
while Nusum went into the mercantile busi- 
ness, which he followed until he died in 
1847. 

Mr. George Nusum, brought up in the 
mercantile business in Morgantown, Virginia, 
following his father in that line, moved in 
his twentieth year to Freeport, Pennsylvania. 
He continued in merchandising from 1842 
to 1853, when he came direct to Colesburg, 
Delaware County, Iowa, and was there en- 
gaged in merchandising and teaming for ten 
years. He then sold out all his interests 
there, moved to Des Moines, entered general 
merchandising again and so continued tor 
about ten years longer. In 1862 he ex- 
changed his property and business for 440 
acres of land in Warren County, six miles 
west of Indianola, and engaged in fanning 
and stock-raising. In live-stock he dealt ex- 
tensively, shipping largely. The land had 
but poor improvements upon it when he first 
occupied it, but is now well equipped and in 
a fine condition. There are at present 620 
acres in the tract; it is an immense stock 
farm. 

In 1844, in Waynesburg, Pennsylvania, he 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



445 



married Eliza Kimball, who was born in 
Greene Cuinitj, Pennsylvania, June 8, 1825. 
and they became the parents of seven chil 
dren, the subject of tliis sketch being the 
second. He was reared to mercantile life 
also, but in his twenty-second year, in 1870, 
he started out for himself, and about this 
tiine, February 1, 1872, he was married to 
Miss Emma Armf trong, of St. Charles, Iowa. 
Next year he began reading medicine, under 
the instruction of Dr. Grimes, of Des 
Moines, who had been a surgeon in tlie late 
war, and is well-known as a skillful practi- 
tioner in Council Bluffs, where he followed 
iiis profession for several years. After study- 
ing in his office three years. Dr. Nusuni 
alternated between the office and Rush Medi- 
cal College, Chicago, for about two years 
longer; then for another two years, from 
December, 1876, he was in partnership with 
Dr. James Wakefield at Spring Hill, Warren 
County. He arrived at Crescent City De- 
cember 4, 1878, bought property and opened 
practice. Taking great pride in iiis profes- 
sion, he has an extensive and good paying 
patronage, even in Florence, Omaha, Council 
Bluffs, Missouri Valley and the surrounding 
country. He makes a specialty of eye and 
throat diseases; has saved many cases given 
up by other physicians. 

He is a member of the M. P. Society, of 
Crescent City, in which he has held difFei'ent 
offices. Is also a member of Lodge No. 49, 
I. O. O. F., of Bloomington, Illinois. Is an 
exemplary and enterprising citizen. He is a 
well-settled Democrat, and has held about all 
the offices of his township. Is also a mem- 
ber of a library association. Mrs. Nusnm 
belongs to the Presbyterian Church of Hazel 
Dell. Their children are: George G., who 
was born in St. Mary's, Warren County, Iowa, 
February 10, 1873; Maggie E., born at 
Spring Hill, April 14, 1878; Ivy L., born at 



Crescent City, Decemljer 5, 1881; and Vernie, 
born in Crescent City, May 27, 1890. 



fl ' ■ 1 * * I « ^^^ * * 

(ft * * OJ 



J. STEPHENSON, City Clerk and 
Clerk of the Superior Court of Coun- 
",5^0 cil Bluffs, is a native of Jackson 
County, Ohio, born in 1831, son of AndreAv 
and Elizabeth (McGee) Stephenson, of Vir- 
ginia and North Carolina. His parents were 
of English and Scotch ancestry. Both are 
deceased, his father having died when A. J. 
was a small child. Mr. Stephenson was 
about eleven years old when he left Ohio and 
went to Indiana with an uncle. He was 
reared on a farm and educated in the public 
schools of that State. At sixteen he started 
out for himself, remaining in Indiana and be- 
ing variously employed for a number of years. 
He Urst clerked in a dry-goods store, then 
tor four years was employed in a railroad 
office in Elkhart. At the end of that time 
he invested his earnings in a stock of creneral 
merchandise and opened a store at Leesburgh. 
Fi-om there lie removed to Warsaw, where he 
continued his business for several years. 
While at Leesburgh he was married, in 1856 
to Miss Eliza Felkner, a native of Indiana. 

In 1868 Mr. Stephenson sold his businesp 
at Warsaw, left Indiana, and came to Coun- 
cil Bluff, Iowa, where he engaged in the 
liardware business. When the panic of 1873 
came on he met with heavy losses and dis- 
continued business. After that he was em- 
ployed for five years in the interest of the 
Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad. 
Then he opened an office of his own in the 
real-estate line, and in this he has since been 
engaged, and continues to do a realty busi- 
ness although Clerk of the city. Mr. Steph- 
henson affiliates with the Republican party, 
being a hearty supporter of the same. 



446 



BIOGRAPHICAL UISTORT 



He and bis wife are the patents of five 
eliildren: Yictor, at home, a telegrapher; 
Lulu, wife of M. E. Meader, of Gosben, In- 
diana; Chester F., a graduate of Iowa City 
Law echool, is now in a real-estate office in 
Goshen, Indiana; Mary J. and Ada E., at 
home. 



fINLEY ADAMS BURKE, deceased, 
was one of the most highly respected 
citizens of Coancil fjUift's. Coming to 
Pottawattamie County in 1856, when West- 
ern Iowa was sparsely settled, he became a 
prominent factor in the growth and develop- 
ment of both city and county. His father 
(who was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylva- 
nia) fought under General Lee, in the Vir- 
ginia line in the war of the Revolution. His 
mother's maiden name was Adams, and her 
mother's was Finley. Both of these ladies 
were Scotch, and the family names were re- 
tained in naming the subject of this sketch. 
Finley A. Burke was born at Moiionga- 
liela, July 17, 1815, and died at Council 
Bluifs, June 3, 1889. He spent his youth 
in attending school at the academy located 
at that time at Monongahela. In early man- 
hood he became owner of boats plying the 
Ohio and other rivers and acted for years as 
steam^boat captain on the Ohio. In the lat- 
ter capacity he visited Burlington, Iowa, by 
boat, as early as 1840. Quitting the river 
he was elected City Collector of the city of 
Wheeling, Virginia (now West Virginia), 
which he resigned in 1856 to come to Iowa. 
Pie moved to Pottawattamie County in 1856, 
taking up lands in what is now Washington 
Township, and in 1860 he removed to Coun- 
cil Bluffs. 

In 1869 he was elected to the office of City 
Recorder and Police Judge. To this office 



he was elected ten terms in succession, and 
after resting one year was re-e!ected for two 
more terms. By the abolition of the special 
charter of Council Bluffs, the office above 
mentioned was abolished, and under the gen- 
eral charter he was elected City Auditor, con- 
tinuing as such until his election to the office 
of City Clerk and Clerk of the Superior Court, 
which office he held until March 1, 1889. 

He joined the Independent Order of Odd 
Fellows when a young man, and was very de- 
voted to the order and its teachings during 
all his long residence in Council Bluifs. He 
was a charter member of the Twin Brothers 
Encampment of Odd Fellows and had re- 
ceived many high honors at the hands of that 
fraternity. He retained through life and 
still retains the respect and admiration of 
this large fraternity. 

Mr. Burke was twice married, the chil- 
dren by his first wife being: William S., Eliz- 
abeth J., Isabel and Hugh M. Burke. Eliz- 
abeth J., Mrs. T. W. Harl, died at St. Joseph, 
Missouri, in 1888. Isabel, Mrs. W. P. 
White, died at Kansas City, Octoljer 5, 1890. 
William S., now at Albuquerque, New Mex- 
ico, was the founder of the Council Blutfs 
Nonpareil, it being called the Chronotype, 
before he acquired it. Hugh M. is a well- 
known writer and editor at San Francisco, 
California. August 4, 1849, Judge Burke 
was married to Margaret McMillen, who sur- 
vives him. Their children are Mary E. (de- 
ceased; Emma E., the wife of J. F. Brod- 
beck, Esq.; Finley, Virginia (deceased), Ed- 
mund H., George A., John P. and Ambrose. 

Judge Burke was one of the most popular 
men in Council Bluffs. As a companion, he 
was sociable and agreeable, and few could 
equal him as a raconteur of humorous anec- 
dotes or in making short speeches on social 
occasions. As a neigiibor he was respected 
and beloved. As an officer he was industri- 




^:d^ 





OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



447 



ous and correct, performing while City Re- 
corder the combined duties now performed 
by City Auditor and City Clerk, besides 
judicial duties, and all this without deputy, 
where several are now employed. As a 
Judge, he was noted for fairness, honesty 
and common sense. His overwhelming ma- 
jorities at elections were matters of com- 
ment, especially as he was often to be found 
hard at work at his office while his political 
opponents were out in the held at work. This 
is explained l)y the fact that ail the electioneer- 
ing done by him was done by rigid attention 
to duty the year around, and by his universal 
courtesy and kindness to all. 

Indeed it was part of his nature to sympa- 
thize with his fellow-men and to perform 
kindly acts of friendship for rich and poor 
alike, and his death was mourned by people 
of every rank and class. 

In politics he was a Republican, but never 
allowed his party feeling to lead to personal 
animosities, and he commanded the continual 
respect and confidence of his fellow-towns- 
men of every party, it happening several 
times that his nomination was ratified by the 
Democrats and also by independent move- 
ments in addition to the Republican nomina- 
tion. For over twenty years he lived in the 
eye of the public where every act of a man's 
life, both public and private, is open to in- 
spection and criticism, and yet left to his 
family not an accumulation of riches, but, 
what is far more valuable, a name without a 
blemish or taint of dishonor. 



•H^-^y^ 






SINLEY BURKE, the senior member of 
the well-known law firm of Bnrke 
& Casady, of Council Bluffs, Iowa, 
is pre-eminently a lawyer. The distinguish- 
ing qualities of men who have achieved 



success in any vocation are patient industry 
and the determination to win. When to this 
is added unswerving integrity and mental 
vigor you have the measure for a man who 
will honor his name and his profession. The 
most cursory glance at the character of Fin- 
ley Burke will indicate the presence of these 
dominating qualities. A little delving around 
the roots of his genealogical tree shows that 
he comes of a stock that is noted far these 
characteristics. He was born September 1, 
1855, at Wheeling, Virginia, now West Vir- 
ginia. His father was Finley Adams Burke, 
a sketch of whom is given just preceding 
this, containing also the family record on 
his father's side. The maiden name of his 
mother was Margai-et McMillen. She was 
born in a stone farm house in Maryland, not 
far from Baltimore. Her father was John 
McMillen, son of George McMillen and 
grandson of James McMillen, who came to 
this country about the time of the Revolu- 
tion and settled in York County, Pennsylvania. 
This James McMillen, son of Francis McMil- 
len, came from Wigtonshire, Scotland, and 
was heir to the manor of Dunragget, situated 
about twenty-five miles from Wigton, the 
shire town, about five miles east of Port Pat- 
rick. Becoming comfortably fixed in the 
New World, he remained and founded the 
McMillen family of Y^ork County, Pennsyl- 
vania. Her mother's name was Ewincj, and 
she was a Scotch lady. It will thus be seen 
that Mr. Burke is of the rugged Scotch-Irish 
ancestry that insures physical vigor and good 
digestion, foundations that give additional 
sti'ength to a stubborn and determined char- 
acter. This ancestry has been thoroughly 
Americanized from thedaysof the Revolution, 
his grandfather Burke, born in Philadelphia, 
having fought under General Lee in the Vir- 
ginia line during the war for independence. 
Mr. Burke's father moved with his family 



448 



BIOGRAPHICAL RISTOBF 



from Virginia to Pottawattamie County, 
Iowa, in 1856, and settled in Washington 
Tuwnsiiip. In 1860 the family removed to 
Council Bluffs, which was then a sprightly 
village, and young Burke lost no time in 
availing himself of tiie benefits of the public 
schools, where his time was spent until 1873, 
when he graduated with credit. 

Mr. Burke, having early in life selected 
the law as his cliosen pursuit, has never per- 
mitted himself to stray off iiito politics or 
business, but has acted on the belief that 
there is more honor and dignity in the name 
and fame of an honest and able lawyer than 
in the highest otlice in the gift of the people. 
He is recognized as one of the leaders of the 
bar in Western Iowa, having had an active 
practice of sixteen years; and his name in- 
voluntarily springs to the lips when inquiry 
is made for a sturdy, persistent and capable 
lawyer to handle large and important in- 
terests. He staited in practice with the 
creed that a lawyer should stay by his client 
"through thick and thin" without thought 
of himself or eonsidei'ation of self-interest; 
and the knowledge of this characteristic and 
his well-known pugnacity, determination and 
ability, has frequently caused him to be called 
to the defense of public interests in the 
courts. The city has been quick to give him 
a retainer whenever an important suit lias 
arisen where public interests were in jeopardy, 
and the fact is something more than signifi- 
cant that in no case where he has been re- 
tained has the city lost. 

Mr. Burke was licensed on November 16, 
1874, after thorough examination in open 
court before Hon. J. R. Reed and an able 
committee of the bar, and at once began 
practice, at the early age of nineteen years. 
For some time he enjoyed the distinction of 
being the youngest lawyer in Iowa. Here in 
the town of his childhood, before the age of 



twenty-five, he had distinguished himself in 
a number of cases. 

In June, 1877, he was united in marriage 
with Miss Lizzie Casady, eldest daughter of 
Mr. and Mrs. S. H. Casady. Miss Casady 
was the first child born in Sioux City. Her 
father was one of the founders of that city, 
and was a man of prominence in that part of 
tlie State. She was a lady of rare gifts, but 
an invalid, and after a protracted illness of 
over a year she passed away, in July, 1877. 

In the early spring of 1881, on account of 
ill-health, Mr. Burke removed to the county 
seat of Sioux County, Iowa, — Orange City, — 
where he soon became recognized as the lead- 
ing lawyer in that region, and enjoyed a large 
and Inci-ative practice, calling him into the 
neighboring counties and into Dakota. In 
the six years of Mr. Burke's residence in 
Sioux County he tried more contested suits 
than any other lawyer in the county, and 
during the first five years, although employed 
constantly, he did not lose a single case. 
This most remarkable record was attributed 
largely to his peculiar care in refusing to 
counsel or maintain cases which seemed to 
him to be unsound and lacking in merit, and 
his straightforward, fair way of presenting 
facts to a jury, coupled with thorough prepa- 
ration. Having thoroughly re-established 
his naturally robust health, and having out- 
grown the field of his practice, Mr. Burke 
returned in February, 1887, to his old home 
at Council Bluffs, and at once took front rank 
at the bar, having been employed in almost 
every important suit in the courts since his 
return. He practices in the highest courts, 
being a regular member of the bar of the Su- 
preme Court of the United States at Wash- 
ington, District of Columbia. His love for 
the profession, which is a distinguishing 
trait, has led him to take a deep interest in 
all that makes for improvement in the laws. 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



449 



Mr. Burke is the only lawyer in Western 
Iowa who has been admitted to member- 
ship in the American Bar Association, which 
counts among its members the most noted 
lawyers from every part of the Union, who 
meet annually " to advance the science of 
jurisprudence, promote tlie administration of 
justice and uniformity of legislation through- 
out the Union, uphold the honor of the pro- 
fession of the law and encouraije cordial 
intercourse among the members of the Ameri- 
can Bar." 

Another fact worthy of mention is that Mr. 
Burke has fought his way, unaided, to the 
front rank, and tiiis battling against opposi- 
tion has given him self-reliance, will-power 
and prudence and that training in economics 
wliicii makes a successful l)usiness man. 
This in turn gives a business-like cast to his 
practice, and appreciating fully the practical 
bearings of litigation he uses good common 
sense and business judgment in the affairs of 
his clients. His knowledge of men and their 
motives and his readiness to see and avail 
himself of any error in the policy or plan 
pursued by his adversary enables him to cope 
with the ablest campaigner in diplomacy, 
negotiation, or at the bar. In practice be- 
fore courts and juries his distinguishing traits 
are clearness, force, earnestness and direct- 
ness in getting at the real point in dispute, 
coupled witli the fact that before going into 
the contest he has convinced himself of the 
correctness of his position, carrying into the 
court-room a zeal which can not be simulated. 
in consultation his advice is practical and 
business-like, and always on the side of avoid- 
ing litigation wliere it can be done with jus- 
tice to his clients; but when the obstinacy or 
unfairness of his adversary thwarts a fair 
adjustment he becomes thoroughly aroused 
and enlisted for the fight. 

Mr. Burke has to a remarkable degree the 



confidence of all who have to do with ques- 
tions of title and real-estate law, many of the 
most careful buyers refusing to close im- 
portant purchases without the stamp of his 
opinion on the title. 

In his domestic life Mr. Burke is very 
happy, and his love of home is attested by 
the building of one of the handsomest resi- 
dences in the city. 

On February 14, 1882, Mr. Burke married 
Miss Barthenia V. Jetteris, daughter of Dr. 
and Mrs. Thouias Jetieris, who are well 
known and numbered among the old citizens. 
She graduated from the public schools of 
Council Bluffs and afterward Ijecame one of 
the most successful teachers. She is a lady 
of rare good sense and social attainments. 
They have two children: Master Tom, who 
was born in July, 1885, and a boy born Feb- 
ruary 25, 1891. 

Mr. Burke, altiiougli not connected with 
any religous denomination, is a believer in 
the cardinal trutiis of the Christian religion. 



\(m. WILLIAM GKONEWEG, of the 
firm of Gronewegit Sclioentgen, whole- 
sale grocers, has been identified with 
the interests of Council Bluff's since 1861. 
He is a native of Germauy, born in the Prov- 
ince of Hanover, July 24, 1838, a son of 
William H. and Caroline (Behning) Grone- 
weg, natives of the same place. After leav- 
ing school Mr. Groneweg engaged in the 
mercantile business for five years in his 
native country as an apprentice. In 1859 he 
emigrated to America, first locating in Cin- 
cinnati, Ohio, where he was employed as 
clerk until he came to Council Bluffs in 1861, 
and engaged in the grocery business on 
Broadway, where he built up a lucrative pat- 
ronage, lie continued in the retail trade 



450 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY 



successfully until 1878, when he formed his 
present partnership. He was elected as a 
member of the Board of Supervisors for Jan- 
uary 1, 1869, servinf^ two years. lie was 
City Treasurer for two terms from 1872, and 
was nominated as Auditor on the Democratic 
ticket in 1876, but tlie State being about 
10,000 Kepublican majority he was defeated. 
He was a member of the School Board for 
three years, and in the fall of 1886 was 
elected Mayor by a special election to fill the 
vacancy of John W. Chapman, which posi- 
tion he resigned, to take effect January 1, 
1888. lie was elected as State Senator for 
the term commencing January 1, 1888, which 
position he tilled with honor to himself and 
credit to his constituents, and is the present 
incumbent. 

Mr. (TToneweg was married in 1864: to 
Miss Catherine Lewzinger, who came to this 
country when tive years of age with his par- 
ents. They settled in Highland, Illinois, 
and cam'e to Council Bluffs in 1869. Mr. 
and Mrs. Groneweg have seven children, 
namely: George, Katie, Hattie, Nattie, Her- 
man, Richard and John. Mr. Groneweg is 
a member of the A. F. & A. M., Council 
Bluffs Lodge, No. 71; and of the R. A. M., 
chapter No. 47. Politically he affiliates with 
the Democratic party, but previous to 1872 
was a Republican. 

fHOMAS A. PILLING, of Garner 

Township, section 4, is one of the en- 
"^ terprising and well-known citizens of 
the township. He has been a resident of 
this county since June, 1856. He was born 
in Lancashire, at Berry, a large manufactur- 
ing town of England, April 23, 1854, the son 
of Ashton and Mary (Ilowarth) Pilling. The 
parents were born and reared in Lancashire, 



and on April 23, 1856, when Thomas was 
but two years old, and with two other chil- 
dren, Elizabeth and Mary, they started for 
Kanesville, now Council Bluffs. They landed 
at Castle Garden, New York, and came across 
the State of New York by canal, then by the 
lakes to Cleveland, Ohio, then across Ohio 
by canal to Cincinnati, then down the Ohio 
River and up the great rivers to Kanes- 
ville, where the family settled. The father 
was a spinner and weaver by trade, but while 
in Council Bluffs he engaged in well-digging, 
as it was a good-payi!ig business. He was 
the tirst to follow well-digging as a trade in 
Council Bluffs. The father lived in this 
place until his death, which occurred in 1867 
or 1868; the mother died in 1861. 

Thomas A., our subject, by the death of 
his father, at the tender age of twelve years, 
was thrown upon his own resources. First 
he was chore boy in a store, next he was em- 
ployed by a gardener, and tinally he settled 
on the land where he now resides January 15, 
1880, of which forty or tifty acres were im- 
pi'oved, and on which was a small frame 
house. Here Mr. Pilling has since resided; 
he now owns 200 acres of land, all in a l)ody, 
and which is well improved. He is engaged 
in farming and general stock-raising. 

In his political principles Mr. Pilling is a 
Democrat. He has served as a member of 
the School Board with credit to himself and 
the township. Although but a young nian 
he has gained a good position in the county, 
socially, politically and financially, and is 
well informed on general topics, frank and 
cordial in manner and a popular citizen. He 
was married December 24, 1879. to Miss 
Coquella C. Garner, a daughter of William 
and Sarah Garner. Mr. Garner is one of the 
j)ioneer and well-known citizens of Potta- 
wattamie County. Mr. and Mrs. Pilling 
have three children : Carl Ashton, Guy 



OP POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



451 



Thomas and Maggie. The great loss of Mr. 
Filling's life was in the death of his wife, 
February 7, 1887. 



■ i t' S ' ^" *" 




A. BLANCH ARD.— In the history 
of Pottawattamie County mention 
" should be made of the aboye named 
gentleman, a brief outline of whose life is as 
follows: 

Mr. Blanchard was born in Stark County, 
Illinois, August 17, 1853. His father, A. 
Ct. Blanchard, was born in the pine woods of 
Maine, a descendant of an old family of that 
State who were noted for their honesty and 
industry. His mother, nee Mary Baggley, 
was born in Ohio, her parents having emi- 
grated to that State from the East. Mr. and 
Mrs. Blanchard were married in Toulon, 
Stark County, Illinois, both the Blanchards 
and Baggleys being early settlers of that 
county. To them were born five children: 
W. A.; M. L., who lives near Storm Lake, 
Iowa; Sarah A. Marman, a resident of Color- 
ado; Mary F. Cade, who lives in Stark 
County, Illinois; and Angeline Smith, of 
Colorado. Mr. Blanchard's motlierdied when 
he was fourteen years old. His father is now 
a resident of Normal, Oklahoma. In early 
life, while residing in the East, he was a ship 
carpenter, but after coming West he gave his 
attention to agricultural pursuits. He is now 
sixty years of age. 

W. A. Blanchard was reared on a farm and 
was educated in the public schools of Stark 
County. Arriving at the age of manhood, 
he was married, February 6, 1879, to Miss 
Anna McRae, who was born in Rosshire, 
Scotland, in 1819, son of Alexander and Ann 
McRae, both natives of the same place. He 
grew up on a farm and wheii he reached 
adult years married Jennette McRae, daugii- 



ter of Duncan and Christena McRae, all 
natives of Scotland. Kenneth McRae and 
hie family came to America in 1867 and 
settled in Stark County, Illinois. From there 
they subsequently came to Pottawattamie 
County, Iowa. Mr. McRae is one of the 
honored and esteemed citizens of Wricfht 
Township. He is a Democrat and a Presby- 
terian. Their other daughter, Sabella Sax- 
ton, is a resident of Monona County, Iowa. 

In 1883 Mr. Blanchard came to Potta- 
wattamie County and located in Waveland 
Township, buying 133 acres of well improved 
land on section 6. He has a good frame 
house, an orchard of two acres, a grove, 
stables, and other farm buildings and im- 
provements. Mr. and Mrs. Blanchard have 
five children: W. K., Jennette, Charlotte, 
Alexander D. and Glenn. Their first born, 
Mary, is deceased. Like his father, Mr. Blan- 
chard is a Republican. He is honest and 
upright in all things, and is trusted and 
respected most by those who know him best. 



-^ m ml) 



'2 ' 'S*S" »" 



,DAM RITTER, a well-known pioneer 
residing on section 16, Garner Town- 
ship, first came here as early as June, 
1846. He was born in Wythe County, West 
Virginia, July 24, 1812, a son of Michael 
and Phoebe (Ketron) Ritter, the father a 
native of Maryland and of German ancestry, 
and the mother a native of West Yirginia 
and a daughter of Lawrence Ketron, a Penn- 
sylvania German. Adam was seven years of 
age when his father moved to Burke's Gar- 
den, Tazewell County, Virginia, wiiere he 
grew to manhood, employed in agricultural 
pursuits. In 1837 he married Nancy T. 
Ward, a woman who was born in that county, 
the daughter of Milton Ward, also of Vir- 
ginia and of Martha, nee Tliompsoii. In 



452 



BIOGRAPHIC AI. HIHTORY 



1843 lie moved to Hancock Countj, Illinois, 
settling at Macedonia, previously called 
Ramus. In the spring of 1846 be came by 
team and wagon to Council Bluffs, tben a 
small village called Kanesville. About that 
time Colonel Kane raised a company for the 
Mexican War, called the Mormon Battalion. 
The same year Mr. Ritter settled on the land 
where he now lives, building a log cabin 
12 X 14, with the old-fashioned fireplace, 
which structure still stands as an old land- 
mark and relic of pioneer days; and ever 
since that date Mr. Ritter has steadily made 
this farm his home. It comprises eighty 
acres of land, three and a half miles from the 
city limits, and is very valuable property. 

Politically, Mr. Ritter is a Democrat. He 
.is seventy-eight years of age, well preserved, 
frank and cor<lial in his njanner and one of 
the highly esteemed citizens. His children 
are: Martha Ann, wife of John Dinginan, of 
Garner Township; George, who lives near 
Ogdeii, Utah; John T., also near Ogden; 
Milton, of Garner Township; Archibald, a 
resident of Webster County, Nebraska; Eliza 
Jane, now the wife of Ematiuel Richard, of 
Neoia, who is a grain-buyer; Lizzie, now 
Mrs. John Smith, also of Neola; and Jessie, 
who lives in Idaho. 



f<JHN W. RUSH.— Among the many 
citizeis of Pottawattamie County who 
are worthy of biographical mention in a 
work of this character we find the above 
named gentletnau. Mr. Rush was born in 
Warren County, Iowa, May 28, 1854, son of 
William Rush, a native of Indiana. His 
father was of German extraction and was born 
in Kentucky. When a young man William 
Rush came to Warren County, Iowa, where he 
married Elizalieth Hart, who was born in 



Macoupin County, Illinois, daughter of John 
Hart. In 1860 Mr. Rush and his wife moved 
to Hamilton County, Iowa, and from there, 
in 1865, went to Montgomery County, same 
State, settling two miles and a half northwest 
of Red Oak. They now live nine miles 
north of Red Oak. Mr. Rush has been a 
farmer all his life. Politically he is a Demo- 
crat. His wife is a member of the Christian 
Church. They have reared seven children, 
namely: J. W., Maliala, William, Henry, 
Nancy, Sarah and Daniel. 

The subject of our sketch was reared on a 
farm and was educated in the public schools. 
Arriving at the age of manhood, he was 
married in February, 1881, to Miss Mary 
Powell, a lady of intelligence, who was born 
in Montgomery County, Iowa, daughter of 
Andrew and Mavinda (Sample) Powell, of 
that county. They came from Indiana to 
their present location. In 1882 Mr. Rush 
came to Pottawattamie County and bought 
eighty acres of wild land in section 21, Wave- 
land Township. This he improved and to 
it added eighty acres more, which he acquired 
by purchase. He has a good story and a 
half frame house, 14x22 feet, with a one 
story L, 16 x 24 feet. Other improvements 
on his farm are a barn, sheds, feed lots, wind 
pump, etc., and every thing is well arranged 
and convenient for stock-raising. The whole 
})remises has an air of thrift and prosperity. 
In 1884 Mr. Rush went to Elliott, Iowa, 
where he engaged in the loan and real-estate 
business, and after remaining there two years 
returned to his farm in this county. 

Mr. and Mr.-. Rush have three children: 
Jessie, Clarence and Lucian. They lost one 
child, Clara, who died in infancy. Mr. 
Rush is a Democrat, and is the present Town- 
ship Clerk. He is one of the leading mem- 
bers of the Christian Church, of which he is 
an elder. He is also an active worker in the 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



453 



Sabbath-scliool, being superintendent of the 
same. He is regarded by all who know him 
as a man of the strictest integrity. 



to ^ " 1) 

fOHN B. DINGMAN, of section 9, 
Garner Township, is a prominent pio- 
neer of this county, having first settled 
here in 1847. He was born in Upper Can- 
ada, October 16, 1827, a son of Philip and 
Barbara (Boyd) Dingman, the former a native 
of Schoharie County, New York, and of 
German ancestry, and the latter a native of 
Canada. At the age of fourteen years, in 
company with Joseph Parker, an uncle, the 
subject of this sketch came West and settled 
at Nauvoo, Illinois, in 1840. In 1847 he 
came to Pottawattamie County, Iowa, and 
spent the following winter and summer in 
St. Joseph, Missouri, where he made brick, 
working as a molder, in 1848. The next 
year he came to this county and worked upon 
farms in Garner Township and soon bought 
a tract of wild land, settled upon it and be- 
gan improvements. He now owns ninety- 
five acres of valley land, divided into culti- 
vated fields, meadow, pasture and wood lots. 
He has an abundance of good timber lor 
fencing and fuel, etc. His farm is only 
two and a half miles from the city limits 
and is well stocked with buildings, all con- 
veniently arranged. Politically Mr. Ding- 
man is a Democrat, strong and radical. He 
has good health, and is frank and cordial in 
manner and a worthy citizen. 

He was first married in October, 1848, to 
Elizabeth Foy, and they had three children: 
Orson, William and Susan E., the latter is 
the wife of James B. Stephenson, of Council 
Bluffs. Mr. Dingman, tor his present wife, 
married Martha A. Ritter, a daughter of 
Adam Ritter, and by this marriage there are 



four children: John, a resident of Nebraska; 
Theodore, of Garner Township, on the home 
stead; Charlotte, the wife of William Mc- 
Donald, of Nebraska, and Archibald Travers, 
of Council Blufls. 



EOKGE METCALF, a real-estate dealer, 
and of the firm of Metcalf Brothers, 
has been identified with the interests of 
Council Bluffs since the spring of 1869. He 
is a native of Ohio, born in Geauga County, 
September 30, 1841, the son of Thomas and 
Paulina (Beard) Metcalf, the former a native 
of Connecticut, who came to Ohio with his 
parents in 1816. He is of English descent, 
and is now living in Ohio, at the advanced 
age of ninety-two years. Our subject's 
mother is a native of Ohio, and a daughter 
of Jedediah Beard, who served as a Colonel 
of a regiment in the war of 1812. He was 
a native of Vermont. The subject of this 
sketch resided with his parents until the 
breaking out of the late war. He enlisted 
December 19, 1861, in Company I, Seventh 
Ohio Volunteer Infantry, going directly 
South and joining the Array of Western 
Virginia. He participated in the first battle 
of Winchester, Port Republic, Cedar Mount- 
ain, Chancellorsville, Antietam, Gettysburg, 
and was with the Sherman campaign. He 
served until the close of late the war and was 
honorably discharged December 29, 1864, after 
which he retuined iiome and engaged in the 
lumber business for a short time. Mr. Met- 
calf then went to Louisiana and engaged in 
planting, remaining in that State and Missis- 
sippi for three years. For a year and a half 
he was engaged in raising cotton, and one 
and a half years in the timber business. He 
then returned to his native place, and re- 
mained until 1869, when he cnme to Council 



454 



BIOORAPEICAL HISTOftT 



Bluffs, where his brothers liad preceded him. 
He engaged in the liat, cap, and furnishing 
goods and fur business, first starting in the 
retail trade, and after a few years they 
brai\ched into the jobbing business, the firm 
being known as Metcalf Bros., consisting of 
H. H., George and Thomas. 

Mr. Metcalf was married February 27. 
1879, to Miss Helen E. Rue, a native of Dan- 
ville, Kentucky, and a daughter of John B. 
Rue, who removed from Kentucky to Ohio 
and thence to Iowa, settling first at Mt. 
Pleasant and then at Council Bluffs in 1869. 
Mr. and Mrs. Metcalf have five children: Clara 
11. , John H., James B., Margaret F. and 
Mildred E. Mrs. Metcalf is a member of the 
Presbyterian Church. Mr. Metcalf is a mem- 
ber of the G. A. R., Abe Lincoln Post, No. 
29, and has repi'esented tlie fourth ward of 
the city as an Alderman for two years. Po- 
litically he afiillates witli the Republican 
party. In 187B, our subject, in company 
witii II. H., his brother, went to Texas and 
established business in elothingand gents' fur- 
nishing good, which they ran only one year, 
during the building of the Texas Pacific 
Railroad. 



'°^" is ' S *' i ' i) "-°— — 

fW. MENERAY, a prominent nursery- 
man and orchardist near Crescent City, 
* was born in tliat village. September 1, 
1862, a son of William and Sophia A. (Pack- 
ard) Meneray. His father was born in Up- 
per Canada, March 29, 1822, and his mother 
in Parkman, Ohio, October 1, 1828, of Pu- 
ritan origin. Grandfather Meneray was an 
English military oflicer for a number of years. 
William H. received a fine education at 
the Toronto (Canada) College; early learned 
the carpenter's trade; left home at the age of 
sixteen years and made a tour through the 



Southern States, buying furs from the In- 
dians for an Amei-ican company. Following 
this business for a number of ^ears he be- 
came widely known among the various In- 
dian tribes. He next engaged in the lead 
mines near Galena, Illinois, and made quite 
a fortune. Disposing of his mineral claim 
there, he went to Hazel Green, Wisconsin, 
and engaged in speculations by which he 
lost heavily. After visiting St. Louis he 
came to Kanesville, now Council Bluffs, 
about 1850, engaging in mercantile business 
in partnership with Blake & Spooner. At 
the same time he owned a number of grist 
and saw mills about the country, and also a 
farm of 120 acres in Hazel Dell Township, 
known as the Meneray farm. During this 
period he lost n)oney in the failure of a bank 
in Florence, Nebraska. This so crippled him 
financially that he had to dispose of his busi- 
ness. Coming to Crescent City he traded 
for the property whereon he made his home 
until his death, March 10, 1878. Being a 
shrewd manager, he after all left his family 
in good circumstances. 

He married his wife March 1, 1846, at 
Nauvoo, Illinois, to which place she had 
come when very young. She is now living 
on the old home place, keeping house for 
herself, now aged about sixty-two years. She 
had eleven children, as follows: William 
H., who resides at Springville, Utah; Eliza, 
wife of Dr. M. Don, and residing at Nephi, 
Utah; John R., at Springville, same Terri- 
tory; James W., living in Crescent City; R. 
C, in Springville; P. A., at Louisville, Ken- 
tucky; Joseph H., deceased; F. W., the next 
in order; Lulu L., wife of William Dutro in 
Crescent City; Sophia A., who married Will- 
iam Curry and is now deceased; and E. D.. 
who is with F. W., the subject of this sketch. 

Mr. F. W. Meneray was reared at home 
in farm life, and also in the business of 



OV POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



455 



raising fruit and nursery stock; in the latter 
interest tliey had thirty-six acres, wliich was 
left to K. C, F. W. and J. R. Meneray, and 
which our subject has brought up to its 
present state of development. He has forty- 
tive acres devoted entirely to nursery, and 
twenty-five acres exclusively tc fruit-raising, 
doing an annual business of $12,000 to $15,- 
000, and employing agents throughout the 
country. Thus Mr. Meneray is a prominent 
business man in the world of farmers and 
orchardists. 

In his political views he is a Republican, 
and as a citizen and business man he is highy 
honored. For his wife he married Sarah 
Meginness, of Pennsylvania parentage and 
English ancestry on her mother's side. Her 
father came West with his parents, went to 
Utah and returned in 1858 to Iowa and mar- 
ried Hannah Nixon, who was born May 3, 
1835, near Pittsburg, and came to Iowa with 
her ])arents in 1848, locating in Hazel Dell 
Township, where he was married. She was 
the second child in her parents' family of six 
children, bom March 31, 1864; was educated 
for the teachers' profession, and served in 
that capacity until she was married, March 
20, 1883. Mr. and Mrs. Meneray have two 
children: Luemma A., horn January 1, 1886, 
and Albert O., November 23, 1887. 

— -~«^ 1 4 > 3 i i ; « 2" - *•• — 




WILLIAM D. HARDIN, whose father 
was one of the pioneers of Pottawat- 
tamie County, is engaged iu the real- 
estate and loan business in Council Bluffs. 
Mr. Hardin is also City Assessor, to which 
potiition he was elected at the spring election 
of 1890. He is a native of Council Bluffs, 
where he was born in October, 1856. He 
was educated in the public schools of tiiis 
city. He began business for himself as a 

d4 



messenger boy, for the Omaha Bridge Trans- 
fer Company. With this company he con- 
tinued two years. He was then employed by 
J. P. and J. N. Casady, real-estate agents 
and abstracters, for about two years and for 
about six years was employed as one of the 
Deputy County Treasurers of Pottawattamie 
County. He then engaged in his present 
business, in which he has since continued. 

He is one of the representative young men 
of Council Bluffs, and is an esteemed and 
worthy citizen. 

•°^"' | * S"S « |" ">~ 



fOHN C. BLOOM, one of the prominent 
merchants of Minden, deiling in hard- 
ware, furniture, agricultural implements, 
etc., and also an undertaker, was born near 
Berlin, Prussia, the son of Christian Bloom, 
who was a farmer by occupation. He came 
to America in 1861 with his wife, whose 
maiden name was Fredrlca Schmidt. He 
settled in Scott County, Iowa, and is the 
father of seven living children, namely: John 
C, Herman, William, Robert, Ferdinand, 
Christian and Matilda. Mr. Bloom is still 
living, on his farm, at the age of hfty-nine 
years. Politically lie is a Democrat, and is 
a straight-forward and honorable citizen. 

Mr. J. C. Bloom, a son of the al)ove and 
the subject of this sketch, was born July 24, 
1856, and was but five years of age when he 
was brought by his parents to America. He 
learned the trade of carpenter, and in 1880 
bought a farm three miles north of Minden, 
which he conducted for three years. In 1888 
he bought the hardware store of J. 0. Gar- 
mong, which was then a small stock of $4,- 
040, but which he has since increased to over 
$9,000, and is doing a flourishing busincoS. 
Politically Mr. Bloom is a Republican. 
He is a self-made man, having obtained his 



456 



BIOGRAPHICAL UIHTORT 



property bj his own unaided efforts. He is 
a prominent and reliable business man, who 
owes his success in life to his own method of 
dealing and personal character. He was 
married in 1880, to Miss Margarita Engler, 
who died in May, 1881. He was again mar- 
ried in 1884, to Teresa Geiger, and they are 
the parents of three children: Matilda, Teresa 
and Ida. 



fESSE D. GAULT, one of the well- 
known citizens and successful farmers 
of Pottawattamie Connty, Iowa, came 
here in 1879, and is located in section 36, 
Washington Township. He was born in 
Worcester County, Maryland, near the Vir- 
ginia line, July 8, 1828. His father, Obed 
Gault, was born in Maryland, son of Archi- 
bald Gault, a Scotchman. Archibald Gault 
was a sea captain. Retiring from the high sea 
he married and settled in Maryland. Mr. 
Gault's mother was Nancy (Burroughs) 
Gault, daughter of Henry Burroughs, a de- 
scendant of Scotch- Welsh ancestry. She was 
born and reared in Maryland. Obed and 
Nancy Gault were the parents of fourteen 
children, seven sons and seven daughters. 
They removed from Maryland to Ripley 
County, Indiana, where they spent the residue 
of their lives, the father dying at the age of 
seventy-tive, and the mother at the age ot 
ninety-one years. Mr. Gault was a farmer 
all his life; cast his vote with the Republican 
party, and worshiped with the Methodist 
Church, of which he was an honored member. 
Jesse D. Gault received his education in 
the common schools of his native State, and 
remained in Maryland until he was twenty- 
three years old. At tbe age of thirty-five he 
married Isabella Haynes, and by her had two 
sons. The older, Albert Morton, was born 



in Ripley County, Indiana, August 28, 1865. 
He married a lady oi Des Moines, Iowa, and 
is now residing in Sacramento, California, 
where he has an e.xcellent position as freight 
agent. He recently built a home in that 
city, which cost hira $3,200. The second 
son, James E., was killed by accident Nov- 
ember 4, 1890, at the age ot twenty-two 
years and five months. He was an expert 
mechanic and received good wages. He left 
a wife and one child. In 1870 Mr. Gault 
married Rebecca Sulton, who was born in 
Ripley County, Indiana, daughter <>f William 
Sulton. Her death occurred in Mills County, 
Iowa. She was a consistent member of the 
Methodist Church. December 4. 1884, Mr. 
Gault wedded Mrs. Eliza M. Hanks, a native 
of Union County, Indiana, and a lady of in- 
telligence and refinement, who is his present 
companion. Her father, Andrew Dunbar, 
was born in Mason County, Kentucky, and 
died in Indiana at the age of seventy-two 
years; her mother, nee Sarah Stover, was 
born in Carter County, Tennessee, and is still 
living at the age of eighty-two years. Mrs. 
Gault was first married in Decatur County, 
Indiana, to Albert G. Hanks, a native of 
Woodford County, Kentucky. By liim she 
had two children, viz.: Lellye Hufier, of 
Decatur County, Indiana, and Menter O. 
Hanks, of Silver City, Iowa. Mr. Hanks 
died in 1873, in Decatur County, Indiana. 

In 1879 Mr. Gault came to his present 
location from Mills County, luwa. Forty- 
five acres of his farm had been broken, but 
there was not a building on the place. With 
the characteristic energy of the western 
pioneer he went to work to make improve- 
ments. He now has a good cottage home, a 
grove and orchard, stables and other neces- 
sary out-buildings and good fences. He is 
making a specialty of stock-raising, having 
seven iiorses and yearlings of a good breed, 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE GOLTNTT. 



457 



some fine cows and swine. Politically Mr. 
Ganlt is a Republican. Mrs. Gault has been 
a member of the Christian Church, from 
whicli she now holds a good letter. 

— ^^ • S"t - S" * ' ■ — 



g^UGENE W. PETERSON, a native of 
Galesburg. Illinois, was born August 
26, 1857, son of Lewis M. and Caroline 
Peterson, natives of Sweden. The father 
came to America when about ten years old, 
in the year 1843 or 1844, with his parents, 
locating at Galesburg with a colony, remain- 
inff there for a time. Lewis Peterson was 
married in Galesburg and lived three for a 
number of years. In 1861 he entered tlie 
United States' service in the Quartermaster's 
Department, serving until the close of the 
war. During the latter part of that time he 
was stationed at St. Louis, where he removed 
his family and where he died about 1880. 
Previous to the war he was a druggist, but 
aftirward he engaged in the grocery business 
at St. Louis. He went back to Galesburg 
and lived there until a short time before his 
death, when he returned to St. Louis. His 
widow still resides in the latter city. They 
reared a family of four children: Frank, who 
is a teller in a St. Louis bank; Eugene, the 
subject of this sketch, a resident of Council 
Bluffs; and Albert and Roy, deceased. 

Mr. Peterson was educated in the common 
schools and also in the high school of Gales- 
burg, Illinois. He went to St. Louis, where, 
at the age of fourteen, he entered the employ 
of R. G. Dun & Co., and has constantly been 
employed by that company since, with the 
exception of a few months. He started in 
as a mei^senger boy, but was soon promoted 
to the corres])onding department, where he 
remained until he was twenty-one. He then 
took field work, traveling for the company I 



until 1885. In May of that year he took 
charge of the Lincoln, Nebraska, office, re- 
maining there until July, 1887. In the fall 
of tiie same year he assumed charge of the 
Omahacorrespondingdepartment, from which 
he came to his present office in April, 1888. 
He was married April 1, 1879, to Carrie 
S. Kerr, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John 
Kerr, of St. Louis. She was born in Canada, 
of Scotch origin, June 15, 1857. Their 
family consists of two children: Eugene 
Willie, Jr., born April 14, 1880; and Winni- 
ford M., born March 25, 1883. They lost an 
infant daughter. Mr. and Mrs. Peterson are 
members of the Brethren Church. Politically 
he is non-partisan. He has purchased a fine 
property on Park avenue, Council Bluffs, and 
also owns property in Lincoln, Nebraska. 
Mr. Petei-son has made his own way from 
the bottom, and his success is due to his 
close application to business and his ability 
to transact the same. He is to-day con- 
sidered one of the ablest men in the employ 
of R. G. Dun & Co.'s commercial agency, of 
which business a short sketch is appended. 

The Council Bluffs office occupies rooms 
205 and 206, Sai)p block, with Mr. Peterson 
as manager. This business was established 
in 1841 by B. Douglas & Co., and in 1850 
was transferred to R. G. Dun & Co. It is 
now considered the oldest and largest mer 
cantile agency in the world. It publishes its 
reference books in January, March, July and 
Septem'ber of each year. The January edition 
of 1890 contained 1,176,988 names of traders, 
etc., of the United States and Canada. The 
average added ratings, new names and 
changes will agregate 2,619 for each business 
day. The office in this city was established 
in 1888 by W. H. Myers, who was succeeded 
by J. H. Hubbard, then by O. S. Stanbro, 
the present manager taking charge in 1888. 
Under his management the business has pros- 



458 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY 



pered, and his ability is fully appreciated by 
the company. Mr. Peterson is a genial, 
whole-souled fellow and will make friends 
wherever he goes. 



— " - > l - : >> i - y - — 

J. CHAMBEES, lawyer, is a resident 
of Council Bluffs, and has been iden- 
';'' tified with the interests of Pottawat- 
tamie County since the year 1878; is a native 
of Michigan, born at Utica, Macomb County; 
is the son of Rev. W. A. and Sarah M. 
(Wright) Chambers, natives of New York, 
and of Scotch-Irish ancestry. Mr. Cham- 
bers came to Iowa in the fall of 1865 with his 
parents, who located at Osage, Mitchell 
County, at which place the father filled the 
position of clergyman to the Methodist de- 
nomination. A graduate of the State Uni- 
versity at Iowa City, in both tne classics and 
law, the former in 1876, and the latter in 
1878; came to Avoca in the year 1878, en- 
gaged in the practice of his chosen profes- 
sion, and continued the practice until the fall 
of 1884, at which date he was elected to the 
office of Itecorder of Deeds and Mortgages 
for Pottawattamie County, in which he served 
one term; in the fall of 1888, Mr. Chambers 
was elected to the office of Clerk of the Dis- 
trict Court of his county, which office he now 
fills. 

He was married December 2, 1880, to 
Miss Ida Fitch, a native of JNewton, Iowa, 
and daughter of Edward and Clara (Sloan) 
Fitch, who were formerly from New York, 
and of English descent. Mr. and Mrs. 
Chambers have two children: a daughter 
Claribel, aged five years, and Fred, a little 
boy aged three years; they have lost one 
child, Eddie W., aged four years. Mr. 
Chambers is a member of several secret 



orders, and in politics affiliates with the Re- 
publican party. 

— -o l ' i >> : - 2 — 



^ON. B. F. CLAY'TON, of Macedonia, 
Iowa, is one of the prominent and 
favorably-known men of Pottawattamie 
County, his works having been of an exten- 
sive nature both in private and public life, 
and he has done much to build up the best 
interests of the community where he resides. 
He was born in Nicholas County, Kentucky, 
January 10, 1839, a son of William M. 
Clayton, who was born in Virginia in 1788. 
The father went to Kentucky when a boy, 
and in 1812 enlisted as a soldier under Cap- 
tain Metcalf, ex-Governor of Kentucky, and 
served through the war. He died in 1852, in 
Robinson County. Ilis wife, n<?e Mary Adair, 
was born in Nicholas County, Kentucky. 
B. F. Clayton, our subject, went to Decatur 
County, Indiana, when sixteen years of age, 
where he worked by the month until 1873, 
during which time he also served as County 
Supervisor for three years. In October 1873, 
he arrived in Pottawattamie County, where 
he bought 320 acres of partly improved land, 
and to which he has s-iiice added until he now 
owns 500 acres in one body. This farm, 
which is called " Sunnyside," is situated west 
and in sight of Macedonia, and is one of the 
best ranches in this part of the county. He 
also owns several other farms and tracts of 
land in Ljwa, Kansas and Nei)raska, one of 
which consists of 8,000 acres. Mr. Clayton 
has held most of the township offices, and has 
served in the Seventeenth, Eighteenth and 
Twentieth General Assemblies of the State 
of Iowa, beiiig chairman of the Agricultural 
Committee of the Eighteenth General As- 
sembly, and Speaker j^ro tern, of the House 
in the twentieth session. He has been con- 



OP POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



459 



nected with the National Farmer's Congress, 
and is one of its most active and zealous 
workers. He has been delegate to its con- 
ventions at Nashville, Tennessee; Montgom- 
ery, Alabama; Minneapolis, Minnesota; New 
Orleans; Topeka, Kansas; Washington, Dis- 
trict of Columbia; and Cliicago, Illinois, and 
it was through his intluenco that it was 
secured tor Council Bluffs in 1890. He has 
been Secretary for this Assembly' for six 
years. He was one of the prime movers in 
having the delegation go to Denver in 1890, 
and is one of its most active and efficient 
members. He is a Master Mason, is trustee 
of Simpson's Centenary College, of Indian- 
oiia, and is an active member of the Meth- 
odist Episcopal Church. Mr. Clayton is one 
of the prominent agriculturists of the State, 
and at this time is being strongly urged as the 
Kepublican candidate for Governor of Iowa, 
which will beelected in Novemberof thisyear. 
Mr. Clayton has been twice married, lirst 
to Miss Priscilla Martin, who was born 
March 2, 1862, in Decatur County, Indiana, 
and died in 1868; and he was then married 
September 22, 1869, to Miss Nannie M. 
Hamilton, who was born in Decatur County, 
the daughter of D. N. Hamilton, a native of 
Harrison County, Kentucky. Mr. and Mrs. 
Clayton iiave one daughter, Mona Blanch. 
They lost their only son, William N., who 
was killed in the fall of 1890 by an accidental 
discharge of a gun. He was a young man of 
much promise, and had received an excellent 
education at Simpson's College, and was loved 
by all who knew him. 



<s 



|3mi|ARTIN HUGHES is a native ot 
>) / \y U County Mayo, Ireland. He was born 
^•^m^ October 15, 1836, son of John and 
Mary (Welch) Hughes. When a lad he was 



sent to England, and in 1854 he crossed the 
Atlantic to America, locating in Upper 
Canada, where he remained eisrht months. 
Then he came to Iowa, and, after spending 
two years in Des Moines, in the fall of 1856 
he took up his abode in Council Bluffs, where 
he has since continued to reside. He began 
to learn his trade, that of a mason, while in 
England, which he completed in every detail 
after coming to this country. In 1868 he 
formed a partnership with the Wickhara 
Bros., with whom he was associated a num- 
ber of years. He also turned his attention 
to agricultural pursuits, as he owned a farm 
of 500 acres in Lewis Township, the most of 
which he has disposed of. 

Mr. Plughes owns a brick-yard on North 
Eighth street, the output being about 3,500,- 
000 brick annually and the average number 
of men employed being sixty-five. Some of 
the principal buildings erected by him are 
the Merriam block, Sapp building. Episcopal 
Church, Brown building, the Third street 
nd Pierce street school buildings, besides 
many tine structures in Omaha. He is one 
of the oldest contractors and builders in the 
city, and has been one of the most successi 
ful. He has an elegant brick residence, No. 
903 Third street, which was erected in 1888, 
at a cost of some $25,000, and is one of the 
finest homes in the city. He owns a valuable 
block on the corner of Broadway and Park 
avenue, also a block on Main street, in which 
his son is engaged in business, gents' furnish- 
ing goods. Besides the buildings already 
mentioned Mr. Hughes owns thirteen resident 
properties. All this property is the result 
of his own industry and skillful management. 
He is eminently a self-made man, as he had 
comparatively nothing when he came to this 
city. 

Mr. Hughes was married in 1858, to Miss 
Mary Wickham, who was born County Lei- 



460 



BIOOHAPHICAL U I STORY 



trim, Ireland, March 23, 1837, daughter nf 
Patrick and Celia (Prior) Wickhain. The 
eleven cliildren born to them are as follows: 
Ida, wife of Ciiarles Fox, a resident of Coun- 
cil Bluffs; George, a member of the firm of 
Hughes & Son, Council Bluffs; Thomas, en- 
gaged in the mercantile business, above re- 
ferred to; John J., the third son, is now 
junior member of the firm of Martin Hughes 
& Sons, and is a late graduate of St. Bene- 
dict's College, Atchison. Kansas, and Celia, 
Mamie and Martin, at home. All the above 
mentioned have have had a thorough colle- 
giate education, all having graduated except 
the youngest. Pour of their children are 
deceased: James, John, Mary and James. 
The family are members of the Catholic 
Church, and in his political views Mr. Hughes 
is a Democrat. 

The firm of Martin Hughes & Son was 
formed in 1881. They do an annual business 
of some $300,000, and their average monthly 
pay roll is about $6,000. George F. Hugkes 
is a practical mechanic, having learned his 
trade under his father. He now assumes the 
management of the business. The son fol- 
lows his father in political views as well as 
in trade. He is a member of the Catholic 
Mutual Benefit Association and carries $5,- 
000 insurance. His father has an insurance 
of $20,000. 



H^HOMAS TOSTEVIN, civil and city 
engineer for the city of Council Bluffs, 
resides at No. 209 Park avenue. He 
is now serving his third term in this office, 
and has had a large experience in surveying 
many of the western roads and lands. 

Mr. Tostevin was born on Guernsey (one 
of the group of islands south of England, 
known as the Norman Isles, wliich became a 



part of the British Empire at the time of the 
Norman Conquest), December 21, 1830, and 
is the son of John and Martha (Le Provost) 
Tostevin, also natives of that place. They 
trace their origin to the date of the early 
Norman occupation. The father of our sub- 
ject came to America when a young man, 
and resided in Germantown, Pennsylvania 
for several years, after which he returned to 
his native isle. He there married and i-eared 
a family of seven children. When Thomas 
was four years old he returned to the United 
States, bringing his family with him and 
locating in New York city. He was a firm 
and faithful member of the Friends' Church, 
and settled in that city in order to educate 
his children in the Quaker schools. In 1849, 
with his wife and two youngest children, he 
removed to Salem, Henry County, Iowa, that 
place being composed largely of the Quaker 
element. In 1856 he and his wife returned 
to New York, and died soon afterward at the 
home of their daughter, Mrs. Rachel L. P. 
Alexander, in Brooklyn. They both rest in 
the old burial ground of the Quakers, now 
enclosed within the litnits of Prospect Park, 
Brooklyn. Their children are as follows: 
Martha L. P., wife of George W. Davies, a 
resident of Cleveland, Ohio; John, who lives 
in New York city; Alfred, deceased; Rachel 
L. P., wife of George Alexander, Brooklyn, 
New York; Peter L. P., formerly an architect 
of New York city, now deceased; Thomas 
and David, residents of Council Bluffs. 

The subject of our sketch was educated in 
the Friends' College, Dutchess County, New 
York. In 1849 he came to Iowa with his 
parents, and at once commenced the practice 
of civil engineering. In 1854 he removed 
from Henry County to Pottawattamie County, 
where he has since made his home. He was 
married in Henry County, Iowa, October 31, 
1852, to Miss Harriet Gibbs, a native of 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



461 



Summit, Scoharie County, New York, daugh- 
ter of Friend and Lncinda (Wetmore) Gibbs, 
natives of Vermont and New York, also 
Quakers Mrs. Tostevin is now a member 
of the Metliodist Episcopal Church. She 
was born June 17, 1832. To them nine 
children have been born, viz.: Clara, Charles 
and Alice, deceased; Alfred and Alida; 
Walter J., a resident of San Francisco, Cali- 
fornia; Lou, wife of E. E. Harvey, Denver, 
Colorado; Albert T., assistant city civil en- 
gineer of Council Bluffs; and Ida, wife of 
W. H. Wakefield, Council Bluffs. 

When Mr. Tostevin came to Council 
Bluffs, it was by Government appointment 
to make the survey of the original squatter 
claims within the corporate limits of the city. 
He was then elected County Surveyor and 
served several terms, but previous to this he 
had lieen appointed Deputy United States 
Surveyor of public lands in northwestern 
Iowa. In 1861 he was appointed both Coun- 
ty Treasurer and Recorder to fill a vacancy 
one year. After that he was retained in the 
Treasurer's ottice three successive terms by 
election, seven years in all. He was after- 
ward elected Mayor of Council Bluffs, and 
the next year was elected Alderman. From 
1867 to 1870 he operated a planing mill and 
furniture factory, which proved unprofitable. 
In 1870 he went to central Utah, and en- 
gaged in mining gold and silver. While 
there he was appointed United States Deputy 
Mineral Surveyor, remaining in that held 
until 1874. In that year he returned to 
Council Bluffs. In connection with his 
work as surveyor it should also be stated 
that, prior to his appointment to the County 
Treasurer's office, he went in 1857 to South- 
eastern Nebraska and laid out the town of 
Rule, after which he was appointed by the 
Nebraska Legislature as Surveyor and Com- 
missioner to locate and establish a Territorial 



road from Rulo to Fort Kearney. In 1876 
Mr. Tostevin engaged in the manufacture of 
a reclining chair of his invention in the city 
of New York, which he continued until 1879. 
Since then his whole time has been devoted 
to his profession in Pottawattamie County. 
He is a stanch Republican; was a candidate 
for Treanurer and Recorder on the first Re- 
publican ticket placed before the people in 
this county. He was one of the first to 
organize the Union League in Council Bluffs, 
acting as president of the same. He was a 
delegate to and assistant secretary of the first 
railroad convention held in this State, at the 
capitol building in Iowa City in 1851, for a 
proposed railroad along the Mississippi River. 
It was then thought impracticable to con- 
struct a railroad running west, as the country 
was supposed to be too wild and barren. He 
was rodinan on this first Iowa railroad. He 
made surveys on the site of Omaha, Nebraska, 
before anything in the form of a house had 
been erected there. During the war Mr. 
Tostevin was Captain of Artillery of State 
militia. Such, in brief, is a review of the 
life of one of Council Bluffs' worthy citizens. 

■^" g ' ? " S - ^ '" 



HARLES P. FOSTER, one of the prom- 
inent citizens of Layton Township, 
was born in St. Lawrence County, New 
York, March 12, 1836, a son of Simeon Fos- 
ter, a carpenter by trade, and of old Puritan 
ancestry. William Foster, grandfather of 
our svibject, was born in Connecticut, and 
was a soldier in the war of the Revolution, 
and also of the war of 1812. He was the 
father of four children, namely: William, 
Simeon, Samuel and Olive. He was a prom- 
inent farmer and also ran a steamboat on 
Lake Champlain. He was a member of the 
Methodist Church, and was a man of integrity 



462 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTOMF 



and character. Siineon Foster, a son of the 
above and the father of our subject, was born 
in Vermont, and was married to Phoebe Foss, 
and tliey were tlie parents of seven cliildren, 
viz.: Ahnon, William, Matilda, Richard, 
Francis, Charles and George. Mr. Foster 
lived for a time in St. Lawrence, Franklin 
County, New York, and then moved to Akron, 
Ohio, in 1837, where he died at the age 
of forty-two. He was also a member of the 
Methodist Church, and an industrious and 
uprigiit citizen. 

Charles F. Foster, our subject, enlisted in 
Company II, Forty-third Regiment, Wiscon- 
sin Volunteer Infantry, and served one year. 
He was in the battles of Stone River, Johu- 
sonville, and Nasliville, and was neither taken 
a prisoner nor wounded, but did good and 
faithful service, and was honorably discharged 
at Milwaukee, Wisconsin. After the war 
Mr. Foster resumed the peaceful pursuits of 
agriculture. In 1876 he came to Pottawatta- 
mie County, where he settled on a farm. 
Both Mr. and Mrs. Foster were members of 
the Methodist Church, of which Mr. Foster 
was a class-leader and steward, and is a mem- 
ber of the U. S. Grant Post, G. A. R., of 
Avoca. Pie served his country when it 
needed his services, and when he was required 
to leave his wife and children to endure ex- 
posure and light the battles of the Union. 
He is descended from good American parent- 
age, and men who fought our battles for lib- 
erty and founded a Government, and his 
children should be proud of the sterling 
ancestry from which they spring. For many 
generations they have been soldier citizens, 
who honorably fought for their country. 

Mr. Foster was married, September 5, 
1857, to Elizabeth Garth waite, who was born 
in England August 16, 1842, and was but 
four years of age when she was brought to 
America. She was the daughter of Edward 



and Margaret (Blenkinsop) Garthwaite. The 
father was an Englishman, born in County 
Durham, England, and was a shoemaker by 
trade. They were the parents of nine children, 
viz.: Elizabeth, Ann, Mary, George, Alonzo, 
Melissa, Ellen, Ida and Fred. Mr. Garth- 
waite came to America in 1846, and first set- 
tled in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, where he 
remained seven years, and then, in 1853, he 
settled on a farm in Wisconsin, where he is 
yet living, at the age of seventy-three years. 
Both Mr. and Mrs. Garthwaite were memberi* 
of the Methodist Church. He has filled tiie 
office of Justice of the Peace, and is an honor- 
able and upright citizen. To Mr. and Mrs. 
Foster have been born seven cliildren, three 
of whom died in infancy. The living chil- 
dren are: Jennie, Wesley, Maude and Floy. 
Jennie married Mr. Stevenson, a farmer of 
Lincoln Townsliip, and they have one child, 
Delmer; Maude is a successful teacher in this 
county; and the remainder of the family are 
at home. 



RA L. MARTIN, Silver Creek Township, 
Pottawattamie County, Iowa, is one of 
W the well-known and successful men of the 
township. He has made his home here since 
the spring of 1874, and is highly esteemt-d 
by all who know him. An outline of his 
life is as follows: 

Mr. Martin was born in Darke County, 
Ohio, August 21, 1840, son of Ira and Jane 
(Woods) Martin, natives of Pennsylvania. 
He was a youth of si.xteen years when his 
family moved to Logan County, Illinois, and 
settled ten miles north of Lincoln. The 
mother died in that county in 1879, and the 
father subsequently cs-ne to Pottawattamie 
County, Iowa, where he died in 1885, at 
Macedonia. The latter was a farmer all his 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



463 



life; was a member of the Christian Church, 
and cast his vote with the Democratic party. 
Tliey i-eared iive children, four of whom are 
DOW living: Ira L., John, Harriet Jane and 
W. J. Muutgoiiiery served three years in 
the late war. He was a member of the One 
Hundred and Sixth Illinois Infantry Volun- 
teers, and died of disease contracted while in 
the service. 

In 1871 Ira L. Martin moved to Gentry 
County, Missouri, where he was married to 
Miss Barbara Kerr, a lady of much intelli- 
gence and refinement, who was born in Dane 
County, Wisconsin, and reared in Fayette 
County, Iowa. Her parents, John and Eliza 
(Haney) Kerr, were both born in Pennsylva- 
nia State, and her father was one of the early 
settlers and pioneers of Fayette County. Mr. 
Martin remained in Gentry County, Mis- 
souri, until 1874, when he came to Pottawatta- 
mie County, Iowa, and bought eighty acres 
of wild land on which he now resides. He 
was one of the early settlers of this part of the 
county. Since he took up his residence here 
he has met with prosperity, and has added to 
his first purchase, now being the owner of 200 
acres of land, as good a farm as there is in the 
neighborhood. He has a comfortable modern 
home, built in 1890, at a cost of $850. The 
main part is 16 x 26 feet, 14 feet high, with 
an L, 14x20 feet, and a summer kitchen, 
14x18 feet. His farm is divided into five 
fields, and is supplied with stables, cribs and 
other buildings. He has a grove and an 
orchard of three acres. 

Mr and Mrs. Martin have eight children, 
namely: Edward Clarence, Albert Meerton, 
Alfred, Artellia Belle, Carrie, Emma, Oscar, 
Cora Elizabeth and Lawrence. He and his 
wife are members of the Christian Church. 
In politics he is a Democrat. He is a friend 
to education, good morals and religion, and 
any movement that has for its object the 



advancement of the best interests of his com- 
munity is sure to find in him an earnest sup- 
porter. 




LEXANDEPt li. PRENTICE, a farmer 

of Crescent Township, was born in Air- 
drie, Lanarkshire, Scotland, December 
21, 1829, the son of Adam and Margaret 
(Rennie) Prentice. His mother was born in 
Kilsythe, Sterlingshire, Scotland, 1800, and 
his father in Lanarkshire, in 1805. The lat- 
ter was a stone-mason by trade, but followed 
mercantile business about twenty years. In 
1850 his wife died, and two years later he 
went to Australia where he had friends, and 
remained there until his death. 

In 1852 Mr. Alexander R. Prentice mar- 
ried Miss Agnes Kirkwood, who was born 
August 20, 1832. In 1857 he came to 
America, with family and friends, landed in 
New York City April 17, and came direct 
to Pottawattamie County, by way of Pitts- 
burg and the rivers, landing at Florence, 
Nebraska, May 22, 1857, on a dark and 
stormy night. The captain charged them 
an outrageous price for remaining on the boat 
until morning. Early in the morning Mr. 
Prentice's goods and family were set upon 
the bank until he could find a place for them. 
He crossed the rough prairie over to Mr. 
Kirkwood's, his brother-in-law, and made 
arrangements for settling temporarily. He 
followed the trade of carpentering, which he 
had learned in the old country, and this voca- 
tion he has pursued ever since, more or less, 
in connection with farming. His first pur- 
chase of property was a house and lots in 
Crescent City, from the mother of James 
Gording. 

By the way, this Gording went to Pike's 
Peak, "struck it rich," but, not being able to 



464 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY 



stand prosperity, became dissipated, and was 
finally hanged. The money that was paid 
his mother for the property mentioned was 
used by her in attendance at his trial. 

After remaining in the village of Crescent 
six years Mr. Prentice sold out house and 
lots and bought forty acres of wild, rough 
land of a Mr. Dunsmore. On this place he 
built a house 40 x 50 feet, barns, sheds, a 
brick milk-house, etc., planted a fine orchard 
and made many other valuable improvements. 
He has added to his first purchase until he 
now has a tine farm of 280 acres, on sections 
25, 27, 23 and 26. Eighty acres is in cultiva- 
tion, while the rest is hay, pasture and timber 
land. His residence, a neat and comfortable 
house, is on a tract of 140 acres on section 26. 

Mr. Prentice is a Republican on national 
questions, and has been a delegate to many 
State and county conventions; he has been a 
member of the Good Templars order for 
twenty-five years, holding tlie various oflices 
of the lodge; and he and his wife are members 
of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Cres- 
cent City, of which society he has been Re- 
cording Secretary for three years. He has 
been a reporter for Crescent Township to the 
State Agricultural Society for five years. 
During the war he enlisted in Company A, 
Twenty-ninth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, but 
was discharged when it was discovered that 
the retina of his right eye had been injured; 
the injury had been inflicted by the cut of a 
chisel. He received a certificate of his citi- 
zenship by proof of his disposition to serve 
his country in the war, and proving an honor- 
able discharge. 

His children are: Margaret R., wife of 
Isaac M. Barrett, born in Scotland, February 
12, 1855, and resides in Fresno, California; 
Agnes, born also in Scotland, March 27, 1853, 
is now the wife of Charles W. Caldwell, and 
resides in Council ElufFs; Mary, born in this 



county, June 7, 1857, resides in Missouri 
Valley, Iowa; Adam A., born November 14, 
1859, is a farmer on section 25, on land be- 
longing to his father; Isabella C, born April 
8, 1862, is the wife of Charles W. Atwood, 
of Council Bluffs; Robert L., born November 
3, 1864, resides on a farm on section 25. 



^ENRY PARKER, section 25, Silver 
Creek Township, is another one of the 
representative citizens of Pottawatta- 
mie County. He has made his home here 
since 1880. Mr. Parker was born in Lin- 
colnshire, England, December 4, 1848, son 
of George and Elizabeth (Beet) Parker, both 
natives of Lincolnshire. His mother died 
when he was eighteen years old. He was 
reared on a farm in his native county, and 
was educated in the common schools of 
England. At the age of twenty-one he came 
to America, landing at New York. From 
there he came to Iowa, and for three years 
worked by the month in Mills County. Then 
he bought a team and rented laud, remaining 
there until 1880. In that year he came to 
Pottawattamie County, and bought 160 acres 
of land, which had been broken and fenced, 
paying for it fifteen dollars per acre. This 
he has improved until it now ranks with the 
best farms in the township. He erected a 
good frame house on a desirable building 
spot, planted an orchard and a grove of 
catalpa trees, consisting of three acres, be- 
sides building stables, cattle sheds and mak- 
ing many other improvements. His farm is 
fenced into four fields. Mr. Parker has had 
an experience of many years in farming and 
stock-raising, and is making a specialty of 
Poland-China hogs, having thoroughbred 
registered stock, the best in the county. He 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



465 



also devotes his attention to raising the pure 
Plymouth Rock chickens. 

Mr. Parker was married in Mills County, 
Iowa, January 14, 1873, to Miss Mary E. 
Foxworthy, a lady of intelligence and refine- 
ment, and a native of Indiana. Her parents 
were Joseph and Mary Foxworthy. Mr. 
and Mrs. Parker have eight children, as fol- 
lows: Louisa and Minnie Stella, James Henry, 
Frederick William, Bertha Ellen, Robert 
Lincoln, Elva May and John Sherman. Mr. 
Parker's political views are in harmony with 
Republican principles. He lias served the 
public as Township Trustee, and as a member 
of the School Board. He is an active mem- 
ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church of 
Lone Star, and is a steward of the same. He 
has also served as superintendent of the 
Sabbath-school. Mr. Parker is an enterpris- 
ing and worthy citizen, and every movement 
that favors education, good morals or i-eligion 
is certain to find in him an earnest supporter. 



H. FOSTER, one of the prominent 
business men of Council Bluffs, is 
^® owner and proprietor of the Council 
BlufEs Paint, Oil and Glass Company. Mr. 
Foster has been a resident of this city since 
1875, at which time he formed a co-partner- 
ship with his brother, A. D. Foster, under 
the firm name of A. D. Foster & Co. This 
partnership continued until April, 1889, 
when the subject of this notice became sole 
proprietor of the business. The brother re- 
ferred to above came to Council Bluffs in 
1870, and engaged in the drug and paint 
business. Mr. Foster has an extensive trade. 
He has this year erected a fine block of tene- 
ment houses on the corner of First avenue and 
Eighth street, at a cost of about $1,600, the 
best structures of their kind in the city. He 



has done considerable other building, amount- 
ing in all to about $30,000. 

He was born in Sackett's Harbor, Jefferson 
County, New York, in 1843. His father 
was Derley Foster. In 1846 the latter re- 
moved with his family to Waukesiia County, 
Wisconsin, where they resided until 1871, 
when the family removed to Walworth Coun- 
ty, same State, where the father soon after- 
ward died, the mother surviving until 1882. 
Derley Foster was a farmer by occupation. 
He was twice married. The maiden name 
of his first wife was Diana Enos. She was 
the second wife of her husband, and died 
as above stated, in 1882, at the home of 
her son, S. H. Foster. Derley Foster was 
the father of nine children, seven of whom 
are living. The subject of this notice en- 
listed in the summer of 1862, in Company 
B, Twenty-eighth Wisconsin Volunteer In- 
fantry, and served till the close of the war. 
The date of his enlistment was August 17, 
1862, and of his discharge September 17, 
1865. He was in active service during the 
whole of his enlistment. After the war Mr. 
Foster remained upon the home farm for a 
year and a half. He then went to Colorado, 
and was engaged in mining about three 
years, when he returned to Waukesha County, 
Wisconsin, and in 1877 became a resident of 
Council Bluffs. 

He was married in November, 1872, to 
Miss Adda L. Green, a native of Walworth 
County, Wisconsin. This union has been 
blessed with four children, two of whom are 
living: Roy H. and Minnie M. They lost 
their oldest child, Albert, at the age of nine- 
teen months, and Mabel, their third child, at 
the age of eight years. Mr. Foster was be- 
reaved of his wife by death, September 8, 
1887, his daughter having died on the fourth 
of July of the same year. October 3, 1888, 
he was united in marriage to Mrs. Minnie S. 



486 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY 



Couchman, at Waukesha, Wisconsin. Mr. 
Foster is one of the representative business 
men of Council Bluffs, and one of its enter- 
prising and progressive citizens. 



fOIIN BOOK.— In sketching the lives of 
the pioneer settlers and prominent citi- 
zens of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, 
the writer finds the name of John Book 
among the early residents of Waveland Town- 
ship, lie has made liis home here since 
1866. 

Mr. Book was born in Clarke County, Ohio, 
April 5, 1843, son of William H. and Mary 
(Leffel) Book, natives of Botetourt County, 
Virginia, and Ohio respectively. Both his 
paternal and maternal grandfathers, John 
Book and Daniel Leffel, were natives of 
Pennsylvania. The subject of our sketch 
was reared in Ohio and Indiana, as his father 
moved back and forth two or three times. 
He was brought up on a farm, aud educated 
in the common schools of those States. His 
father was a carpenter by trade, for a time 
was in the mercantile business, and later in 
life turned his attention to agricultural pur- 
suits. He died in Pottawattamie County, 
Iowa, October 11, 1884. His wife died 
when Jolm was live years old. 

In 1865 Mr. Book came to this county, 
and, in partnership with hia father, bought 
some wild land. Some time later he sold his 
interest to his father, after which he bought 
200 acres where he now lives, and since has 
sold ten acres of timber. In 1889 he pur- 
chased eighty acres more, now owning 270 
acres of well-improved land. He has a good 
frame house, the main part a story and a half, 
and a one-story L. Other improvements are 
a beautiful grove and orchard of three acres, 
a barn, 36x50 feet with sixteen-foot posts, 



cribs, granary and good fences. His farm is 
divided into several fields, and every thing is 
arranged with reference to convenience. He 
is engaged in general farming and stock- 
raising. 

Mr. Book was married May 15, 1872, to 
Miss Sally Maria Potter, daughter of H. C. 
and Caroline (Parmiey) Potter. Her father 
is one of the prominent citizens of Waveland 
Township. Mr. and Mrs. Book have four 
children: Arthur Benton, Orrin Orlando. 
John Kay and Ruth. In his political views 
Mr. Book is a dyed-in-the-wool Republican. 
He lias served in some of the township 
oflices, always with credit to himself aud for 
the best interests of the public. He and his 
wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church of Walnut Valley, in which he has 
served as steward. Broad and progressive in 
his views, he favors education, good morals 
and religion, and gives an earnest support to 
all worthy causes. 



►>^ 



NDRE W HELLMANN, a prominent 
and reliable citizen of Walnut, was born 
in Schleswig, Germany, the son of John 
P. Hellmann, a farmer by occupation. Ee 
was the father of six children: John L., Gars- 
ten, Andrew, Hama, Lena, and one who died in 
infancy. Tiie father lived to theage of sixty-five 
years, dying in Germany. Andrew Hellmann, 
his son and the subject of this sketch, was 
born March 5, 1844, and was rearsd to farm 
life. He came to America at the age of 
twenty-seven years, in 1870, landing at Que- 
bec. He then went to Chicago, and next to 
Pennsylvania, where he worked for the Chi- 
cago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad. In 
1873 he came to Iowa, and worked on a farm 
in Clinton County, and in 1880 came to Wal- 
nut, where he has since remained. 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



467 



In 1885 he was married to Dora Hansen. 
In his political opinions he is a staunch Dem- 
ocrat, and is well-known as a straight-forward 
man, a believer in personal liberty, and is a 
good American citizen. 



^OLONEL D. B. DAILEY, an attorney 
at Council Bluffs, Iowa, was born in 
Ireland, November 15, 1840, and when 
six years old came to this country with his 
parents, who settled in Ohio. He was edu- 
cated chiefly at New Richmond, Ohio, at the 
Southwestern State Normal School, at Leb- 
anon, and at Antioch College, same State, 
when the celebrated educator, Horace Maun, 
was the president of that institution. 

At the breaking out of tlie great Rel)ellion, 
he enlisted, April 19, 1861, in Company B, 
Second Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, as a 
private, and served over a year in the ranks; 
was promoted to Second Lieutenant, Septem- 
ber 16, 1862; First Lieutenant, June 2, 1863; 
Captain, May 25, 1864; and to Major of the 
Sixth Wisconeiin Veteran Volunteer Infantry, 
December 21, 1864. August 1, 1864, he was 
brevetted Major by the President of the 
United States, with the approval of the Senate, 
for continued and meritorious services in the 
Army of the Potomac up to that time; and on 
the 21st of that inonth he was brevetted 
Lieutenant Colonel, for gallant conduct in 
the action of that date, at Yellow Tavern on 
the Weldon Railroad, in Virginia. March 8, 
1865, he was appointed president of a military 
commission. March 31, same year, he was 
brevetted Colonel for gallant and meritorious 
services at the battle of White Oak, or Boyil- 
town Plank Road, Virginia, and for continued 
good conduct during the war. June 11, 
1864, at the expiration of the term of enlist- 
ment of his regiment, the Second Wisconrrin, 



he was retained in the service at his own re- 
quest, by order of the War Department, and 
was appointed Provost- Marshal, and placed 
upon the staff of General Cutler, Division 
Commander. In addition to his duties as 
Provost-Marshal, he also commanded the 
Wisconsin Independent Battalion, composed 
of veterans and recruits of the Second Wis- 
consin, whose term of enlistment had not 
expired with the old regiment. He also com- 
manded, for a short time, the first battalion of 
New York Sharpshooters, and at the battle 
of Hatcher's Run was assigned to the tem- 
porary command of the One Hundred and 
Forty-Seventh New York Volunteer Infan- 
try. He served on the staffs of Generals 
Henry A. Morrow, Cutler, Bragg, Crawford 
and Major General G. K. Warren. During 
his period of service he commanded the Sixth 
Wisconsin Veteran Volunteer Infantry, an- 
other of the regiments of the famous Iron 
Brigade, and was conspicuously at its head at 
the grand review of the Army of the Potomac, 
after which he was assigned to the command 
of a provisional brigade, with orders to report 
to General Logan, at Louisville, Kentucky, 
which he did. 

Following is a list of the principal engage- 
ments in which Colonel Dailey participated: 
Battle of Blackburn's Ford, July 18, 1861, 
where he was wounded; First Bull Run, July 
21, 1861; Cedar or Slaughter Mountain, Au- 
gust 12 and 13, 1862; White Sulphur Springs, 
later in the same month; Gainesville, August 
28, 1862; Second Bull Run, August 29 and 
30, 1862; South Mountain, September 14, 
1862; Antietam, Septemoer 17, 1862; cam- 
paign under Burnside against Fredericks- 
burg, and the battle of Fredericksburg, 
December, 1862; battle of Chancellorsville, 
May, 1863. 

The winter and spring of 1868, Colonel 
Dailey was on independent duty, during 



468 



BIOGRAPHICAL HlSTORr 



which lie participated in, and conducted 
several successful expeditions, through the 
counties lying between the Potomac and 
Rappahannock rivers in Virginia, for the 
success of whicli he was highly complimented 
in general orders. For the crossing of the 
Rappahannock, at Fitzhugh Landing, Colonel 
Dailey was thanked in general orders, by bri- 
gade and division commanders, for gallantry 
and skill, displayed at the crossing aforesaid, 
in facenf the enemy, and was afterward recom- 
mended for promotion on account of same. 

He was in the campaign through Mary- 
land, Pennsylvania, and in the battle of 
Gettysburg, July 1, 1863, and was conspicu- 
ous for gallantry in the charge of the Iron 
Brigade against Archer's Confederate Brigade, 
and in this engagement received the surren- 
der and sword of the Confederate Getieral 
Archer, which sword he still retains. Later 
in the day of that battle he was severely 
wounded and fell into the hands of the 
enemy, but escaped from their guard on the 
night of July 5, and rejoining his command 
July 11, was assigned to the staff of General 
Henry A. Morrow, which position he retained 
until February, 1864; was with the army at 
the battle of Mine Run, and all of its en- 
counters with the enemy at Rappahannock 
Station and Brandy Station. He was with 
General Morrow at the capture and destruc- 
tion of Raccoon Ford, on the Rapidan, Vir- 
ginia; was wounded May 5, 1864, in the iirst 
day's battle of the Wilderness, but did nnt 
leave the held. He served through the 
"Wilderness campaign, and was again wounded 
in battle in front of Petersburg, June 18, 
1864. He was ch-ef of General Crawford's 
staff in the expedition of the Fifth Army 
Corps to the Malieran River, in its effort to 
destroy the Weldon Railroad, and with 
General Morrow conducted the retreat of 
that campaign. 



In the battle of Weldon Railroad, August 
21, 1864, he was on General Cutler's (Division 
Commander) staff, and in the executii>n of 
an order of that General was dangerously 
wounded by the Confederate General John- 
son Hagood, who commanded a brigade in 
Mabone's division; but, just before being shot 
by General Hagood, Colonel Dailey secured 
the colors of one of the Confederate regi- 
ments which surrendered to him; and at the 
time of being shot he was holding the Con- 
federate regimental colors and flag. In this 
transaction and dash of Colonel Dailey, great 
danger was averted to the union lines, behind 
which the gallant Confederate General Ha- 
good had carried his brigade. This incident 
in the history of the war has become so 
famous that we here give it in the language of 
General Hagood, who shot Colonel Dailey: 

" This officer (Colonel Dailey, of General 
Cutler's staff), had galloped out of a sally- 
port, seized a color from the hands of its 
bearer, and demanded a surrender. Some 
officers and men surrendered, but were not 
carried in; others refused, but just around 
him ceased fighting. General Hagood called 
to the men to shoot him and fall back in 
retreat. They either did not hear liim or, 
bewildered by the surrender of part of their 
number, failed to obey. It was a critical 
moment, and demanded instant and decided 
action. In a few moments the disposition to 
surrender would have spread, and tlie whole 
brigade have been lost. Making his way 
across the intervening space as speedily as he 
could, exposed to a regular tire by file from 
the enemy's line scarce thirty yards off, and 
calling to his men to fall back, which they 
did not do, General Hagood approached 
Colonel Dailey and demanded the colors, 
and that he should go back within his own 
lines, telling him that he was free to do so. 
Colonel Dailey commenced arguing the hope- 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



469 



lessness of further struggle, and pointed out 
the line in our rear. Hagood cut Lira short 
and demanded a categorical reply — yes or no. 
Dailey was a man of fine presence, with long 
flowing beard, and sat with loosened rein upon 
a noble-looking bay that stood with head and 
tail erect, and flashing eye and distended 
nostrils, quivering in every limb with excite- 
ment, but not moving in his tracks. In reply 
to this abrupt demand the rider raised his 
head proudly and decisively answered Ifo! 
Upon the word General Hagood shot him 
through the body, and as he reeled from the 
saddle upon one side. General Hagood sprang 
into it from the other, Orderly Stoney seizing 
the flag from his falling hands. 

" It was one of the most dashing feats wit- 
nessed by me on either side during the war. 
Upon the chance of securing a prize for the 
side he served so well, Colonel Dailey doubly 
staked his life, for he was, wliile in the Con- 
federate line, in as much danger from the fire 
of his own men as from that of his enemy." 
History has recorded this dash on the part 
of Colonel Dailey as one of the two bravest 
acts of the war. It is recorded in volume II, 
page 595, of General Beauregard's Military 
Operations of the War; and the same bril- 
liant conduct is mentioned in Swinton's Army 
of the Potomac. It is also made the subject 
of a poem, entitled, " The Charge of Hagitod's 
Brigade," in a work known as the " hiving 
Writers of the South," besides being recorded 
in general orders and reports of the operations 
of that battle; by Major General G. K. War- 
ren, commanding the Fifth Army Corps. It 
was commented upon by Southern papers as 
one of the two bravest acts of the war; the 
other being by a Confederate soldier. General 
Hagood and Colonel Dailey are to-day the 
warmest and best of friends, although they 
have never met except upon the bloody battle- 
field of the Weldon Kaih-oad, but have had ex- 



tended correspondence. As General Hagood 
wrote, Colonel Dailey, to secure the surrender 
of a whole brigade, came very near suc- 
ceeding. 

On account of the above wound, Colonel 
Dailey was in the hospital over three months, 
and is still a constant sufferer from the same. 
He was in battle of Gravelly Run March 31, 
1865, and at Boydton Plank Road, April 2, 
1865, was wounded again. He was honor- 
ably discharged from the service of the United 
States at Madison, Wisconsin, July 28, 1865; 
visited Europe in 1866, and took up his resi- 
dence at Council Bluffs, Iowa, in 1867, where 
he has ever since resided. In 1868 he was 
admitted to the bar. In 1872 he was ap- 
pointed by the Governor of the State to the 
ofiice of District Attorney for the third ju- 
dicial district, the duties of which office he 
performed with marked ability. In 1886 he 
was nominated and elected to the office of 
County Attorney, for two years, and declined 
re-nomination. 

During his practice as an attorney he has 
participated in the trial of some of the most 
important cases occurring in the State, both 
civil and criminal. In politics he has always 
been an ardent Republican, and always a 
warm friend and advocate of the public school 
system of the country. He was one of the 
charter members of Abe Lincoln Post, of 
the Grand Army of the Republic; and of the 
Union Veteran Legion, located at Council 
BluflFs. to which organizations he was devoted. 
He took great pleasure in having been a 
member of the old Iron Brigade, of the Army 
of the Potomac, and of being a member and 
officer of two of the regiments composing 
that organization, which distinguished them- 
selves upon every battle-field against the Con- 
federate army under General Lee; and he was 
especially proud of having risen from the 
rank of a private soldier to that of captain in 



470 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY 



the Second Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, 
the regiment that enjoys the supreme honor 
and distinction of having sustained the great- 
est percentage of loss, in killed and wounded, 
of all regiments in the entire Union army, 
in proportion to its number of enrollment. 
May 3, 1890, Colonel Dailey was commis- 
sioned Captain of Company A, of the Fifth 
Regiment, I. N. G., being the Dodge Light 
Guard, of Council Bluffs, Iowa. Since the 
war he has taken a deep interest in military 
affairs, and has one of the best libraries of 
military text-books and histories in the 
country. 

On September 28, 1874, he married Miss 
Mary E. Warren, who was born in Lincoln 
County, Ontario, Canada, and was a graduate 
of the high school of Council Bluffs, Iowa. 
They have four sons and two daughters, 
whose names are, in the order of age: Frances, 
Warren, Robert L., Ada M., Frederick Ney 
and Chester A. Dailey. Like the father, the 
children are fond of horse-back riding, and 
are graceful and at home in the saddle. 



tUZERN SHELDON, one of tiie promi- 
nent and successful farmers of Wash- 
ington Township, Pottawattamie County, 
Iowa, located here in 1874. He was born in 
Trumbull County, Ohio, February 20, 1841. 
His father, Benjamin Sheldon, was a native 
of Connecticut, and a son of Jonathan Shel- 
don, who was born in New England. The 
ancestors of the Sheldon family were English 
people, who came to Ohio, in 1816, and set- 
tled in Fowler, Trumbull County. The 
mother of our subject was nee Ada Ames, 
daughter of Benjamin Ames, also a New- 
Entrlander. She was born in Massachusetts, 
and was married in Trumbull County, Ohio, 
to Benjamin Sheldon. They reared four chil- 



dren, as follows: Joel, a resident of Caro, 
Tuscola County, Michigan; Luzern; Sarah, 
deceased; and De Ette Browning, a resident 
of Geauga County, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. 
Sheldon lived in Trumbull County until their 
death, the father dying at the age of sixty- 
three years. He was a farmer all his life, a 
Democrat, and a member of the Christian 
Church. 

Luzern Sheldon was brought up on the 
farm, and was educated in the public schools 
of his native State. August 31, 1862, he 
wedded Miss Anna Andrews, a lady of intelli- 
gence and of a good family. She was born 
at Hartford, Trumbull County, Ohio, the 
daughter of Drayton Andrews. Her grand- 
father Chester Andrews, was a Deacon in the 
Presliyterian Church. Mrs. Sheldon's moth- 
er's maiden name was Anna Bates. She was 
also born at Hartford, Trumbull County, 
Ohio, and was a daughter of Daniel Bates. 
She died and left four daughters, Mrs. Shel- 
don being only seven months old at that 
time. The father subsequently removed to 
Hillsdale, Michigan, where he died at the 
age of seventy-six years. He was a merchant 
and a miller. In politics he was a Repub- 
lican, and in religion a Presbyterian. The 
other three daughters are Lovina Jones, Fow- 
ler, Ohio; Fidelia Finney, who died in Trum- 
bud County, Ohio; and Laura King, a resi- 
dent of Castlewood, South Dakota. 

Mr. Sheldon lived in his native county 
until 1874, when he came to Iowa and bought 
160 acres of land, his present farm. This 
country was then thinly settled, and for two 
years he was two miles and a half from his 
nearest neighbor. The wild land has been 
converted into a well improved farm, with 
grove and orchard, barn and other necessary 
buildin<j:s. His house is one and a. half 
stories, 14 x 24 feet, with a one-story addi- 
tion, 14 X 20 feet. It is built in the southern 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



471 



style, and is situated on a natural building 
site near the road. 

Eight children have been born to Mr. and 
Mrs. Sheldon, namely: Homer L. is married 
and lives in Nebraska; Rev. Chester E. 
Sheldon was educated in Dixon, Illinois, is 
married and resides in P'loyd County, Iowa. 
He is a minister in the Evangelical Churcli, 
has met with success in his laliors to spread 
the Gospel, and is now only twenty-iive years 
old; Benjamin, who was educated in Hills- 
dale, Michigan, is also a resident of, Floyd 
County, Iowa; Guy A., who lias been in 
Woodbury County, Iowa, the past year, is 
now at home; Frank is in Ohio; Clayton, at 
St. Paul, Minnesota, with his uncle; and 
Ettie K. and Anna Pearl are now attending 
the home school. Mr. Sheldon, liis wife and 
seven of their children are members of tlie 
Evangelical Church. In political views he is 
independent. He is a man in the prime of 
life, and is regarded by all who know him as 
a worthy and respected citizen. 

•x.i ^ . i ii ; . ^ 



fj. EVANS, one of the leading busi- 
ness men of Council Bluffs, deserves 
f^=" " more than ordinary notice in this 
work. He was born in May, 1831, in Jack- 
sonville, Illinois, and in 1846 tnoved to La 
Salle, Illinois, and from there to Council 
Blufl's. He was born and raised on a farm, 
one among the early settlers of Illinois; wit- 
nessed the growth of Chicago from a small 
town to its present proportions. When he 
carted the wheat from tiie farm to Chicago, 
100 miles distant over the wild prairies, cook- 
ing his own food ami sleeping under the 
wagon, obtaining for his wheat 35 to 40 cents 
per bushel, at that time the settlements of 
Illinois were confined to the skirts of timber 
and streams, and her vast prairies were un- 

35 



settled. He is familiar with the hardships 
of pioneer life in Illinois; born to parents of 
Scotch and Welsh descent; of strong physi- 
cal development, to whom hardship and pri- 
vation seemed more of a pastime than a bur- 
den, and to-day, at the age of si.xty, is almost 
as athletic as the average man of tliirty. 

His father, Hon. James Evans, was born 
in Alabama, in 1799, and married Miss Phe- 
riba Elam in 1820, and in 1826 emigrated to 
Illinois, settling upon a farm three miles east 
of Jacksonville. Being a man of superior 
intelligence and executive ability, he soon 
became an important factor in affairs of State, 
being a member of the First State Constitu- 
tional Convention of Illinois, and a Senator 
of the fir^t State Legislature at Yandalia. 
On the outbreak of the Black Hawk war he 
was commissioned Colonel by the President 
of the United States, and served in that ca- 
pacity until the Indians were driven from 
the State. A portion of that time his head- 
quarters were at Fort Dearborn, now the 
business center of Cliicago. He was subse- 
quently appointed Register of the United 
States Land Office at Galena, for the north- 
ern half of the State of Illinois, in 1835, by 
President Jackson. On account of exposures 
in the Black Hawk war, he contracted rheu- 
matism, and finally pulmonary consumption, 
of which he died in August, 1837. 

During his residence near Jacksonville, 
Stephen A. Douglas tauglit school in a log 
school-house near by, — the only kind of 
school-house in fashion in those days — and 
made his home at Colonel Evans', to whom 
he afterward attributed his start in political 
life; for it was through Colonel Evans' influ- 
ence in the Legislature that he secured the 
appointment of Prosecuting Attorney for 
Jacksonville and the Springfield District. 
Colonel Evans was associated with such men 
the Hon. iS^inian Edwards and Joseph 



as 



472 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY 



Duncan, first State Governors, Murray Mc- 
Connell, Colonel Weatherford, Stephen A. 
Douglas, Abraham Lincoln, etc. Colonel 
Evans and wife were members of the Pres- 
byterian Church. Of their ten children, four 
are still living: William, in Chicago; J. F., 
in Council Bluffs; Mrs. David Richie, in La 
Salle, Illinois, and the subject of this sketch. 
In December, 1863, Mr. T. J. Evans, our 
present subject, married Augusta A.. Mun- 
ger, of Davenport, Iowa. Four children have 
been born to them: Clarence (dead); Clara, 
Thomas J., Jr., and Harry, aged respectively 
seventeen, fourteen and ten years. In 1867 
he came to Council Bluffs, where he has since 
been actively engaged in business — in lum- 
ber, grain, milling, banking, real-estate, 
bridge and railway enterprises, etc. lie was 
the promoter of and organized the Omaha & 
Council Bluffs Railway & Bridge Company, 
of which he was managing director during 
the construction and equipment of the bridge 
and railway, giving it his personal attention 
from the inception of the enterprise to its 
final completion; assuming the office of a 
politician in conducting the election, and in 
obtaining a tax to aid the enterprise; with 
the City Council in obtaining franchises of 
streets, and in lobbying with Congress in 
securing a charter; engineering, in making 
surveys, soundings of the Missouri Riverbed 
and making plans and specifications for the 
bridge, approaches, roadway and buildings; 
builder, in superintending the construction 
and building of the bridge, railway and build- 
ings; electrician, in drafting specifications, 
directing and superintending the construc- 
tion and equipment of a model electric rail- 
way; business manager, by making economi- 
cal contracts and purchases of all materials 
going into the building and equipping of the 
bridge, railway, buildings, cars and machin- 
ery. He introduced to the public the first 



complete and practical electric railway built 
in the United States, making a grand success 
of the enterprise both practically and finan- 
cially. In 1888 he procured a franchise from 
the city of Ottawa, Illinois, for the construc- 
tion of an electric street railway in that city, 
and during the succeeding year he, with as- 
sociates, built and equipped a line nearly ten 
miles in length — the first electric street rail- 
way liuilt and operated in Illinois. He is 
still a large stockholder in both enterjjrises. 
He has always been at the front in assist- 
ing public enterprises tending to build up 
Council Bluffs, and has detnonstrated that he 
has a keen insight into human nature, and 
the practical character of proposed enter- 
prises. He is progressive, energetic, lii)eral 
and generous. He is strictly temperate, a 
supporter of morality and good government, 
though not a member of any church. He is 
a generous supporter of religious institutions 
generally. He is a stanch Republican, but 
no office seeker, having; no ambition forhold- 
ing office. By the exercise of strict business 
principles, untiring energy, industry and 
good judgment, he has accumulated a com- 
fortable fortune. 



I^ENRY A. TERRY, nurseryman near 
Crescent City, was born in Cortland 
County, JSew York, July 12. 1826, a 
son of Otis and Cynthia (Ruggles) Terry, 
natives of Worcester, Massachusetts, and of 
Irish and Scotch origin. They were reared 
in their native county and married in 1816. 
A few ypars later they removed to New York, 
in which State they resided in several places, 
— in Otsego, Cortland and Broome counties. 
Mr. Terry was generally a farmer, l)ut at 
times he devoted his attention chiefly to 
veo-etable crardenincr. In 1836 he moved to 

G t^ o 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE OOUNTT. 



473 



Oakland County, Michigan, and next to 
Livingston County, same State, purchased a 
farm and resided upon it until 1844, and 
then moved to Knox County, Illinois, and 
lived there some two years. In 1846 he 
moved to Decatur County, Iowa, in 1848, to 
Pottawattamie County, in 1853 or 1854, to 
Utah, where he died, in December, 1887, at 
the advanced age of ninety- three years. In 
that Territory he raised a great variety of 
fruit, on a fine large fruit-farm about twelve 
miles from Salt Lake City. He was a mem- 
ber of the Church of Latter- Day Saints, as 
was also his wife, who died in Decatur Coun- 
ty, Iowa, in 1847, at the age of fifty-three 
years. Three of their five children are still 
living, viz.: Otis L. and Charles A., who re- 
side in Utah, the latter a minister of the 
Church of Latter-Day Saints; Henry A. was 
the third in order of birth; and Oris M. and 
Edwin D. are deceased. 

Henry A. was reared to farm life and 
attained his knowledge of the business world 
by observation. He left his parents at 
Nauvoo, at the age of twenty years, striking 
out in the world for himself. He followed 
fanning at Garden Grove, this State, until 
1847; taught school in the winter of 1846- 
'47, and thus earned the first money he could 
call his own. In the fall of the latter year 
he came to Pottawattamie County and located 
on Honey Creek, in what is now Rockford 
Township, and taught school during the en- 
suing winter. In September, 1848, he mar- 
ried, and the next spring he moved to Cres- 
cent City and engage.1 in mercantile business, 
in the first store in the town and the second 
in the county. After running that about 
three years he sold it and went to New 
Haven, Connecticut, for two years. Then he 
came to Council Bluffs, at that time called 
Kanesville, and engaged in the seed and 
grain business in company with J. E. John- 



son, and remained in that relation until 1857. 
Moving then to Crescent City he continued 
in the same business until 1860, when he 
sold out, having commenced the nursery 
business in 1856 and establishing one of the 
first nurseries and now the oldest one in the 
county. In nursery and orchard he has 100 
acres. He takes great pride in his vocation, 
making discoveries, etc., being one of the 
State experimental station directors. Of the 
home place there are 140 acres, and in pas- 
ture some sixty acres. When he purchased 
that place it was entirely wild prairie. 

On national questions he is a Democrat. 
Has held various township offices: been 
Trustee for sixteen j'ears, and Township 
Treasurer for the Board of Education. 

In September, 1848, he married Rachel 
T. Sirrine, who had come to the county that 
year. She was born in New Haven, Con- 
necticut, in 1824, and died July 12, 1873. 
Her parents were Eliphaz and Amarilla (San- 
ford) Gillett. By this marriage there were 
six children, as follows: Henry S., now the 
oldest resident native of this township, being 
born here September 2, 1849; Mary C, de- 
ceased, wife of John P. Williams, of South 
Omaha: she was born December 26, 1852, 
and died October, 1886; Rachel A., born 
April 8, 1860, now the wife of William 
Nusura, near Woodbine, Harrison County; 
Charles T., born August 29, 1862, died 
March 3, 1864; Fannie M., born March 8, 
1865, is now Mrs. Christian Markesan, of 
Council Bluffs; and Adelaide, born March 6, 
1868, died the next day. 

For his present wife Mr. Terry married, 
October 15, 1873, Esther J. Hough, who was 
born November 5, 1844, in Montrose, Lee 
County, Iowa, daughter of S. M. and Eliza 
J. (Allen) Hough, and by this union there 
have also been six children, as follows: Flor- 
enceB., born July 18, 1874; Grace I., Feb- 



474 



BlOGRAPniCAL HISTORY 



rnary 17, 1876; Clara M., March 29, 1878, 
and died July 15, 1879; Myrtle C. born 
June 13, 1880, and died March 20, 1885; 
Howard A., born September 28, 1882; Otis 
M., born May 14, 1885, and died September 
7, 1886. 



♦!'ij)*"' •" 



tKINNEHAN, City Treasurer of Coun- 
cil Bluffs, was born in Woodville, 
* Province of Quebec, Canada, in 1845, 
son of James and Sarah A. (Miller) Kinne- 
han, natives of New York and New Hamp- 
shire and of Irish and Puritan extraction. 
When the subject of this sketch was quite 
young his parents moved to Wisconsin and 
became pioneers of Racine and Green Bay. 
The father was extensively engaged in the 
lumber business for a nuinherof years. About 
1860 he returned East, and died in Canada. 
The mother also died in the East. Our sub- 
ject was the fifth born of their nine sons and 
three daughters, all of whom are now living 
except one. He was reared in Wisconsin 
and educated in the public schools of that 
State. At the age of fourteen he entered 
upon a four years' apprenticeship to the tan 
ner and currier's trade, in which business he 
was engaged some twelve or fourteen years, 
working in Chicago, Milwaukee and other 
points. In 1870 he came to Council Bluffs, 
and here he engaged in the furuitui'c bnsi 
ness three years, after which he owned 
and operated a tannery about four years. 
But at the age of eighteen he entered the 
service of the United States Government at 
Chicago, was teamster and afterward clerk in 
the quartermaster's department at Nashville, 
and was mustered out of service in May, 
1865. Next he crossed the plains with 
a wagon train, and helped to build the 
Union Pacific Railway. While in the 



railroad employ he had the misfortune 
to lose one of his limbs. In 1886 he was 
elected City Auditor, and when his term of 
two years expired he engaged in the boot and 
shoe business on the corner of Broad and 
Bryant streets, which business he still con- 
ducts. In March, 1890, Mr. Kinnehan was 
again elected to the office of Treasurer. 
Politically, he is an independent Republican, 
being one of the active workers in his party. 
He is a member of the I. O. O. F., No. 49, 
the A. O. U. W., No. 270, and the K. of L., 
No. 1668, being treasurer of the last named. 
Mr. Kinnehan was married, in 1872, to 
Mary J. Palmer, a native of Salt Lake City, 
born in 1855. They have a family of four 
children: Nellie M., Eva, Delia and Annie. 
They hold to the belief of the Swedenborgian 
Church, or New Jerusalem Church, and are 
among the most worthy citizens of Council 
Bluffs. Mr. Kinnehan has aided in many of 
the enterprises of this city, and is now an 
active business man. 



| - 3"I - S 

fC. LANGE, City Auditor of Council 
Bluffs, was elected in March, 1890. He 
' is a native of Warsaw, Russia, born July 
21, 1846, son of Joseph and Julia Lange. 
His early youth was spent in his native 
land, and when he arrived at a jjroper age to 
attend school he was sent to a private in- 
stitution of learning at Holz-Minden, Ger- 
many. At the age of twenty-one he came to 
America and located at Brooklyn, where he 
remained one year. From there he came to 
Burlington, Iowa, and three or four years 
later went to St. Louis. After spending 
three years there he returned to Burlington, 
and in 1879 came to Council Bluffs. Here 
he encracred in the wholesale tobacco business, 
which he followed unril 1884. In that vear 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE GOUNTT. 



475 



be was employed by the Government as Rev 
euue Collector for the Second and afterward 
for the Fourth district, in which capacity he 
officiated until October, 1889. He affiliates 
with the Democratic party, taking an active 
interest in political worif. 

Mr. Lange is also engaged in the insurance 
business, and has an office at No. 538 Broad- 
way. He represents the following com- 
panies: New York Underwriters' Fire 
Association of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; 
American of Philadelphia; Union of Phila- 
delphia; Guardian of London, England; 
Hamburg-Bremen of Germany; Concordia 
of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and the St. Paul 
Fire & Marine of St. F'aul. Mr. Lange is a 
member of the I. O. O. F., No. 49, and the 
A. O. U. W., Hazel Camp. He also con- 
ducts the affairs of the Council Bluffs Music 
Company, at No. 538 West Broadway. 

The subject of our sketch was married, 
December 15, 1874, to Miss Ida Auwerda, of 
Ottumwa, a native of Holland. She was 
born May 14, 1856, daughter of C. L. and 
Jozena (Dirks) Auwerda. Mr. and Mrs. 
Lange are the parents of three children: Ju- 
lius C, Zena and Juliette. 



?UDGE GEORGE CARSON has been 
identified with the interests of Pottwat- 
tamie County since February, 1869. 
His paternal ancestors were fiom Ireland, 
and his maternal from England. The great- 
great-grandfather, Robert Carson, came from 
that country when about sixteen years of age, 
about 1740. He settled in a dense wilder- 
ness in Chester County, Pennsylvania, and 
cleared a farm and made a home, which was 
retained by his descendants for several gen- 
erations. His son, David Carson, was a 



farmer in Chester County, Pennsylvania, and 
during the Revolutionary war took an active 
part in establishing liberty in America, cul- 
tivating his farm in summers and with his 
team served with the army during falls and 
winters, and saw General Washington often at 
Valley Forge. His son, Hiram, the grand- 
father of our subject, and David the father, 
who were born and reared on the old Carson 
homestead in Chester County, Pennsylvania, 
remained there until about the year 1838. 
when they came West and settled in Indiana. 
The paternal grandmother was of Welsh and 
German parentage. The mother of our sub- 
ject was Hannah Bennett: her parents were 
natives of Derbyshire, England, and emi- 
grated to America after their marriage in 
1817, and settled on the new purchase, in 
what is now Jennings County, Indiana, 
where they cleared and improved a farm, and 
where Mrs. Carson was born and reared. As 
above stated the Carson family settled on the 
adjoining farm in 1838, and on August 8, 
1839, David Carson and Hannah Bennett 
were married, and settled on a farm in Jen- 
nings County, Indiana, and were the parents 
of nine children: seven lived to be grown 
and six still survive, of whom our subject 
was the eldest. Mrs. Carson died March 17, 
1871, at the age of forty-nine years, and Mr. 
Carson is now a resident of Bartholomew 
County, Indiana. 

Our subject was born in Jennings County, 
Indiana, February 5, 1841, and was reared on 
tlie farm, attended the public schools and an 
academy. In April, 1861, he enlisted in the 
State militia, and October 8 following he en- 
listed in Company K, Twelfth Indiana Vol- 
unteer Infantry, and served in General Banks' 
command on the upper Potomac, near Sharps- 
burg, Maryland, until February, 1862; was in 
two engagements during that period, and was 
at the attack on Jackson at Winchester, March 



47a 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORT 




THE GRAND HOTEL, COUNCIL BLUFFS, IOWA. 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



477 



1862. Shortly after tlie occupation of Win- 
chester his brigade was ordered to Warrenton 
Junction, Virginia, and remained there until 
the following May, when his term of service 
expired, and was mustered out of the service 
at Washington, May 20, 1862, as a Corporal. 
He returned home and remained until August 
10, 1862, when he again enlisted, in Company 
I, Sixty-eiglith Indiana Volunteer Infantry, 
and was made First Sergeant at the organization 
of the company, and was mustered into the 
service at Indianapolis August 19, and started 
South the same day, and in Kentucky was 
attaciied to General Dumont's command. In 
April, 1863, the regiment was assigned to 
the Second Brigade of the Fourth Division 
of the Fourteenth Army Corps, or tiie Army 
of the Cumberland. He participated in the 
battle of Hoover's Gap, Chickamaugaon Sep- 
tember 19 and 20, 1863, after which the regi- 
ment was transferred to the First Brigade, 
Third Division of the Fourth Army Corps. 
Was at the battle of Chattanooga, November 
23, 21 and 25, 1863, and was severely 
wounded at the storming of Mission Ridge 
on November 25. He continued on duty 
and was in a forced march to Knoxville, 
to raise the siege on Burnside, and was en- 
gaged in the campaign in East Tennessee, 
until April, 1864. April 3, 1863, he was 
promoted as Second Lieutenant, and July 1, 
1864, First Lieutenant, in which capacity he 
remained until the close of the war, and was 
honorably discharged at Indianapolis July 5, 
1865. 

After the war he attended the Hartsville 
University for a time, and January 1, 1866, 
he began reading law under the preceptorship 
of Colonel J. S. Scoby, of Greensburg, In- 
diana. He attended the Law Department of 
the University of Michigan, where he grad- 
uated in 1868, and the following year came 
to Council Bluffs, and began the practice of 



his profession, which he followed successfully 
until lie was elected, on the Republcan ticket, 
as a Representative from Pottawattamie 
County in 1877 and re-elected in 1879. He 
was elected to the State Senate in 1883, for 
a term of four years. In 1886 he was elected 
Judge of the Fifteenth District for a term of 
four years and lias served the full term. 

Judge Carson was married October 5, 
1871, to Miss Rachel L. Boyce, of Ypsilanti, 
Michigan, a daughter of John and Priscilla 
(Vinning) Boyce; her father is of Irish and 
her mother of English descent. By this 
union there were seven children, six of whom 
still survive: Hannah L., Rachel B., George 
D., Grace S., Janette R. and Hiram J. 
Mary P. died when six months old. Judge 
Carson is a member of the F. & A. M., Ex- 
celsior Lodge, No. 259, and of the G. A. R., 
Abe Lincoln Post, No. 29; and Union Vet- 
eran Legion Encampment, No. 8. Mrs. Car- 
son is a member of the Presbyterian Church. 
Politically he affiliates with the Republican 
party. 



EORGE H. CHAMP, of the firm of 
Kimball & Champ, bankers, and vice- 
president of the Kimball & Champ In- 
vestment Company, was born November 13, 
1856, at Rockford, Illinois, whither his par- 
ents, Frederick and Frances (Lucas) Champ, 
natives of England, had moved in their 
younger days. He was their second son, and 
is the only member of the family now living. 
As he grew up he received a liberal educa- 
tion in the public schools of his native village, 
and completed a commercial cour&e of in- 
struction in Chicago. In the spring of 1879 
he came to Omaha in quest of a business 
position, and in July lie came over to Council 
Bluffs. Here he met his present partner, 



478 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTOUY. 



John F. Kimball, a young man in pursuit of 
the same object. P^orming a partnerobip, 
they ])urcliased the old abstract books of J. 
P. & J. N. Casady, and began to lay the 
foundation of their present large and grow- 
ing business. Tliey have since added money- 
lending, and finally banking, and to-day their 
investment securities are well and favorably 
known even in the East. They are now do- 
ing the largest business in their line in the 
Missouri River Valley. They have built two 
of the finest blocks in the city. One, the 
Grand Hotel Block, a cut of wliich appears 
on page 476, is probably the finest pri- 
vate build infr in the State of Iowa. Mr. 
Champ has also a half interest in the Bank 
of Minden, at Minden, this State; and he is 
also a member of the firm of Kimball, 
Champ & Ryan, bond-brokers in Omaha. 
He is known as one of the leading young 
business men of the State. Unaided and 
alone, he has risen from a small begining to 
an eminence in the social and business world 
that is rarely attained in a long and successful 
business life. The firm are indeed examples 
of what young men may accomplish by ad- 
hering to the principles of integrity when 
they have natural ability and untiring energy. 



|OBERT KIRKWOOD, a farmer of 
M Ci'escent Township, was born in P'ife- 
shire, Scotland, July 27, 1827, a son of 
Robert and Agnes (Strang) Kirkwood; the 
father died in his native country, and the 
mother in this county, in 1858. In June, 
1847, he married Mary Muir, a native of 
Fifeshire, Scotland. In March, 1848, he emi- 
grated to America, landing, after a voyage 
of seven weeks, at New Orleans, with other 
members of his family and that of his wife's. 
They reached Florence, Nebraska, May 20. 



An anecdote here. The next morning 
after they landed here, Mr. Kirkwood was the 
subject of a little joke. He and his brother- 
in-law were out taking a little stroll when 
they met some young men, who accosted 
them with the remark that they " had found 
a hog's head last night." He asked them 
why they didn't find the ■» hog," too. He then 
discovered that it was a "hosshead" of sugar 
that had been stolen ! 

A day or two afterward they crossed the 
river into Pottawattamie County, locating 
within a short distance of where Mr. Kirk- 
wood now lives. He settled temporarily 
upon public land that had not yet come into 
market, and made some improvements, not 
expecting to remain, and experienced many 
privations, 'mid Indians, wild beasts, etc., 
common to the frontier. When the land 
came into market he purchased eighty acres 
on section 24, Crescent Township, at $1.25 
per acre. Ho erected a log cabin, fourteen 
feet square, which he made his home for a 
number of years. The first marketing he did 
was to sell a load of corn, which lie hauled to 
Florence, Nebraska, at that time Indian 
Territory, with three yoke of oxen, through 
sloughs and over prairies, having no road. 
On the way he liad to unload three times and 
carry the corn over the muddy ground some 
distance in baskets. The $25 he received 
for the corn was tlie first money he mode by 
his farming here. In early times he did con 
siderable work by the day, laboring some- 
times for wages as low as forty cents per day. 
To his first purchase of land he has added 
others until he novf has 507 acres, in Crescent 
and Norwalk townships. His residence is on 
on section 26, Crescent Township. He has 
always turned bis attention to farming and 
stock-raising until about five years ago, since 
which time he has retired from active labor. 
By his honesty and integrity he has won a 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



479 



good reputation, and lie has done much to 
build up the interest of the community in 
which he resides. As early as 1849 lie was 
one of iive who went into Harrison County 
and erected a number of log cabins for the 
early settlers there. He is a solid citizen 
and a solid Democrat; has been a member of 
the Board of Supervisors, of Pottawattamie 
County, three terms; Township Trustee,, and 
Treasurer of the School Board for sixteen 
years continuously; was one of the organizers 
of the Council Bluffs Savings Bank, and is 
now a stockholder; was once nominated by 
his party for Representative to the State 
Legislature, but declined. He has been a 
member of the Crescent City Mutual Pro- 
tection Association since its organization in 
1872, being now president of that society. 
He is also a member of the Grange. He 
and his wife are both members of the Church 
of Latter-day Saints. 

His children are: Jennett, wife of William 
McKeown, of Boomer Township; Agnes, now 
Mrs. Hans N. Hansen, of Hazel Dell Town- 
ship; Isabel, deceased, wife of T. F. Finch, 
of Hancock County. Iowa; John, a resident 
of Norwalk Township, this county, and mar- 
ried to Agnes Lapworth; James, Thomas and 
Lizzie, at homo. Three of the children are 
deceased . 



I^OSE COMPANY No. 3, Council Bluffs. 
James G. Bradley, Superintendent of 
the fire and police electric departments, 
of Council Bluffs, has served in this capacity 
since 1884, and previous to this he served in 
the volunteer fire department from 1879. He 
came to Council Bluffs in the spring of 1878, 
where he has since been a constant resident. 
He was born in Phillipsburg, New Jersey, 
May 1, 1858, the son of Charles and Mary 



Ellen (Creveling) Bradley, natives of Con- 
necticut and of Irish and English descent. 
He was brought up in his native State, and 
in early life was engaged in painting and 
papei -hanging, which he followed until 1884, 
when he took the position he now occupies. 
He has the electric department under his con- 
trol, and is a live and energetic man in his 
position. Politically he is a Democrat, and 
socially is a member of Twin Brother En- 
campment, No. 42, I. O. O. F.; Canton No. 
21; subordinate No. 49; and of the Red Men, 
Pottawattam ie Tribe, No. 21 ; and also a mem- 
ber of the Council Bluffs Veteran Firemen's 
Association. He is a man of worth and 



experience. 



spe 

N. B. Wicks, Captain of Hose No. 3, has 
been connected with the fire department of 
Council Bluffs since 1876. He was born in 
Shelby County, Iowa, February 28, 1858, a 
son of Mansel and Electa M. (Bradley) 
Wicks, natives of New York and Connecti- 
cut, and of English extraction. Mr. Wicks 
was reared in Council Bluffs since 1865, and 
when but sixteeen years of age was engaged 
at steam engineering, which he has followed 
more or less since that time. In 1876 he 
joined the volunteer department of firemen 
of this city, and in 1888 was made Captain of 
Hose No. 3. Politically he is a Democrat, 
and is a member of the I. O. O. F., No. 49, 
and also of Red Men, Pottawattamie Tribe, 
No. 21. 

F. G. Hitchcock, a member of Hose House 
Fire Department, No. 3, Council Bluffs, was 
previously a member of the volunteer de- 
partment from 1879 to 1888. He was born 
in 1860, in New York State, a son of G. C. 
and Mary (Smith) Hitchcock, natives of New 
York State, and of English and Puritan de- 
scent. Mr. Hitchcock was reared in his 
native State until 1876, when he came to 
Pottawattamie County. He was employed 



480 



BIOORAPHIGAL EISTORT 



in the railroad service for about fonr years, 
and in 1888 was elected as fireman in Hose 
House No. 3. Politically he affliates with 
the Republican party. He was married in 
1883, to Miss Eva Cochran, a native of this 
county, and they have two children: Cora and 
Richard. 

Charles Sanderson, who has been connected 
with the fire department of Council Bluffs 
since 1872, is now a member of Hose No. 3. 
He was born in Sweden in 1889, and was 
reared to farm life in his native country until 
seventeen years of age, when he came to 
America, locating at Princeton, Illinois. He 
remained there until 1861, when he entered 
the services of Company U, Seventh Kanaas 
Cavalry, serving four years, after which he 
came to Iowa. In 1868 he came to Council 
Bluffs, where he was engaged at teaming 
until he entered the service of the fire de- 
partment of this city. Politically he is a 
staunch Republican, and is a member of the 
K. of P., No. 17, also of the G. A. R., Abe 
Lincoln Post, No. 29. 

Samuel Morrison, one of the oldest mem- 
bers of the city fire department of Council 
Bluffs, was born in Leicestershire, England, 
June 15, 1828, the son of James and Eliza- 
beth (Harris) Morrison. Samuel was reared 
in his native country until seventeen years of 
age, when he came to America, locating in 
Upper Canada, where he remained three and 
a half years. He then came to the United 
States, and was engaged in traveling for nine 
years, after which he was employed as a stage 
driver in Ohio. He then came West and 
engaged in freighting across the plains, which 
he followed four years. 

In 1865 he came to Council Bluflfs, and 
became a member of the volunteer fire 
department of this city, with which he was 
connected until 1886, when he was com- 
pelled to give up his duties on account of 



losing his eyesight, and is now totally 
blind, but he still hovers around his old 
haunts, the engine honse. He is a Republi- 
can politically, and is a member of the I. O. 
O. F., No. 49. 



fOHN SCHLICHT, one of the prominent 
land-owners of Lincoln Township, was 
born in Schleswig-IIolstein, Germany, 
November 7, 1843, the son of Jurgen Schlicht, 
a farmer and land-owner of that country. 
He was married to Anna Obitz, who died in the 
year 1881 in Pottawattamie County, Iowa, 
and they had two children: John and Catli- 
erine. Mr. Schlicht came to America in 
1870, and settle] on land owned by his son 
John, our subject. He lived to the age of 
sixty-five years, and died in this county. He 
was a member of the Luthei'an Church, and 
was a hard-working and honest man. 

John Schlicht, the subject of this sketch, 
was reared to farm life, and remained at 
home until he was twenty-seven years of age. 
In 1868 he came to America to improve his 
circumstances, landing in New York. He 
came to Clinton County, Iowa, where he 
worked for his father-in-law, who had come 
to this country at the same time, and who 
had brought with hitn $3,000, which he in- 
vested in land in Clinton County. Mr. 
Schlicht remained with him one year, and 
then went to Tama County, where he rented 
a farm and remained seven years. In 1875 
he came to Pottawattamie County and bought 
eighty acres of wild land, which, by industry 
and economy, he has converted into a fine, 
fertile farm, and to which he has since added 
until he now owns 775 acres. He came to 
this country with nothing but his hands and 
a strong desire to make a success here, and 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



481 



he has worked and saved until he now owns 
a fine, large farm. He is one of our most 
substantial farmers, a man of integrity of 
character, who stands high as an honest 
and upright citizen. He is a large stock- 
raiser, and owns three stallions and two im- 
proved Belgians, costing $2,000. He has 
worked all his life that his children might 
have an inheritance that would enable them 
to become independent citizens. 

Mr. Schlicht was married in 1868, in Ger- 
many, to Margaret Michaelson, and to them 
have been born eleven children: Jurgen, 
Hans, Anna, Jane, Phoebe, Margaret, Mary, 
Catherine, John, Lizzie and William. 



^IMEON GRAYBILL, deceased, was 
one of the well-known pioneers of I'ot- 
tawattamie County. Born in Jackson 
County, Ohio, March 26, 1816, he was a son 
of Michael Graybill, a native of North Caro- 
lina, and of German ancestry. His mother's 
maiden name was Polly Stocker, and she was 
born in the Carolinas. Mr. Graybill was 
reared to manhood in Ohio, on a farm, but 
for a time he was engaged in mining at Mt. 
Vernon, tiiat State. He was first married 
March 16, 1837, in Jackson County, Ohio, 
to Amanda Hill, who died in Adams County, 
Illinois, February 21, 1848. In the fall of 
that year Mr. Graybill came to Pottawatta- 
mie County, and he was afterward married 
to Mrs. Frances (Graham) Downs, who was 
born in Kemper County, Mississippi, a 
daughter of Thomas and S. Ann (McCrary) 
Graham. Her parents came to this county 
in 1846; her mother died in the eastern part 
of this State; in 1852 her father went to 
Utah, where he was some time afterward 
killed by a grizzly bear, which was afterward 



captured and found to weigh 800 pounds. 
Mrs. Graybill was first married to Ezekiel 
Downs, at Downsville, who was born in 
North Carolina, and came to this county in 
1846. By this marriage there was one child, 
John W. Mr. Downs died in 1860. 

Mr. Graybill settled on his present farm in 
1848, where he resided until his death, June 
27, 1889. By his first marriage there were 
four children, three of whom grew up to 
years of maturity, viz.: William, who now 
resides in New Yorkshire, Harrison County: 
Andrew, who is living near the same place; 
and Aaron L., who was killed at Camp Creek, 
Georgia, August 31, 1864, as a member of an 
Iowa regiment. By his second marriage the 
subject of this sketch has had six children, 
four of whom are living: Emily Jane, Willis 
M., Amanda M. and Mary Ellen. Politically 
Mr. Graybill was a Eepublican. He had a 
landed estate of 320 well-improved acres, on 
which he lived for over forty years. His 
death was lamented by all the community. 

«oi-.i.t?<. 3 n g «' ? t<.-, in 




ILLIAM L. CHANEY, one of the 

intelligent and enterprising citizens 
of Washington Township, came to 
this county in 1881, where he has since re- 
sided and made his home. He was born in 
Montgomery County, Missouri, March 3, 
1853, a son of Samuel and Ellen (Parmer) 
Chaney. William L. was two years of age 
when his father died in Montgomery County. 
His widow and the six children removed to 
Scott County, where the mother died two 
yeai-8 later. William was reared by James 
Henry after the death of his mother. He 
was reared on a farm in Princeton Township, 
Scott County, Iowa, where he remained until 
1868, when he came to Mills County, Iowa. 
His first purchase of land was eighty acres 



482 



BIOGSAPHICAL HISTORY 



of wild raih'oad land, at $9 per acre, but this 
he has since improved in a good manner. 
Two years later he purchased forty acres one- 
fourth of a mile north of his home for $25, 
and he now owns 120 acres of well improved 
land. 

Mr. Cheney was married December 31, 1877, 
in Mills County, Iowa, to Florence Hodgin, 
who was horn in Cedar County, Missouri, a 
daughter of Valentine and Harriet (Council) 
Hodgin, the former a native of Tennessee 
and the latter of Hlinois. Mr. and Mrs. 
Chancy have six children, viz.: Anna L., 
Georgia D., Lottie I., William O., Henry 
Clyde and Earl. Politically Mr. Chaney is 
a strong and radical Repul)lican. He is a 
member of the Evangelical Church, as is 
also his wife; and in the church he is a stew- 
ard and superintendent of the Sabbath-school. 
He is a man yet in the prime of life, frank 
and cordial in his maimer, and is honorable 
in all his business dealings. 



fOSEl'H A LOUDENBECK, oneof the 
old soldier citizens of Pottawattamie 
County, was born on a farm in Hancock 
County, Indiana, June 22, 1842, the son of 
Reuben Loudenbeck, who was a native of 
Pennsylvania and of German descent. He 
was married to Margai-et Earl, and to them 
were born eleven children, three of whom 
died in infancy. The living are: Isaac, Mary, 
John, Joseph, David, Sarah, Emma, William. 
Mr. Loudenbeck lived on a farm in Hancock 
County several years, and then moved to 
Jasper County, Iowa, in 1854, and then, in 
the spring of 1869 removed to Madison 
County. He was too old to participate in 
the civil war, but enlisted three times before 
he was accepted in the "Grey Beards," 
Thirty-seventh Iowa, where he served until 



he was discharged on account of sickness. 
He is still living, at the age of seventy-four 
years; is a member of the Methodist Church, 
and an honest, upright man. He had three 
sons in the civil war: Isaac, Joseph and 
David. Isaac and David were in the Fifth 
Iowa Volunteer Infantry; the former enlisted 
in 1861, and the latter some time afterward, 
and they were both taken prisoners at the 
battle of Mission Ridge and confined in Libby 
and Andersonville prisons eleven months, 
and both died from starvation at Anderson- 
ville! 

Joseph A., our subject, was but twelve 
years of age when his father moved with teams 
to Jasper County, Iowa, and was but twenty 
years old when he enlisted, March 22, 1862, 
in Company G, Seventeenth Iowa Volunteer 
Infantry, and served until June 10, 1865. 
He was in the battles of Vicksburg, Mission- 
ary Ridge, Port Gibson, Jackson (Miss.), 
Corinth, Champion Hill, and many skir- 
mishes. He was taken prisoner at Tilon, 
Louisiana, and confined at Andersonville six 
months lacking thirteen days. His brothers 
had died before he entered the prison. When 
he went to Andersonville he weighed 200 
pounds, and when he came out he was re- 
duced to 135 pounds! He had been starved 
almost to death from the poor and insufiicient 
food, which consisted principally of corn 
meal, ground coffee and old rotten mule meat! 
The drinking water was impregnated with 
filth, and he slept on the ground with no 
covering; his clothes were taken from him, 
except his shirt and drawers, which were re 
duced to a few rags, which scarcely covered 
his emaciated form. He was finally ex- 
changed. He was wounded at Missionary 
Ridge, l)eing shot through the right thigh, 
and he still carries the bullet. He was in 
the field liospital two weeks at Missionary 
Ridge, and was then sent home. He rejoined 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



483 



his regiment within two months, and thus 
the young Western soldier endured all the 
vicissitudes of war, and was honorably dis- 
charged at Davenport, Iowa. 

After the war Mr. Loudenbeck came to 
Pottawattamie County, and in October, 1870, 
settled on his present farm. He is well- 
known as an honest and industrious man, 
and is one of the oldest settlers of Lincoln 
Township. Lewis Painter, his brother-in- 
law, came at the same time, and they were 
the only settlers in this township. Mr. 
Loudenbeck is a pioneer, an old soldier citi- 
zen, and a typical American, and his de- 
scendants will do well to remember his good 
record. Politically he is a Republican, and 
is a member of G. A. R. Post, No. 201, of 
Lewis, Iowa. 

He was married in Jasper County, Iowa, 
to Miss Emily Painter, a sister of Lewis 
Painter, whose sketch appears elsewhere in 
this work, and they have two children, viz.: 
Maggie, who married Ed Young, a son 
of Adam Young, of Lincoln Township, and 
they have two children: Reuben and Nellie; 
and Carrie, wlio married George Derniger, of 
Lincoln Township, and they have one child, 
Maggie. 



fsf ILLIAM A. McMILLEN, contractor 
and builder, resides at No. 1103 
Fourth avenue, and has liis offices at 
the corner of Seventh street and Broadway. 
He established his business here in 1881, and 
since that time has erected a number of fine 
buildings. Among them we note tlie resi- 
dences of Tom Cavins, J. Withrow, Dr. 
McCrae and C. Stephens. In Omaha he 
built the Robert Purvis residence, and in 
Lead City, Dakota, he put up a line business 
block for Senator Hurst, one of tiie finest in 
the West. He also built an eleujant business 




block in Missouri Valley for Mr. Kearnes. 
He built five houses for J. G. Tipton in 
Council Bluffs. We might name a number 
of other buildings erected by him in this city 
and vicinity, but space forbids. 

Mr. McMillen was born in St. Johns, 
Province of Quebec, Canada, in 1848, son of 
John and Jane (Brown igg) McMillen, natives 
of Scotland and Ireland. He spent his youth 
at his native place and wlien he was fourteen 
he began a five years' apprenticeship to the 
carpenter's trade. At the age of twenty-one 
he came to the United States and located in 
Albany, New York, where he remained five 
years. From there he went to Boston, Massa- 
chusetts, and also spent five years there en- 
gaged at his trade. At the end of that time 
he returned to Canada East and engaged in 
the furniture business. Six years later, in 
1879, he sold out and came to Council Bluffs, 
where he has since resided. July 2. 1890, 
he opened an office in Omaha, room 842, 
New York Life building. He is one of the 
pushing business men of Council Bluffs. 
Politically he is a staunch independent. He 
is a member of the I. O. O. F., No. 49, Bluff 
City Lodge, and also of the Red Men, Potta- 
wattamie County Lodge. 

He was married, in 1874, to Miss Mary 
Brownrick, a native of Canada. By her he 
had three children: Mary, Lucy and Carrie. 
He was again married, in 1886, to Amelia 
Stephens, who was born in Buffalo, New 
York, in 1855. They have one child, Fran- 
ces. Mr. and Mrs. McMillen are members of 
the Episcopal Church. 



fOHN THAYER, awell-known and prom- 
inent farmer of Washington Township, 
was born near Brookville, Indiana, in 
July, 1825, a son of Noali Tliayer, h native 



484 



BIOORAPHICAL HISTORY 



of New Hampshire. His grandfather was 
a teamster in the Revolutionary war, and at 
one time had his wagon riddled with bullets, 
and also had a narrow escape. The mother 
of our subject was Hannah (Reedj Thayer, 
who was born in Vermont. John Thayer 
was eight years of age when his parents 
moved to Marion County, Indiana, where the 
mother died, at the age of sixty-five years; 
the father also died, in his sixty-fifth year. 
They reared a family of three children, all of 
whom grew to maturity, but our subject is 
the only one now living. The father was a 
farmer during his whole life, and in his politi- 
cal views was a Whig. 

John Thayer, our subject, was reared on a 
farm in Indiana, and was early taught to chop 
wood and grub and clear the land, which 
formed the foundation of his future success- 
ful life. He remained in his native State 
until 1856, when he came by wagon to Iowa, 
settling in Jefferson County, where he was 
among the early settlers, and where he re- 
mained five years; next, in 1861, he went to 
Monroe County, remaining five years; in 1870 
he moved to Mills County, where he lived 
until 1876, and in that year he came to 
Pottawattamie County, settling on a farm 
near Council Bluffs. In 1878 he came to his 
present farm, which was then wild land, but 
which he has since improved until he now has 
360 acres of well cultivated land. 

Mr.Thiyer was married when he was 
twenty-six years of age, to Margaret Splen- 
field, and by this union there were two chil- 
dren: Hiram, who resides in this county; 
and Lucy Ann, the wife of Scott Sneather, 
who lives in Troy, Kansas. After the death 
of his first wife he was again married, in 
Hamilton County, Indiana, to Tamar Miche- 
ner, a daughter of Thomas and Susan (Phipps) 
Michener, natives of Pennsylvania. By this 
marriage there are five children, viz.: George 



A., who is married and resides on the farm; 
Hattie, wife of James Tooley, of Neola; Luel, 
wife of Frank Cleveland, of Washington 
Township; J. W. Thayer, who is in partner- 
ship with George Thayer in the management 
of the farm. Politically Mr. Thayer is a 
Republican, having voted that ticket since 
1856. Mrs. Thayer is a member of the 
Evangelical Church. 



LVIN L. WExlK, a substantial farmer 
of James Township, Pottawattamie 
'^^ County, is descended from an old 
American family of Dutch descent. George 
Weak, grandfather of Alvin L., was of En- 
glish descent, and moved from Pennsylvania 
to Ross County, Ohio, at a very early day. 
His son, Benjamin Miller Weak, the father 
of our subject, was born on a farm in Ross 
County, Ohio, and was married to Julia 
A. Staggs, and they were the parents of 
thirteen children, viz.: Melissa A. and Meli- 
tia, twins; Alvin L., our subject; Theresa, 
James A., Emma, Maria H. and Sarah 
E. (twins); Francis and Georgie (twins); 
Lewis; and two twins who died in infancy. 
Six of the children grew to maturity, 
the remainder dying in infancy. James 
A. was in an Iowa regiment in the late 
war, and died at Little Rock. Arkansas. 
The father lived in Ross County, Ohio, for 
many years, and then removed to Fulton 
County, Illinois. In 1854 he came to Clin- 
ton County, Iowa, where he was among the 
early settlers. He is still living in Mills 
County Iowa, at the age of seventy years. 
He has served as Justice of the Peace, and 
has the respect and confidence of the people. 
The mother of these children died in 1860, 
in Clarke County, Iowa. 

Alvin L. Weak, our subject, was born on 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



485 



a farm in Ross County, July 13, 1844, and 
was but three years of age when his parents 
moved to Illinois, and but ten years old when 
they came to Iowa. He came to Pottawatta- 
mie County in 1866, and in 1871 he bought 
his present farm of 102 acres. It was then 
wild prairie land, but he has since converted 
it into a fine farm. Socially he is a Mason, 
being a member of the lodge at Oakland. 
He was married in Missouri, in 1879, to 
Maria A. Dawson, who was born at Oska- 
loosa, Iowa, the daugliter of John N. and 
Mary A. (Moat) Dawson. 

John N. Dawson was born in Ohio May 

16, 1823, and August 3, 1845, he married 
Miss Mary A. Moat, who also was born in 
Ohio, February 23, 1831. Their children 
were: Hiram C, born September 23, 1846; 
Phylinda E., September 25, 1849; Anna E., 
October 9, 1851; Julius C, December 18, 
1853; Maria A.., August 23, 1856; Mary A., 
February 4, 1859; Irena C, June 21, 1861; 
Lienary B., February 27, 1866; and John A., 
June 24, 1871. Hiram served a time in the 
civil war, in Sherman's regiment. Mr. Daw- 
son moved with his family to Barton County, 
Missouri, and died from the effect of being 
thrown against a sugar-cane grinding machine 
by a span of horses running away, in Ozark 
Township, that county, ou Monday, Sejjtem- 
ber 16, 1878, one of the oldest and most re- 
spected citizens of that county. He was a 
member of the United Baptist Church, a 
good neighbor and a kind husband and father. 
By his death lie left a widow and eight chil- 
dren to mourn his loss. His widow is still 
living, in Liberal Township, that county. 

Mr. and Mrs. Weak had six children, 
namely: Julius A., born Wednesday, March 

17, 1880; Lewis L., Tuesday, May 9, 1882; 
Leroy Monroe, Friday, January 18, 1884; 
James A., Saturday, August 22, 1885; 
George Rosco, Monday, October 10, 1887; 



and Flora A., Monday, February 10, 1890. 
Monroe, Rosco and Flora are still living; the 
others died in infancy. 

^^ — -*~" S ' ^ " ^ ' a " " " '" 



,ELL AND BERLINGHOF are architects 
and superintendents of building, having 
their office in rooms 405 and 406 in the 
Sapp Block, in Council Bluffs, and a branch 
office in room 615 Paxton Building, Omaha. 
The company was formed November 1, 1883, 
and they have erected some of the principal 
buildings in the city, as the Sapp Build- 
ing, Marcus Block, Kearney Bank Building, 
Woodbury Building, City Hose House, etc., 
Saunders Block, and the residences of W. W. 
Loomis, J. J. Steadman, W. C. James, J. A. 
Herald, J. P. Hess, H. H. Van Brunt, Fos- 
ter Flats, Dr. H. F. Hart's Block, Robling 
Block, the residences of C. L. Duel, E. E. 
Savage, J. Q. Gaston, Gus. Hengen, the 
Chautauqua Building, the residences of W. 
L. Kearney, W. H. Thomas and Dr. Cham- 
berlin, and also additions to the D. and M. 
Institute of Council Bluffs, the Abner Graves 
Bank Building of Charter Oak, Iowa, the T. 
P. Phillips Block at Belleville, Kansas, the 
Second Avenue public school for the inde- 
pendent district of Council Bluffs, and the 
addition to the Twentieth Avenue school 
building. 

Charles E. Bell, the senior member of the 
firm, was born March 31, 1858, in McLean 
County, Illinois, the son of Chalkley and 
Mary Bell, natives of the New England 
States. The raotlier was a dauuhter of 
James and Sarah Emlen, prominent in the 
Society of Friends. Mr. Etnlen was a leading 
minister of that society, traveling through 
England, Scotland and Ireland. The parents 
are still living, residing at Bloomington, Mc- 
Lean County, Illinois. Si.x of their eight 



486 



mOORAPHICAL iiisTonr 



children survive: Walter H. resides in Belle- 
ville, Kansas; Sarah is the wife of Isaac P. 
Garrett, living near Philadelphia, Pennsylva- 
nia; Mifflin E., formerly supervising archi- 
tect and now superintendent of the public 
buildings of Chicago; Samuel A. resides at 
Bloomington; Arthur H. is city engineer of 
Bloomington; and Charles E., the youngest, 
is the subject of this biographical sketch. 

He completed his school education at 
Philadelphia, in the West Town Boarding 
School, under the direction of the Friends. 
Then he learned the carpenter's and builder's 
trade, which he followed for seven years, 
meanwhile studying architecture; one year 
he studied under the tutorship of his brother 
Mifflin. In 1884 he came to Council Bluffs, 
in the employ of the Government, and as- 
sisted in the construction ot the Government 
building (the postoffice), and since that time 
has been a resident here. In September, 
1887, he formed a partnership with J. W. 
Allen as architect for a year. lie is an ener- 
getic and enterprising citizen, a Republican 
and a member of the orders of the Kniehts 

o 

of Pythias and Royal Arcanum, Lodge No. 
156.' 

He was married November 11, 1880, to 
Miss Nellie L. Wickham, of Springfield, Illi- 
nois, the daughter of Henry M. and Eineline 
(Lathrop) Wickham, and they are the parents 
of three children: Walter H.. Emeline L. 
and Edward Earl. They are members of the 
Presbyterian Church. 



.,..1^^ 



gijARRY G. McGEE is one of the leading 
real-estate dealers of Council Bluffs, in 
which business he engao-ed in 1887. 
He does a general real-estate business, but 
devotes his attention principally to the plat- 
ting and improving of residence property. 



and has platted several of the finest residence 
additions in the city, — among them being 
Morningside. This addition is owned jointly 
by Mr. McGee and his brother Judge McGee, 
who have expended a large amount of money 
in improving and beautifying it, and it is 
now acknowledged to be the most attractive 
suburb of Council Bluffs, which is noted for 
its beauty as a residence city. 

Mr. McGee is a son of Manasseh McGee, 
who came to Council Bluffs in 1855 and 
entered a large amount of land which has 
since become very valuable. Mr. McGee was 
born in Virginia, in 1858, but his early life 
was spent in Pennsylvania. His father never 
became a permanent resident of tliis city, but 
came here and made investments in 1855, re- 
turning to the East, where he resided until 
his death. His family became permanent 
residents of Council Bluffs in 1874. Our 
subject was educated in Pittsburg, Pennsyl- 
vania, and is now a successful business man 
and an enterprising and progressive citizen. 



RS. F. P. AND M. J. BELLINGER, of 
Council Bluffs, formed their present 
partnership in 1886, since which time 
they have been doing a general practice. The 
former is an expert in the diseases of the eye 
and ear, which he made a specialty, but grad- 
ually drifted into a general practice, as the 
city at that time was not sufficient to main- 
tain a profession of that kind alone. They 
have received a very extensive patronage, and 
their general practice will amount to $220,- 
000 annually. In the spring of 1890 they 
erected a handsome two-story frame building, 
80 X 40 feet, on the corner of Broad and 
Twenty-sixth streets, as a hospital, surgical and 
medical institute, which can accommodate 
forty patients. They handle all kinds of 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



487 



clironic and private diseases with the best 
treatment. 

They are both natives of New York State, 
and of German descent, their parents being 
J. H. and Molly (Smith) Bellinger. They 
wore reared on a farm in their native State 
until they entered the medical college. F. 
P. is a graduate <»f the Albany (New York) 
Medical College, and M. J. also attended that 
institution one term, and then took one. term 
in Omaha, Nebraska, and in 1886 graduated 
at the Des Moines Medical College. When 
these gentlemen started out for themselves 
they had to commence at the very bottom, 
and have since risen to a position of wealth 
and affluence. The senior member, F. P., is 
a married man. Tie was a member of the 
City Council of Council JJluff.s two years. 
They both affiliate with the Democratic party, 
and F. P. is a member of the A. F. & A. M. 

— 1-^^^- 




l^lHILLIAM H. M. PUSEY, of the well- 
known firm of Officer & Pusey, bank- 
ers of Council Bluffs, was born in 
Washington County, Pennsylvania, July 29, 
1826, the son of Nathan and Martha (Mills) 
Pusey. The former, a merchant and farmer 
by occupation, was a native of Culpeper 
Court-House, Virginia. He was of English 
and Quaker ancestry, his forefathers having 
come over with William Penn, settling in 
Philadelphia. Caleb Pusey, one of the num- 
ber, was one of Penn'a commissioners, and 
built the tirst mill in the colony at Philadel- 
phia. Nathan Pusey, a man of excellent 
judgment, was very successful, and retired to 
Baltimore, Maryland, where he died in 1865. 
He had a family of live sons and two 
daughters. 

William H. M. Pusey was educated at 
Washington, Pennsylvania, in the Washing- 



ton-Jefferson College, and graduated at that 
college in 1847, in the same class with Hon. 
James G. Blaine. He removed to Iowa in 
1856, settling in Council Bluffs, where he 
has made his home ever since. The same 
year he engaged in the banking business 
with his present partner, his brother-in-law, 
Thomas Officer, and has since devoted his 
whole life to tiiat business. In 1858, how- 
ever, he was elected State Senator from the 
Pottawattamie Senatorial District, then em- 
bracing twenty-seven counties bordering on 
the Missouri River and e.Ktending eastward. 
In 1882 he was elected a member of Con- 
gress from the Ninth Iowa District, and 
with these exceptions his entire lite has been 
devoted to his present business. He has 
always taken a deep interest in the progress 
of his adopted city, and in the development 
of the State. 

Mr. Pusey was united in marriage to Miss 
S. E. Officer, of Washington County, Penn- 
sylvania, June 21, 1849, a sister of his part- 
ner. They have three children living, viz. : 
Ella, wife of Dr. C. H. Pititiey, of this city; 
Frank S., a resident of Denver, Colorado, 
engaged in the construction of railroads and 
electric motor lines; and Kate, who resides 
with her father and mother. 



36 



Pt. F. C. CLARK, a dentist of Council 
Bluffs, has been identified with the in- 
terest of Pottawattamie County since 
1865. He is a native of the State of Maine, 
born in Waldo County, January 31, 1829, 
the son of Amasa and Martha Combs Clark, 
natives of Maine, and of English and French 
descent. The paternal ancestors came to this 
country on the Mayflower. Dr. Clark was 
reared on a farm, receiving a common-school 
education. He i-esided in Maine until 1849, 



488 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY 



when he was enticed by the accounts of the 
gold fields then discovered in California; 
previous to this he had worked at ship- 
building. He went as a passenger in the bark 
Mitas around Cape Horn, being 140 days from 
West Thornston, Maine, to San Francisco, 
at which place he worked for a time at $12 
per day. He soon engaged in mining on 
Feather River, which he followed for six 
years, with varying success. He then studied 
dentistry, praticing in California and Idaho 
until he came to Pottawattamie County. 

Dr. Clark was married in Boise City, Idaho, 
June 11, 1865, to Mrs. Mary £. Babbitt, nee 
Miss Mary E. Page, of Elgin, Illinois, a lady 
of Scotch descent. About a year after their 
marriage he came to Council Bluffs, where 
he has since practiced his profession. By 
her former marriage Mrs. Clark had three 
children: Louisa Maria, William J^ewton 
and Albert Augustus; and by this marriage 
she has six, four of whom still survive: Mary 
Frances, Martha Ann,Marcia Lily, and Mittie 
Jane. Mrs. Clark is a member of the First 
Presbyterian Church. Dr. Clark is a Master 
Mason of Excelsior Lodge, No. 259, A. F. 
& A. M. Politically he aiKliates with the 
Republican party. 



►>*H 



fOSEPH PARKER, one of the successful 
and popular farmers of Pottawattamie 
County, was born in Lincolnshire, Eng- 
land, June 2, 1851, the son of George and 
Elizabeth (Beat) Parker, who were also na 
tives of England. The mother died when 
Joseph was fifteen years of age, and four 
years later he came with an elder brother, 
Henry, now a prominent citizen of Silver 
Creek, to America, settling in Mills County, 
Iowa, where they had relatives and friends. 
Here our subject was engaged in farming 



until 1882, when he bought eighty acres of 
wild prairie land, at $12.75 per acre, in 
Pottawattamie County, where he has since 
made his home. He has made many improve- 
ments on this place, which show the thrift 
and prosperity of its owner. 

Mr. Parker was married in Mills County, 
January 7, 1877, to Miss Adeliza Wilson, 
who was born in Lincolnshire, England, and 
had also resided ten years in Mills County 
before her marriaure. She was the daiicrhter 
of George and Mary (Schotield) Wilson. The 
mother died when Mrs. Parker was eighteen 
years of age, and the father is still living in 
Mills County. Mr. and Mrs. Parker have 
four children: Lillie May, George William, 
Annie Eliza, and Joseph Ervin. Politically 
Mr.Parkerisa Republican, and both he and his 
wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church, of which the former has served three 
years as Sunday-school Superintendent. 

"♦»' | ' S " S ' |" »■" 



H. VAN was born in Jones County, 
wyMyM Iowa, October 23, 1843. His father, 

l*=^^» R. T. Van, was one of the first set- 
tlers in Jones County, and the first to settel 
in Wyoming Township, he having located 
there in 1840 when Iowa was a Territory. 
R. T. Van was a son of James Van Vol ten- 
burg, a son of Holland Dutch parents. The 
hist part of the name was dropped by the 
consent of Judge Huber, in 1847. The 
mother of our subject was Esther Ann Van, 
a native of Ohio. She and Mr. Van were 
married in Indiana, and their bridal tour was 
made by ox team to their new home in Jones 
County, Iowa. When they first settled in 
that county Dubuque was their nearest \\oi':- 
office, and it took a week to make the trip 
there and liack with an ox team. Mr. and 

Mrs. Van had nine children, of whom five 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



489 



are living, namely: W. H., S. F., L. A., 
Azilda and Mary A. Those dead are Mary 
Ellen, Melissa, Liiman E.,and John W. The 
mother died in October, 1884. The father is 
still living in Jones County, and, at this 
writiiii;, is seventy-two years old. He has 
been a farmer all his life; casts his vote with 
the Republican party, and worships with the 
Methodist E|)iscopal Church. 

W. H. Yan was reared on his father's farm, 
and received his education in the log school- 
house hard by. When the great war of the 
Rebellion broke out, he entered the service 
of his country, enii-ti ig in Compati}- K, 
Twenty-fourth Iowa, February 22, 1864. He 
was in the battles of Sabine Cross Roads and 
Fort Derusha, and the Re i River Campaign. 
He was at Winchester, September 19; Fisii- 
er's Hill, September 22; and at Cedar Creek, 
October 19. Mr. Van received two slight 
wounds, but was not sent to hospital and no 
record was ever made of them. He was 
honorably discharged at Savannah, Georgia, 
an i was paid off at Davenport, Iowa. 

After the war he returned to his home in 
Joaes County, where lie reinaiue J until 1873. 
In that year he came to Waveland Township, 
Pottawattamie County, where he has since 
resided. He first bought elgiity acres of wild 
prairie land in section 4, which he has 
increased by more recjut purchase, now own- 
ing 225 acres of well improved land. He 
has a o;ood house, which was erected at a cost 
of $1,300. It is built in modern style, with 
bay window and porch, and all the lumber 
used ifl of the very best, there being only two 
knots in the entire building! Tlie main part 
of the house is 16x24 feet, two stories, with 
an L, 16x16 feet. It is beautifully located 
and makes a comfortable and attractive hon)e. 
Mr. Van's other farm buildings are in good 
condition, and much of his time is devoted to 
stock-raising. 



In Jones County, Iowa, in 1866, Mr. Van 
married Miss Esther A. Lowe, a lady of 
intelligence and refinement, who was born in 
England, and was reared and educated in 
Jones County, Iowa. Her parents. Richard 
and Esther Lowe, lived in Jones County un- 
til their death. Mr. and Mrs. Van have four 
children, namely: Ella L., who is now attend- 
ing the Iowa Western Normal at Shenandoah, 
Iowa; Willard R., Henry Harlan and Eva 
Azilda. Mr. Van is a member of the G. A.R., 
Worthington Post, No. 9, of Griswold, Iowa. 
Politically he is a Republican. He and his 
wife and their daughter, Ella, are members 
of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Wal- 
nut Valley. 



GRASS, a contractor and builder, 
corner of Sixth and Mill streets, Coun- 
"^ cil Bluffs, has been a resident of this 
city since 1856, having come from Marshall, 
Calhoun County, Michigan. He was born in 
the Province of Ontario, Canada, March 18, 
1833, the son of David and Phoebe (Cudney) 
Grass, natives of New York State, the former 
of Holland and the latter of Puritan descent. 
Our subject was reared in his native State 
until his sixteenth year, when he went to 
Orleans Coutity, New York, atid with his 
brother, who accompanied him, he learned 
tlie carpenter's trade. After two years spent 
in that State they went to New Orleans; 
thence to Natchez, Mississippi, remainino- two 
years; then to Cleveland, Ohio, also remain- 
two years; then to Marshall, Michigan, where 
they remained until 1856, when he came to 
Council Blutfs. Since that time he has been 
engaged in contracting and building, buying 
real-estate, improving the same and selling 
it. He is the oldest living resident that has 
been engagdJ wholly in this line of business, 



490 



BIOORAPHIOAL UISTORT 



and lias erected hundreds of lionses, and lias 
amassed a handsome competency. He does 
an annual business of over §20,000. Auj^ust 
3, 1862, he enlisted in the Second Iowa 
Battery and served until August 7, 1865. 
He was engaged in some of tiie most noted 
battles: Vicksburg, Nashville, Tupelo, siege 
of Spauish Fort, and a number of minor en- 
gagements. He was never wounded or taken 
prisoner, and after the war he returned to 
Council Bluffs and opened his present busi- 
ness. He owns property aside from his own 
residence, which was remodeled in 1889, and 
is now a handsome two-story building. He 
hias also taken active interest in political work 
in the Republican party. 

Mr. Grass was married November 5, 1865, 
to Mary Covalt, a native of Wheeling, Vir- 
ginia, born February 14, 1842, and they are 
the parents of nine children: Alexander, de- 
ceased; Dorinda, at home; Frances, deceased; 
Frederick, at college; Bertha, at home; Ner- 
tio, Sadie, Robert and Fannie. The family 
are associated with the Congregationl Church. 



►3«f- 



tEWIS PAINTER, one of the pioneer 
settlers of Lincoln Township, was born 
on a farm in Fulton County, Illinois, 
March 3, 1847, the son of Joseph Painter, 
who came from London, England. The 
father was born near the celebrated White 
Horse Chalk Hills, England, and learned 
the tailor's trade, having served as a tailor's 
apprentice at the age of thirteen years. He 
married Caroline Templer, a native of Etig- 
land, and they remained in that country until 
1840, when he came to America, and by the 
Erie Canal to the then frontier city of 
Chicago. He was the Urst tailor in that city, 
and the first day took in $9. He remained 
there a short time and then went to a point 



in Illinois, and thence returned to Chicagu, 
where he lived for some years, but finally 
settled in Fulton County, Illinois, where he 
worked at his trade and farming. In 1855 
he came to Iowa and settled in Jasper County, 
where he remained about thirteen years, and 
then, in 1869, came to Cass County. Iowa, 
and settled on a farm in Wright Township. 
He died in Pottawattamie County at the age 
of sixty-three years. He was a hard-working 
and industrious man, and was the father of 
eight children: James C, Emily M., deceased 
in infancy, who were born in England; Emily 
M., Caroline, Lewis, William H., Salina G. 
and Henry C. Politically he was a Repub- 
lican. His wife died at the age of forty-two 
years, in Jasper County, Iowa. 

Lewis Painter, son of the above and the 
subject of this sketch, was but eight years of 
age when his parents removed to Iowa. He 
learned farming in early life, and after mar- 
riage settled on a rented farm in Jasper 
County for two years. In 1869 he came to 
Cass County, and in 1870 came to his present 
farm of 280 acres in Lincoln Township, Pot- 
tawattamie County, which was then a wild 
prairie, but which he has since converted 
into a tine, fertile farm. When Mr. Painter 
came to this township he was the only settler, 
and thus he has the honor of beinij the first 
pioneer settler of Lincoln Township. He 
remained on his claim but one season, built 
a home and then sold it, and seven years 
afterward bought the same claim back. 
Politically he is a Republican, and has also 
taken an active interest in education, and is 
a man who stands deservedly high in his 
township for his sterling worth. 

Mr. Painter was married August 11, .1806, 
at the early age of twenty-one years, to Mary 
L. Whitcomb, who was born October 22, 
1844, in Huron County, (Jhio, and was but 
eleven years of age when, in 1855, her parents 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



491 



came to Jasper County, Iowa, in a compMiiy 
having twenty-one horses. It was in tlie early 
summer and the trip was a pleasant one, oc- 
cupying one raontii. She was the daughter 
of Orrin and ]>ydia (Butler) Wliitcomb. 
The father was born in Connecticut, and in 
1855 settled in Jasper County, Iowa. He 
was married in New York State to Lydia 
Butler, a daughter of Samuel Butler, who 
was a farmer of Albany, New York, and also 
participated in the war of the Revolution. 
Both families were descended from old Con- 
necticut families. Mr. and Mrs. Whitcomb 
had five children: Aaron, deceased at twenty 
years of age; Branch, Maria, who died in in- 
fancy; Levina and Mary L. The mother 
lived to the age of eighty-six years, and the 
father died in Jasper County, at tho ajje of 
sixty-one. He was one of the old pionesr 
settlers of this county, was a devout c'lurcli 
member, and respected by all who knew him. 
Politically he was a Democrat. When he 
moved to Hui'on County, Ohio, he had to 
cut his way through the heavy forests and tire 
the trees to make a narrow path. Postage 
was twenty-five cents for a letter to New 
York. Mr. and Mrs. Painter are the parents 
of eight children, viz.: Joseph C, born Jan- 
uary 8, 1869; James F., October 31, 1870; 
Lydia, June 24, 1872; Ira V., April 1, 1874; 
Seth O., who died in infancy; Jennie, born 
April 27, 1877; Burleigh M., July 9, 1879; 
Jay C, October 14, 1882. 



jERRY KERNEY is one of the prominent 
citizens of SilverOreek Township, Potta- 
wattamie County, Iowa, having been a 
resident of this county since 1880. 

Mr. Kerney was born in Andrew County, 
Missouri, December 30, 1851. His father, 
Caleb Kerney, was born in Pennsylvania, a 



son of William Kerney, who was of Scotch- 
Irish ancestry. Grandfather Kerney was a 
relative of General Kerney, of United State8 
fame, the Kerney family being an old and 
prominent one in western Pennsylvania. Our 
subject's mother was nee Ruth Yan Buskirk, 
a native of Pennsylvania and a descendant of 
Holland Dutch ancestry. She and Mr. Ker- 
ney were married in Richland County, Ohio, 
and some time afterward moved to Andrew 
County, Missouri. From there they went to 
Mills County, Iowa, becoming pioneers of 
that place. The parents lived in Mills Coun- 
ty from 1853 until the time of their deaths, 
the mother dying October 6, 1865, and the 
father, February 23, 1880. He followed agri- 
cultural pursuits all his life; was a Democrat 
and a Baptist. He and his wife reared eight 
children, four sons and four daughters, Perry 
being the third born. 

The subject of our sketch was reared on a 
farm and educated in the public schools. He 
re nained in Mills County until 1880, when 
he came to Pottawattamie County and settled 
on his present farm in section 2, Silver Creek 
Township, which was at that time wild prairie 
land. He now has one of the best improved 
farms in the neighborhood. His cottage home 
is pleasantly located on a natural building site 
and commands an excellent view of the sur- 
rounding country. His barn is 28 x 34 feet, 
with sixteen-foot posts, and his grove and 
orchard of four acres are amono; the best in 
the township. Among other improvements 
are cribs, yards, cattle sheds, feed lots and a 
modern windmill. Everything about the 
Kerney farm shows the thrift and prosperity 
of the owner. 

Mr. Kerney was married in Mills County, 
Iowa, February 16, 1876, to Miss Mary E. 
Tipton, a native of Atchison County, Mis- 
souri, daughter of Saul and Rachel (Woolsey) 
Tipton. She was reared and educated in 



492 



BlOGIiAPHICAL BISTORT 



Mills County, Iowa. Her mother died when 
Mrs. Kerney was live years old. Mr. and 
Mrs. Kerney have three children: JS'athan 
W., Pearly May and Lela M. Mr. Kerney 
is one of the leading members of the Repub- 
lican party in his community. He is the 
])re8ent Township Trustee. Mrs. Kerney is 
a member of the Evangelical Church. 



rHE MANHATTAN is a tobacco and 
cigar store and billiard parlor owned 
and managed by Nicholas O'Brien. It 
was established in March, 1887, at 418 
Broadway, by George Rudio and Frank Yen- 
ewine. The present proprietor purchased 
the place in July, 1889, and carries a superb 
line of domestic and imported cigars, tobacco, 
etc., and keeps a nicely equipped billiard 
hall in connection. 

Mr. O'Brien was born November 6, 1859, 
in Pottawattamie County, Iowa, the fourth 
child of John and Mary (Gauldin) O'Brien, 
natives of Ireland. His father is deceased 
and his mother is still living at Neola, this 
county. He was reared to farm life, began 
to take care of himself at the age of eighteen 
years, and in 1881 came to this city, where 
he was first appointed on tiie police patrol, in 
wliich capacity he served for seven years, and 
then appointed captain of police, where he 
served two years. He was next appointed 
Deputy United States Marshal for one year, 
under E. Campbell, then lie engaged in his 
present business. Politically he is a decided 
Democrat. He is a member of the A. O. H., 
in which body he now holds the office of 
Marshal of the Day. 

He was married October 3, 1883, to Miss 
Katie Madden, daughter of James and Ellen 
(Wallace) Madden, and born in Council Bluffs 
August 25, 1863. They are members of the 



Catholic Church and 
avenue. 



reside at 1032 Si.xth 



R. FOXLEY, successor to R. Foxley 
& Son, brick manufacturers. North 
* Harrison street. Council Bluffs. This 
business was established in 1880 by R. Foxley 
and was conducted by him until 1885, when 
he formed a partnership with his son A. R., 
the present owner. The annual output of 
this establishment is 1,000,000 brick, and 
the number made daily is 18,000. Mr. Fox- 
ley gives employment to about fifteen men, 
and manufactui-es both the common and the 
dry-pressed brick. 

Richard Foxley, the father of our subject, 
was born in Bedfordshire, England, in 1836. 
He remained in his native land until he was 
eighteen years old, when he came to America 
and located in New York State. A few years 
later he went to Toronto, Canada, where he 
made his home until 1859, and from there to 
Ottawa, Canada, until 1879, when he came to 
Council Bluffs, Iowa. In January, 1888, he 
removed to Vancouver, British Columbia, 
where he engaged in the manufacture of 
brick and where he died, August 17, 1890. 
He followed the trade of brick-maker and 
contractor all his life. Politically he was a 
Democrat. While in Canada, in 1856, he 
married Miss Charlotte Newlove, a native of 
Lincolnshire, England, born in 1838. She 
is now a resident of Vancouver. They had 
a family of nine children, viz.: Edith, wife of 
Joseph Tindale,of Downsville, Iowa; Eleanor, 
a resident of Vancouver; Alfred R., the sub- 
ject of this sketch; Emily, a milliner of Van- 
couver; Herbert, also of that city; Percival, 
a resident of Council Bluffs; and Louisa, at 
Vancouver. Two are deceased. 

Alfred R. was born near Ottawa, Canada, 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



493 



June 21, 1864; was educated in the public 
schools and learned the trade of briek-niaking 
with his father. In 1887 he was married to 
Miss Carrie Burgess, of Council Blnflfs. She 
was born in 1866 and died in 1888. Politi- 
cally Mr. Foxley holds to Republican prin- 
ciples. He is a member of the I. O. G. T., 
No. 175, Council Bluffs Lodge, and at this 
writing, 1890, is Worthy Chief. 

"-^K' l - l *'^ 



jEV. JOSEPH K NOTTS, deceased, was 
I^K born in Knottsville, Monongalia Coun- 
ty, Virginia, September 24, 1832. The 
village took its naine fr >m his ancestry; it is 
now in West Virginia, near Grafton. He 
completed his school education at the Acad- 
emy at Clarksburg, Virginia. At a very 
early age he became pious and joined the 
Methodist Episcopal Ciiurch, entering at 
once with his characteristic zeal into an active 
Christian life. About this time lie obtained 
his majority and catue West to locate lands 
for his father through Iowa. He spent some 
time teaching school in the States of Illinois, 
Indiana and Ohio, and in October, 1855, he 
married Rebecca Hall at Carthage, Illinois. 
Returiiino- to Virginia, he was licensed to 
preach. After serving on several charges in 
liis native State, he was transferred to Iowa, 
being a man of strong Union principles, in 
opposition to the most of his pirisliioners in 
Virginia. He wa^ transferred in 1860 to 
the Western Iowa, now the Des Moines, 
Conference, and he tillei successive appoint- 
ments until in 1865 he was sent to Council 
Bluffs, and here the next year he built the 
Br lidway Church elides, in the face of dif- 
ficulties that would have overcome any man 
but one of such invincible will and tireless 
energy as lie always possessed. Becoming 
Church Extension Agent of the Des Moines 



Conference, he traveled at large all over the 
field, laying the foundation of that infant 
society. In 1869 he was appointed Presiding 
Elder of the Council BlufEs district, and 
served it for three years. i\\ 1871 he was 
elected a delegate to the General Conference 
which met in Brooklyn, New York, the May 
following, and at this session he was placed 
upon committees where he served during the 
four years following. Failing health caused 
him to resign his district after serving it 
three years, when he engaged in publishing 
the Inland Christian Advocate, in connec- 
tion with which he established a book store 
for the sale of Methodist publications. The 
great fire in Council Bluffs, which destroyed 
the first Ogden House, carried off all his 
stock of books and publishing material in a 
few hours, leaving him nothing. 

In 1874 or 1875, shortly after the lire. 
President Grant appointed Mr. Knotts, 
Consul to Chihuahua, Mexico, to the climate 
of which country he looked as a refuge from 
his failing health; but he soon resigned the 
consulship to engage in mining, and through 
his energy and enterprise the people of that 
Republic had their attention turned to the 
United States as an inviting field of com- 
mercial affiliation. 

On December 26, 1887, he left his home 
in Council Bluffs on a business trip to Du- 
rauCTo, Mexico. Riding in a stage, he suf- 
fered from the chilly weather, pneumonia set 
in, and on January 15, 1888, he was taken 
suddenly worse at Parral, sixty miles from 
the railroad. He insisted on being conveyed 
to the railroad, and he was accordingly taken 
there, reaching El Paso, Texas, Sunday, 
January 22, and died the next day at 3:15 
p. M. His body was brought to Council 
Blnffs, and laid to rest in Walnut Hill Ceme- 
tery. 

The following tribute was truthfully paid 



494 



BIOGRAPHICAL BISTORT 



to liis cliaiacter hy Rev. II. H. O'Neal, in 
his funeral tlisconrse: " I tliink he was a man 
wlio feared the Lord in early life, who de- 
voted himself to tlie service of God, and 
never in after years did he swerve from that 
consecrated service. In that wliirl of excite- 
ment in which so niany are ruined, with him 
the fear of tlie Lord was ever a pervading 
element of his character. It modified his 
aims, fortified his principles, strengthened 
his affections, was with him a permanent 
principle which dominated his life, pai?sed 
with him from place to place and from stage 
to stage of his career: and when driven by 
broken health from the active work of the 
Christian ministry, he did not forget the 
church or leave his religion behind him. He 
was a man iron-nerved, strong with tireless 
energy. The erection of the Methodist Epis- 
copal Church, which would have dismayed 
many men, displayed the judgment, enter- 
prise and persistenL energy that possessed 
him. He could not endure inaction. He 
was never engaged with trifles, and had 
always some work to do that was worth doing, 
and he did it with his might, putting all his 
energy into it, and also the force of his char- 
acter. 

" In the ministry of the church and in his 
palmiest days, he was a ceaseless worker. 
Whether in the pastorate, presiding-elder- 
ehip or heljjing the public institutions of the 
church, he was full of zeal and industry, and 
such qualities, sanctified by grace divine, 
could not fail to make of him an instrument 
of great assistance, and lie was eminently 
useful, especially in the ministry. Under 
his pastorate souls were converted and the 
churches strengthened. In the wider fields 
of presiding-eldership the work grew and 
prospered under his hand, and he won the 
highest esteem of his fellow ministers by his 
fidelity and success. He was a man of such 



genial spirit and so faithful in the manage- 
ment of affairs that he commanded the 
highest respect of all, and won his way into 
the strongest and most enduring love of his 
personal friends." 

Mr. Knotts was of English ancestry, com- 
ing from the north of England, and traceable 
back for several generations. His grand- 
father was a soldier in the A.merican war for 
Independence. His immediate parents were 
Absalom and Matilda (Sayre) Knotts. He 
was brought up on a farm. His wife, a 
native of West Virginia, and also of English 
origin, died at her home in Council Bluffs, 
January 26, 1890. They had ten children, 
two of whom died in infancy. The list is: 
Edith v., now the wife of Samuel Robert- 
son, of Boulder, Montana; Absalom B., of 
Plattsmouth, Nebraska; Thomas H., of Des 
Moines, Iowa; Matilda, deceased; Lemuel G., 
of Council Bluffs; E. Franklin, also of Coun- 
cil Bluffs; James E., a resident of Des 
Moines: Gordon B., of Council Bluffs; Alice, 
deceased; Joseph, Jr., a resident of Council 
Bluflfs. 

Lemuel G. Knotts was born in New Vir- 
ginia, Warren County, Iowa, April 3, 1865, 
and was reared from his fourth year in 
Council Bluffs, receiving his education here 
except one winter at Denison, Texas. Dur- 
ing the summer months previous to the 
completion of his sixteenth year he worked 
on his father's farm, after which he devoted 
his entire time to his studies. At the age 
of eighteen he spent a year in Mexico, in the 
study of Spanish and mining. Returning to 
Council Bluffs he graduated here in the class 
of 1885. He went again to Mexico to look 
after the mining interests of his father at 
Parral in the State of Chihuahua and at 
Mapimi in the State of Durango, and was 
there about eighteen months. Returning 
here he enoraaed in various pursuits. In the 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



495 



Slimmer of 1887 lie took a course at the 
commercial college here, and then entered 
the office of Wright, Baldwin & Haldara, to 
study law, and was there one year, when he 
engaged in his present business, dealing in 
coal and wood, in partnership with W. F. 
Sapp, Jr. On September 2, 1890, Mr. Sapp 
withdrew from the partnership firm of S^pp 
& Kiiotts, since which time Mr. Knotts had 
been conducting the fuel business alone. 



>—.t ^ -a m - ^-»-^°— — 

fHOMAS OFFICER, of the banking 
]'i. house of Officer & Pusey, Council 
Bluffs, the oldest and one of the most 
solid banking firms in Iowa, was born in 
Washington, Washington County, Pennsyl- 
vania, December 28, 1822. He is descended 
from those hardy Scotch-Irish Presbyterians 
so prominent in the history of Pennsylvania 
and the United States. His grandfather, 
Thomas Officer, was born in Chester County, 
Pennsylvania; was a man of more than or- 
dinary aliility and intelligence, and held 
various offices of trust in his county. His 
great-grandfather, with a brother, came from 
the north of Ireland to Pennsylvania soon 
after the Revolution, one settling near Knox- 
ville, Tennessee, and the other in Chester 
County, Pennsylvania, from whom have de- 
scended about all now in America who in- 
herit the family name. Our subject's father, 
Robert Officer, was born in Chester County, 
and when two years of age moved with his 
parents to Washington County, Pennsylvania. 
In early life he engaged in merchandising at 
Washington and Williamsport, Pennsylvania, 
and died in 1874, at the age of seventy-nine 
years. He was united in marriage to Miss 
Margaret Scott, the daughter of John and 
Jane (Patterson) Scott. Mr. and Mrs. Rob- 
ert Officer were Presbyterians, and were the 



parents of eleven children, four of whom are 
living, viz.: Thomas, our subject; Rebecca, 
wife of Neal G. Blaine, a brother of the 
Hon. James G. Blaine (she is now a widow, 
and resides in Council Bluffs); S. Ellen, wife 
of the Hon. Wm. H. M. Pueey, a banker of 
this city; Robert, also of this city, engaged 
in the real-estate and insurance business. 

Thomas Officer, our subject, graduated at 
Washington (Pennsylvania) College in 1840, 
and went at once to Columbus, Oliio, where 
he was employed as an instructor in the Ohio 
State Institution for the Deaf and Dumb for 
five years. He was then called to Jackson- 
ville, Illinois, where he organized, laid out 
the grounds, and built the Illinois State In- 
stitution for the Deaf and Dumb, and re- 
mained as principal and superintendent for 
ten years. He then resigned this position 
and came to Council Bluffs, Iowa. In 1856 
he formed his preseiit partnership with Mr. 
Pusey, purchasing the same ground on which 
their present bank building now stands, and 
in the spring of 1857 opened their present 
bank, then as now a private bank. This is 
one of the solid firms in the county, and is 
worthy of record, as it is one of the few that 
passed through the panics of 1857-'71-'73. 
Out of seventeen banking institutions in 
Council Bluffs, this is the only one that sur- 
vived the panic of 1857. 

Mr. Officer was united in marriao-e, Auirust 
8, 1848, to Miss Elizabeth M. Pusey, who 
was born in Washington County, Pennsyl- 
vania, and is the sister of Hon. William H. 
M. Pusey, whose sketch appears in this work. 
Mr. and Mrs. Officer rank among the very 
best people of Council Bluffs and also of 
Iowa, and are universally admired and re- 
spected for their sterling worth. They are 
members of the First Presbyterian Church, 
of which he has been a ruline elder ever 
since its organization in 1856. They are the 



496 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY 



parents of three children: Charles T., teller 
in the bank with his fatlier and uncle, and 
married to Miss Boyle, of Pittsburg, Penn- 
sylvania; Julia E., a talented musician, and 
a graduate of the Petercilia School of Music, 
of Boston, Massachusetts, and also of the 
Kockford (Illinois) Female Seminary; and 
William P., an assistant with his father and 
uncle in the bank. Mr. Officer has never 
sought office, but yet has held various local 
offices of trust, such as Councilman -and a 
member and president of the School Board. 
His known personal experience and promi- 
nence in connection with institutions for the 
deaf and dumb in other States was an im- 
portant factor in securing the location of the 
Iowa State Institution at Council Bluffs. In 
conjunction with Hon. Caleb Baldwin and 
Major-General Grenville M. Dodge, he was 
appointed as commissioner in behalf of the 
State to select the site, purchase the grounds, 
decide upon the plans and erect the build- 
ings, all of which was done under their man- 
agement. He afterward served, under ap- 
pointment by the State, as a member of the 
Board of Directors for a number of years, 
and part of the time as president of the 
board. He enjoys the contidence and respect 
of all, and is a gentleman of the strictest 
Integrity. 

-*-^«-»^^-< 

fA. KILLION, an intelligent and suc- 
cessful farmer of Belknap Township, 
® Pottawattamie County, was born in 
Menard County, Illinois, September 15, 1858, 
a son of James E. and Sarah E. (Hornback) 
Killion, both natives of Kentucky, the former 
a son of Michel Killion, also a native of 
Kentucky, and the latter the daughter of 
John H. and Abigail (Bracken) Hornback. 
Our subject's father died in Menard County 



in 1876, at the age of fifty-six years. He 
had been a farmer all his life, and in his 
political views he was a Republican. Religi- 
ously he was a member of the Cumberland 
Presbyterian Church. His widow is still 
living in Menard County. They were the 
parents of nine children, six of whom are still 
living. 

J. A. Killion was reared on a farm in his 
native county until 1883, when he came to 
his present farm of 146 acres in Pottawatta- 
mie County. When he first settled on this 
place it was wild prairie land, but he has 
since made many improvements, and he now 
has a fine large farm. He was married in 
Menard County, Illinois, March 3, 1881, to 
Miss A. M. Denton, a woman of intelligence 
and education, and the daughter of William 
G. and Elizabeth (Powers) Denton. Politi- 
cally Mr. Killion is a Republican. 

•■*- "| ' 5"S ' |" '*" 




ILLIAM C. KLEPPINGER, a prom 
inent farmer of P(>ttawattamie Coun- 
ty, is a pioneer settler of Iowa. His 
grandfather was the founder of the family in 
America; he was a German by birth, and set- 
tled on a farm in Northampton County, 
Pennsylvania He was a soldier in the war 
of the Revolution, and also engaged in the 
wars with the Indians. He was married to 
a lady of English parentage, and tliey had 
five children: Lewis, Jacob, William, Eli and 
Catherine. He spent his days in Northamp- 
ton County, dying at a good old age. He 
was a member of the Lutheran Church. 
Lewie Kleppinger, a son of the above and the 
father of our subject, was born on the old 
homestead in Northampton County, and 
learned farming in early life. He was mar- 
ried in his native State to Barbara Harmon, 
daughter of Jacob Harmon, a hotel-keeper at 



OF P02 TAW ATT AM IE COUNTY. 



49; 



Cherryville, who owned and built the old 
Stone Hotel in which every stone was the 
same size, picked and dressed, and which is 
still standing. He was the father of four 
children: Barbara, Catharine, Mary and Con- 
rad. To Mr. and Mrs. Klep[)inger have been 
born seven children : David, Thomas, Joseph, 
William C, Lewis, Rebecca and Sarah. After 
marriage Mr. Kleppinger settled in North- 
ampton County, near his two brothers, Jacob 
and Eli, each locating on a large farm. Both 
he and his wife were natives of Germany, and 
were respected by their fellow citizens. Mr. 
Kleppinger was Township Supervisor eight 
years; was an industrious and honest citizen 
and a prosperous farmer. He was a devout 
Christian and trustee in his church for many 
years, and was also one of the building com- 
mittee and founders of the church. 

William C, the subject of this sketch, waa 
born on the old homestead in a stone house, 
December 27,1829, and served an apprentice- 
ship of three years at the coach-maker's trade 
in Bloomsburj, New Jersey. He was then 
eniraced in driving cattle, horses and sheep 
over the AUeghanies for three years, having 
crossed the mountains hundreds of tirnes. 
After his marriage he settled at Emaus, 
Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, working at his 
trade, and remaining eight years. In 1859 
he moved to his father-in-law's farm, remain- 
ing nine years; next he went to Kreidersville, 
where he lived five years, working at his trade ; 
and in 1867 came to Iowa, settling on a farm 
in Muscatine County, where he lived thirteen 
years. In 1879 he came to his present tine 
farm of 160 acres, situated near Walnut. 

Mr. Kleppinger married Elizabeth Seem, 
daughter of Conrad and Catharine (Sworit) 
Seem. She was born in 1829, and was of 
Grerman descent. Mr. Seem owned a flax- 
oil mill and a woolen-mill, and was also a 
furniture-maker of Northampton County, 



Pennsylvania. He lived tc the great age of 
ninety-three years, living ninety years on one 
farm, which he inherited from his father. 
The last three years he lived with his son. 
He was the father of fourteen children, 
twelve of whom grew to maturity: Joseph, 
John, Samuel, David, Conrad, Keuben (de- 
ceased), Lucy, Mary, Patterson (deceased), 
Elizabeth, Katie, Judy, Polly and Leah. 
Mr. Seem was a member of the German Re- 
formed Church, of which he was one of the 
founders, and also one of the builders of the 
church. He taught school in his early life, 
and was once a Justice of the Peace. He 
was truly one of the old patriarch Pennsyl- 
vanians, who brought up a large family and 
taught them industry and virtue. To Mr. 
and Mrs. Kleppinger have been born nine 
children, seven of whom lived to maturity: 
Mary A., Adelaide, Abyssinia (deceased at 
six years), Preston C, Elizabeth C, Rosie 
B., Robert D., James P., Meda S. (deceased 
at two years). Mr. and Mrs. Kleppinger are 
members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
in which he has been a member of the build- 
ing committee, and was steward and class 
leader in Muscatine County. In politics he is a 
stanch Democrat, and is tiow Road Supervisor 
of his township. He is an industrious man 
and honorable citizen, and one of the many 
self-made men of which Iowa may boast. 



ILLIAM WINTERSTIEN was born 
in Johnson County, Iowa, December 
28, 1843, son of William Winter- 
stien, Sr., a native of Ohio. His grandfather, 
Nicholas Winterstien, a soldier of the war 
of 1812, brought his family to Johnson 
County, Iowa, becoming early settlers of that 
place. He and his son William and others 
surveyed the wagon- road from Iowa City to 




498 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY 



Cedar Kapids witli breaking plows and ox 
teams, William driving one of the teams. 
Among other early settlers in Johnson 
County there was a family by the name of 
Laramore who came from Virginia. Mr. 
and Mrs. Laramore were the parents of seven 
daughters, some of whom remained in the 
East. Their daughter Susan became the 
wife of William Winterstien, Sr., and by 
him had ten children, four of whom are now 
living, viz.: William, Jr., our subject; Je- 
rome W., who residesin Waveland Township, 
Pottawattamie County; Philip, a resident of 
Hastings, Nebraska; and Franklin, who lives 
near Goldendale, Washington. Mr. and Mrs. 
Winterstien in 1850 went overland to Cali- 
fornia, witli ox teams, spending the first win- 
ter at Carson City, then called Gold Cailon. 
After a sojourn of six years in California 
they returned to Iowa, coming via water to 
New York and from thence to Johnson 
County. They subsequently went to Kansas, 
where they lived some ten or twelve years, 
and then removed to Washington, where they 
now reside. The father is seventy-four years 
old and the motiier is seventy-two. During 
the late war Mr. Winterstien enlisted in the 
Twenty-second Iowa Infantry, as a recruit. 
William Winterstien, .Jr., was reared on a 
farm in Johnson County, Iowa, and when the 
great Rebellion broke out he entered in the 
service of his country and fought bravely all 
through the war. He enlisted in August, 
1862, in Company H, Twenty-second Iowa 
Infantry, and the first battle he was in was 
that of Port Gibson, near Grand Gulf. The 
bursting of a shell near his head caused a 
deafness in his right ear from which he has 
never recovered. At that time his regiment 
was supporting the First Iowa Battery. Mr. 
Winterstien was afterward in the battles of 
Champion Hill, Black River Bridge, the 
charge 19th and 22d of May, siege of Vicks- 



burg, Winchester, Virginia, Fisher's Hill 
and Cedar Creek. He was honorably dis- 
charged at Savannah, Georgia, July 25, 1865. 

After the war Mr. Winterstien returned to 
Johnson County, Iowa, where he resided un- 
til 1870, when he removed to Benton County, 
same State. In 1871 he went to Montgom- 
ery County and settled twelve miles north- 
west of Red Oak. Three years later, in 
1874, he came to Pottawattamie County and 
settled on his present farm in section 28, 
Wright Township. It was then wild land, 
but the well directed efforts of Mr. Winter- 
stien have caused it to assume a different ap- 
pearance. He has a story-and-a-half frame 
residence, 16 x 25 feet, located on a natural 
building site, surrounded by a grove of two 
acres. He also has other farm buildings and 
improvements. His home farm consists of 
eighty acres, and he owns another well im- 
proved eighty acre farm in Waveland Town- 
ship. 

June 10, 1869, in Johnson County, Mr. 
Winterstien was married to Catherine Louise 
Burnett, a native of Ohio. Her father, John 
Burnett, was born in Ohio, son of John Bur- 
nett, Sr., and her mother, nee Ann Eliza 
Veness, was born in York County, Pennsyl- 
vania. Mr. and Mrs. Burnett came to Iowa 
about the year 1850 and settled in Cedar 
County, where they spent the residue of their 
lives. They reared five children, namely: 
Thomas, Catherine L., George, Smith and 
Charles. Mrs. Winterstien was reared and 
educated in Cedar County. She and her hus- 
band have nine children, viz.: Grant, Eugene, 
William Arthur, Ethel, Kate, Thomas B., Ray, 
Ben Harrison and Susan. 

Politically Mr. Winterstien is a Republi- 
can. He is a member of the G. A. R., 
Robert Worthington Post, No. 9. He joined 
the Iowa City Post. He is associated with 
the Asbury Methodist Episcopal Church. 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



499 



Mr. Winterstien is a man in the prime of 
life, is frank and cordial in his manner, and 
is honorable in all his dealings. 

|^OP>ERT MILLER, one of the repre- 
fl^ sentative citizens of Washington Town- 
^^ ship, Pottawattamig County, has resided 
here since 1882. He is jnstly deserving of 
honorable mention in a work of this charac- 
ter, and a resume of his life is herewith 
given. 

Mr. Miller was born in Allegheny County, 
Pennsylvania, twenty miles Irom Pittsburgh, 
near the Allegheny River, February 22, 1831. 
His father, Joseph B. Miller, was born near 
Freeport, Pennsylvania, son of John Miller, 
a native of Ireland. The latter was one of 
the two early settlers in that part of Alle- 
gheny County. The mother of our subject, 
Jane (McCall) Miller, was born in Butler 
County, Pennsylvania. Her father, John 
McCall, was of Scotch-Irish ancestry. In 
1854 Joseph B. Miller and wife removed to 
Rock Island County, Illinois, where they re- 
sided until their death, the mother dying at 
the age of seventy-live years and eleven 
months, and the father at the age of seventy- 
six years and eleven months. He was a 
farmer the most of his life, but for seventeen 
years acted as a county nfficer. In politics 
he was a Whig and an Abolitionist. He was 
one of the twelve men wh(j first voted the 
Abolitionist ticket in Allegheny County. lu 
religion he was a Seceder or a United Presby- 
terian. He and his wife reared eight chil 
dren, seven sons and one daughter. Three of 
the sons served in the late war. 

Robert passed his youth at farm work in 
his native county and received his education 
in the public schools. In 1854, when he 
was twenty-four years of age, he was married 



in Allegheny County, to Miss Eleanor McKee, 
a lady of intelligence and refinement. She 
was born in Washington County, Pennsyl- 
vania, daughter of John and Mary Ann 
(Crawford) McKee. Her parents were of 
Irish ancestry, and were born in Belfast, Ire- 
land. They worshiped with the old-school 
Presbyterians. Robert Miller resided in Penn- 
sylvania until 1854, when he removed to 
Rock Island County, Illinois, where he re- 
mained until 1868, with the exception of one 
year spent at Pike's Peak. In 1868 he re- 
moved to Page County, Iowa, and located 
northwest of Clarinda, being one of the early 
settlers of that place. He resided in Page 
County until the spring of 1871, when he 
moved to Thayer County, Nebraska, then 
called Jefferson County. After remaining 
there five years and four months he returned 
to Page County, and for one year made his 
home south of Essex. He then went to 
Atchison County, Missouri, and from there, 
in 1882, he came to Washington Township, 
Pottawattamie County, Iowa. Id 1881 he 
purchased 160 acres of land from B. F. Clay- 
ton. The soil had been broken but there 
were no improvements on the farm. In 
1886 he purchased eighty acres more, now 
being the owner of 240 acres of well im- 
proved land. Besides his own residence he 
has two teuant houses. His farm is devoted 
to general farming and stock-raising. 

Mr. and Mrs. Miller have six children, 
namely: Mary Jane, wife of George Fulton, 
ThayerCounty, Nebraska;'Eliza Belle, wife of 
Samuel Bartle, Carson Township, Pottawatta- 
mie County ; Joseph B. is married and lives on 
his father's farm; William John is also mar- 
ried and resides on the Perry place; James T., 
at home; and Robert R., at school. Two of 
their children are deceased, an infant son and 
Eleanor, who died at the age of seven months. 

Mr. Miller casts his vote and infiuence with 



500 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



the Republican party, and he has served the 
public in some of the township offices. He 
and his wife are ixiembera of the Sharon 
Presbyterian Church, of which he is an 
elder. He is also an active worker in the 
Sabbath-school. Mr. Miller is a man of 
three-score years, yet he bears his age lightly. 
He is a desirable acquisition to the com- 
munity in which he resides, and is honored 
and esteemed by all who know hira. 



lEORGE V. BURNETT came to Potta- 
wattamie County, Iowa, in July, 1884, 
and has since continued his residence 
liere. He was born in Wayne County, Ohio, 
Jiuiuary 9, 1848, son of John and Ann 
(Veness) Burnett, the former of Scotch ex- 
traction, and the latter born in Pennsylvania, 
a descendant of German ancestors. Mr. and 
Mrs. Burnett were married in Ohio, and 
■when their son George was about three or 
four years old they came to Iowa, and settled 
in Cedar County. There the mother died 
two or three years later, and the father died 
in 1861, at the age of forty two years and 
eight months. He was among the early 
settlers of that county, and his whole life 
was passed on a farm. Politically he was a 
Democrat. He and his wife were both 
members of the Presbyterian Churcii. They 
reared a lamily of four sons and one daugh- 
ter, viz.: Thomas H., a well-to-do settler of 
Pottawattamie County, who died in "Wright 
Township, March 23, 1886, at the age of 
forty-two years and twenty-three days. He 
had never married. Catherine L., who is 
the wife of William Winterstien, Wright 
Township, Pottawattamie County; George 
v.. Smith J., Griswold, Iowa; and Charles i>f 
Pottawattamie County, Kansas. 

George was reared on a farm in Odnr 



County, and learned the trade of stone- 
mason, which he followed four years in Iowa 
City before he came to this county. He is 
now engaged in general farming and stock- 
raising, owning eighty acres of improved 
land, well-adapted for stock or grain, located 
in section 31, Wright Township. 

Mr. Burnett was married in June, 1878, 
to Mrs. Lanra M. Parrott, a native of Foun- 
tain County, Indiana. Her father, Andrew 
B. Parrott, was born in Ohio, and her mother, 
Frances Ann (Furr) Parrott, in Fountain 
County, Indiana. Mrs. Parrott's parents 
weie Kentnckians. Mrs. Burnett was but 
eleven months old when she came with her 
father and mother to Iowa. They settled in 
Johnson County, where, in March, 1866. the 
mother died, at the age of thirty-one years 
and nine months. Mr. Parrott still resides 
in Iowa City. By her first marriage Mrs. 
Burnett had one child, Frances Collins, now 
the wife of Frank Bevier, a resident of Car- 
son, Iowa. By her present husband she has 
two children, namely: Maudie Odessa and 
Rachel May. They lost two children: John 
Earl, who died at the age of thirteen months 
and eighteen days, and Marion Oliva, their 
third child, at birth. In his political views 
Mr. Burnett is independent. He is well- 
informed on current topics, is out-spoken and 
cordial in his address, and is regarded as one 
of the woi-thy citizens of the community. 
Mrs. Burnett is a member of the Christian 
Church. 




ILLIAM CONVERSE, a prominent 
farmer of Valley Township, descended 
from an old American family, of 
Euirlish descent, who settled in Vermont in 
early day. The grandfather of our subject, 
a farmer in Plattsburg, that State, was the 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



501 



father of seven children, the sons being 
Erastus, William, Chase, Jesse and John, 
and the daughters, Polly and Jemima. Eras- 
tns, the father of William, went to Penn- 
sylvania, and was there married to Elizabetli 
Yan Wermer, and they had six children: 
John, William, George B., Henry B., Erastus 
and a daughter who died in infancy. George 
B. and Erastus served in the Union army 
four years, and George died in the ser- 
vice. 

In 1842 the father brought his family to 
Iowa, settling on a claim where the land was 
not yet surveyed, in what is now Green 
Township, Iowa County. This State was 
then an entirely new country, and he had to 
go seventy miles for his groceries, the family 
having to rely upon their own productions 
for most of their supplies, which consisted 
mainly of corn bread and buckwheat cakes, 
with wild game and fish. For live yeai-s they 
were without beef, pork, coffee, sugar and 
milk. Tea they made of '• red-root " {Geano- 
thus Americanus). The corn they ground 
with a hand mill. Their clothing was mostly 
made of buck-skin. They lived in a log 
cabin, with no sawed timber except the 
doors and window casings, which were made 
from their dry-goods boxes, that they had 
brought from Pennsylvania, and their floors 
were of puncheon. But they had a comfort- 
able home and were content. There were 
no schools, churches, roads, courts, lawyers, 
or even a justice of the peace, and but one 
doctor, who lived nine miles distant. The 
people were healthy, happy and peaceable; 
their habits were simj^le, and they were 
friendly and hospitable, helping each other 
for miles around. Mr. Converse lived to the 
age of forty-three years, dying from exhaus- 
tion brought on by riding seventy miles on 
horseback without a saddle, for a doctor for 
his sick Son. His widow is still living, at 



the age of eighty years, with her son Will- 
iam. When she first came to Iowa, the Sac 
and Fox Indians were very numerous but 
friendly, and Keokuk, the celebrated chief, 
used to come to their cabin, and frequently 
partook of their hospitality. 

William Converse, the subject of this 
sketch, was born in Rockdale Township, 
Crawford County, Pennsylvania, and was 
but nine years of age when his parents came 
to Iowa. He was brought up in the wilder- 
ness, and received no education when a boy, 
as the nearest school at the time of his father's 
death whs twenty-two miles, and he never had 
the benefit of but six months' schooling. 
When his father died his brother, two years his 
senior, and himself were the support of the 
family, and at the age of fourteen he did a 
man's work. He learned from his father 
and the Indians to hunt, and the meat for 
the family was procured in this way. He 
often, when hunting with the Indiatis, par- 
took of their hospitality, and describes their 
cooking as being clean and orderly. After 
his marriage Mr. Converse settled in what is 
now Greene Township, Iowa County, where 
he lived twenty-nine years, and where he 
owned a farm of 226 acres. He sold this 
place, and in 1871 came to Pottawattamie 
County, seftling on his present farm of 320 
acres in Valley Township. It was wild land 
when he purchased it nineteen years ago, but 
he has since converted it into a fine cultivated 
farm, to which he has since added until he 
now owns 400 acres. Mr. Converse set out 
all his shade and fruit trees; also has many 
good buildings, and a splendid orchard of 
300 bearing trees, and a good vineyard. 

Politically he is a Republican, but is an 
independent thinker, and liberal in all his 
views, voting for the man instead of tht 
politician. He is a member of the Farmers' 
Alliance, and is president of the Anti-H(jrse- 



503 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY 



Thief Society, which office he has held for 
seventeen years. He has also been a member 
of the Masons, Odd Fellows and Good Tem- 
plars orders. He is a strong temperance 
man, and has subscribed liberally for the 
cause. He has taken an active part in the 
cause of education and the good of the 
schools, and has served as School Director 
for years, and also as president of tiie School 
Board. Mr Converse stands high in his 
community as an upright and honorable man, 
is always found on the side of reform and in 
defense of the right. He has tiie honor of 
being one of the founders of the great and 
wealthy State of Iowa, as he has been with 
her from the beginning, endured all the 
iiardships and privation allotted to her eldest 
sons, and has been equal to all the vicissi- 
tudes of life in her borders. 

Mr. Converse was married at the a^e of 
nineteen, to Miss Jane C. Henry, then aged 
fifteen years, daughter of Williamson A. 
and Sarah (Richardson) Henry. The fatlier 
was originally from Kentucky, but went to 
Ohio, and finally settled in Johnson (bounty, 
Iowa, between 1835 and 1842. They were 
the parents of seven children: Nancy, Jane, 
Eebecca, Fannie, Mary A., William A. and 
Franklin P. Mr. Henry was a soldier in the 
Black Hawk war; was one of the pioneers of 
Iowa State and city, and assisted in drawing 
the stone for the State University. He kept 
a tavern in Iowa City for many years, and 
lived to the age of fifty- live years. To Mr. 
and Mrs. William Converse have been born 
six children: John, Charles, Mary, Ella, 
Emma and Clara. Mrs. Converse is a mem- 
ber of the Baptist Church. William Con 
verse has practiced medicine for forty years, 
and for the last twenty-five years has had a 
large practice. He is now living on his own 
farm, and is dealing in imported Clydesdale 
and French draft horses, high-grade mares. 



high-grade red-polled cattle and pure-bred 
Poland-China swine. 

'g - I ' T - g 



ffAMES A. TAYLOR, one of the best 
'M known pioneers of the county, and a 
iC resident of Washington Township, has 
been a resident of this county for forty years. 
He was burn in Montgomery County, In- 
diana, February 24, 1831, a son of Pleasant 
Taylor, anativeofTennessee and an old pioneer 
of this county. His father, Burzil Taylor, 
was a soldier in the war of 1812. Pleasant 
Taylor was married in Montgomery County, 
Indiana, to Jane Allison, a daughter of James 
Allison, who was born in Pennsylvania. 
They had five children, viz.: James A., our 
subject; Mary E. Gordon, of Oklahoma; 
Thomas and Pleasant, deceased; and William 
H., of Silver Creek Township, Pottawattamie 
County. They lived in Indiana until about 
1840, when they moved to Missouri, tlien to 
Illinois, and in 1848 they came to Iowa and 
lived in Wapello County until 1850; then 
they came to Pottawattamie County and 
bought a Mormon claim in Silver Creek Town- 
ship, being the first " Gentile" in the vicinity. 
Some years later he sold out and came to 
Washington Township and liouglit the place 
where he now lives. His wife died in June, 
1868. Several years after her death he mar- 
ried Sidney Webb, with whom he still lives. 
James A. Taylor, our subject, was about 
twenty years old when he came to this county. 
His education was obtained in the log schuol- 
houses of that period. In 1858 he took 
charge of a saw and grist mill on Silver Creek 
fur two years. He subsequently purchased 
120 acres of land and at once commenced its 
improvement He now has a well improved 
farm of 400 acres, one of the best in Wash- 
ington Township. In 1885 he erected a good 





' CyO, /^U^yv^t^-^ 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTT. 



50:i 



house, which cost $1,500. It is built in 
modern style, and is well furnished tiirough- 
oiit. A grove of tiftj-five acres and orchard 
near by makes his home an attractive one. 
Both general farming and stock-raising are 
carried on here. Mr. Taylor vi^as married in 
Pottawattamie County, in 1859, to Miss 
Maria E. Piles, who was born in Guernsey 
County, Ohio, in 1839. Her father, James 
Piles, was born in Ohio, in 1804, and died in 
that State, at the age of iifty. Her mother, 
Marg.tret (English) Pile-s, was born in Penn- 
sylvania, in 1810, and died in this county at 
the »ge of forty-seven. Mr. and Mrs. Taylor 
have had nine children, viz.: Mary E., wite 
of G. W. Hamilton, and a resident of Wash- 
ington Township; William M., Henry P., who 
married Debember 4, 1889, Ada M. Cole, a 
teacher of Pottawattamie County, and is a 
resident also of Washington Township; Isaac, 
John, Martha Ellen (died in 1882), Alice M., 
Ira J. and Margaret J. 

Mr. Taylor is a Democrat in politics. He 
ha^ served the public as Township Trustee 
and a; a member of the School Board. He, 
Henry and John, are associated with the 
Masonic Order, Coral Lodge, No. 430, at 
Carson. He and his wife, Henry and wife, 
John and Alice are members of the Order of 
the Eastern Star. Mr. Taylor is a consistent 
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 
As a fireside companion Mr. Taylor is jovial 
and cordial. He is well informed on all 
general topics, and is a good story-teller. He 
is regarded as one of the popular and worthy 
citizens of Poitawattamie County. 



<-i":-|--< 



fA. MURPHY, a contractor and builder 
of Council Bluffs, and also the owner 
* of a planing-tnill, sash, door and blind 
factory, which was erected in October, 1889, 



87 



is one of the most important business men in 
this city. He came here in 1881 and erected 
the Union elevator for the Pool lines, and after 
its completion he decided to remain here. 
He has erected a number of buildings, among 
which are the David Bradley building, the 
Massalon, the Morselles, the Sandwich, Elec- 
tric motor, Marriam Block, Washineton Ave- 
nue school building, the Grand Hotel, which 
is now under construction, and many other 
buildings. He does an annual business of 
about $75,000. The second year of his resi- 
dence in Council Bluffs, Mr. Murphy had 
secured some $60,000 worth of work. At 
present he turns out all his work at his own 
plant, which is located at the corner of 
Twenty-first street and First avenue. It was 
erected at a cost of some $14,000, and he 
employs about si-xteen men in the plant and 
thirty to forty outside, all of whom are prac- 
tical mechanics. He has in view the enlarcfe- 
ment of his plant, as he has not sufficient 
space to do his work. Politically he is an 
adherent of the Democratic party, of which 
he is a hearty supporter. He is a member 
of the A. O. U. W., Apollo Lodge. No. 139, 
of Chicago. 

Mr. Murphy was born in Portage du Fort, 
Canada East, near Ottawa City, December 5, 
1839, the son of Patrick and Rose Ann (Pren- 
tice) Murphy, and of Irish-Scotch descent. 
He attended school in his native country un- 
til nineteen years of age, when he commenced 
work in the pineries, continuing two years; 
he next served an apprenticeship at the car- 
penter's trade with his father, who was a con- 
tractor and carpenter. His father died when 
he was twenty four years of age, after which 
he took charge of his business and prosecuted 
the same two years. He then left Canada, 
and in 1863 went to Chicago, where he re- 
mained until 1864. He then went South 
with Sherman, and served in the employ of 



504 



UIOGBAPUIGAL HI STORY 



the Government about two years and three 
months, when he was honorably discharged. 
Mr. Murphy then returned to Cliicago, re- 
mained until 1869; thence he went to Mon- 
tana for three and a half years; then back to 
Chicago for two years; next to San Francisco, 
California, three years; again returned to 
Chicago, where he remained until 1881; and 
then came to this city, where he has since 
made his home. During his travels from 
one place to another he was engaged at his 
trade. He has done much toward building 
up Council Bluffs, and in the fall of 1881 
was the means of bringina; 110 mechanics to 
this city from Chicago. At other times he 
has been the cause of bringing' men from 
various parts of the country, and the result 
is that many are now permanent residents, 
and some are the best mechanics the city 
affords. 

Mr. Murphy was married in Chicago, 
January 28, 1868, to Kate L. Wright, a na- 
tive of Canada, and daughter of John and 
Isabella Wright, of Lancaster, Canada West, 
and of Scotch birth and German parentage. 
Mrs. and Mrs, Murphy have three children: 
George, Maud, and Harry. 

- "■ "^ ' S ' T ' I 



fRANK COLEMAN is another one of 
the representative citizens of Washing- 
ton Township, Pottawattamie County. 
He was born in Tolland County, Connecticut, 
twenty miles east of Hartford, in 1841, son 
of Timothy Coleman, a native of New Eng- 
land, and Laura (Hunt) Coleman, who was 
born in Connecticut, of an old family of that 
State. 

When Frank was fourteen years old his 
father moved to Kansas and settled near Law- 
rence. That city then contained two shanties 
and one tent, the latter being 100 feet long 



and used as a hotel. Border ruffians were 
plenty in those days in Kansas, and when 
Mr. Coleman was ordered to leave or suffer 
the consequences lie chose the former. Go- 
ing East, he settled in Macoupin County, Illi- 
nois, near Bunker Hill. On a farm at that 
place Frank grew to manhood. Previous to 
their going West he had learned the hatter 
trade, at which he worked from the age of 
seven until he was fourteen. His mother 
died in Illinois, at the age of sixty-five years. 
His father passed away in St. Louis, at the 
age of seventy-five, while traveling in pur- 
suit of health. He was a farmer the gi'eater 
part of his life. In politics he was a Whig, 
and later, an Abolitionist. To him and his 
wife eleven sons were born, seven of whom 
grew to manhood. The subject of this 
sketch lived in Illinois until 1871, when he 
came to Mills County, Iowa, residing there 
two years. In 1873 he came to Pottawatta- 
mie County and for some time made his 
home in Macedonia Township. Then he 
moved to James Township, where he lived 
two years and improved two tarms. His 
next move was to Washington Township. 
Here he purchased eighty acres of land in 
section 14, in 1881, and has made many im- 
provements on the same. The whole farm 
is in a iiourishinof condition. His coinfortabie 
cottage home is surrounded by a grove and 
orchard of three acres, and all of his out- 
buildings show thrift and prosperity. 

Mr. Coleman was married, March 14, 1876, 
at Macedonia, Iowa, to Miss Mary Willson, a 
lady of culture and refinement, who was 
born in Cass County, Iowa, near Lewis. Her 
father, Kirby Willson, who was born near Cin- 
cinnati, Ohio, and her mother, Julia A. (Bartles) 
Willson, a native of Fulton County. Illinois, 
now reside near Charter Oak, Crawford County, 
Iowa. Mrs. Coleman was nine years old when 
they went to Mills County, Iowa, where she was 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



505 



reared and educated. To Mr. and Mrs. Cole- 
man seven children have been born, namely: 
Ella Grace, Frederick H., Bertie and Gertrude 
(twine), Timothy, Robert and Roy. Mr. 
Coleman'd political views are in harmony 
with Republican principles. Mrs. Coleman 
is a worthy member of the Evangelical Church. 
A mail in the prime of life, intelligent and 
well informed on all general topics, frank and 
cordial in his manner toward all with whom 
he comes in contact, Mr. (!oleraan is regarded 
as a desirable acquisition to his community. 
He has served the public as Township Trus- 
tee and as a member of the School Board. 



•"♦■ "^ • ; »' ; • I' *"' 




riLLIAM 
popular 



P. CRAFT, a wealthy and 
citizen of Pottawattamie 
County, was born in Washington 
County, Pennsylvania, April 22, 1839, a son 
of Peter and Tacy (DeGood) Craft, the 
former a native of Ohio, and a son of Samuel 
Crafr, a native of Germany; the latter is the 
daughter of Joseph DeGood, of French 
parentage. Mr. and Mrs. Peter Craft were 
married in Millsborough, Washington County, 
Pennsylvania, and in 1854 moved to Wapello 
County, Iowa, where, in November, 1859, 
the mother died. The father now lives in 
Ottumwa, Iowa, at the age of seventy-two 
years. In the East he was a coal dealer and 
boat-builder by trade, but in Iowa he has 
been engaged in iarming. Politically he is 
a Democrat, and religiously is an Atheist, or 
a believer in the rotation or progress of souls. 
The subject of this sketch remained on a 
farm in Wapello County until 1873, when he 
went to Montgomery County, Iowa, and 
bought forty acres in wild land, which he 
afterward improved. In 1880 he sold this 
place and came to Pottawattamie County, 
where he bought 120 acres of land on section 



19, Washington Township, and later bought 
160 acres on section 18, and in 1888 eighty 
acres more, and he now owns a well-improved 
farm of 360 acres. 

He was married February 5, 1867, in Wa- 
pello County, Iowa, to Miss Mary Silvers, 
who was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, but 
was rieared in Marysville, Iowa. She was 
the daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth 
(Prickett) Silvers. Mr. and Mrs. Craft have 
ten children, viz.: Ella M., now the wife 
of Ammi Woolf, a worthy and honorable 
citizen of Washington Township; Emma E., 
Sadie, James, Jessie, Ida S., Otis, Carl, Daisy 
and Myrtle. Politically Mr. Craft is a Dem- 
ocrat, and both he and his wife are members 
of the Christian Church. Mr. Craft is yet 
in the prime of life, is intelligent and well 
informed on general topics, and is one of the 
county's solid business men. 



fAMES WILSON, one of the substantial 
farmers of Knox Township, is descended 
from an old American family. James 
Wilson, his grandfather, was one of the old 
pioneers of Perry County, Ohio, having set- 
tled there when the Indians were plentiful. 
He was from the Cumberland Mountains in 
Maryland, and when he first settled in Ohio 
they had great trouble with the Indians, and 
Mrs. Wilson would barricade the house 
when her husband was away. They reared a 
family of nine children: Jonathan, Michael, 
James, Thomas, William (who died at the 
age ot seventeen years), Elizabeth, Rachel, 
Sarah and Martha. The father cleared his 
farm of 160 acres from heavy timber, and 
besides this he owned eighty acres in Van 
Wert County. He died at the age of seventy- 
live years, and was a member of the Meth- 
odist Church. He married Martha Asbby, 



506 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



a native of Maryland. Mr. Wilson served 
as County Judge, and was an honorable and 
upright man. Thomas Wilson, a son of the 
above and the father of our suliject, was born 
in Perry County, Ohio, and was reared to the 
life of a farmer. He married Abigail Sellers, 
a daughter of John and Martha Sellers, who 
were early settlers of Ohio, and of German 
descent. Mr. Wilson came out to the Des 
Moines River near Oskaloosa when a young 
man, and before there were any settlers there, 
but afterward returned to Perry County, 
Ohio, where he lived on a farm the remainder 
of his life. He was the father of three chil- 
dren: Francis, James and John. Mr. and 
Mrs. Wilson were members of the Methodist 
Church. He died at the .age of forty-live 
years, and was a hard-working and indus- 
trious man. 

James Wilson, his son and the subject of 
this sketch, was born September 20, 1849, 
in Perry County, Ohio. At the age of twenty- 
one years, in 1871. he came to his present 
farm of 160 acres of wild land, which, by 
perseverance and industry, he has converted 
into a well tilled and fertile farm. He has 
since added to this place until he now owns 
240 acres of land. He was married in 
Marysville, Missouri, to Maria A. Ham- 
mond, a daughter of William G. and Mary E. 
(Hatcher) Hammond. To Mr. and Mrs. Wil- 
son have been born live children: Cora, Rosa, 
Dora, Orin and Oley. William G. Ham- 
mond was a native of Maine, but resided for 
a time in Perry County, Ohio, and then 
moved to Nodaway County, Missouri. He 
was the father of live children: Finley, Jesse, 
Melinda, Maria and Lena. He died at the 
residence of his son-in-law, Mr. Wilson. 
Mr. Wilson has taken an active interest in 
the schools. He was the pioneer settler on 
his farm, has made all its improvements, and 
now stands deservedly higii as a man whose 



word is as good as his bond. His children 
descend from an old pioneer stock, who were 
the real founders of this country. 

~^M g . : M ; . g i.... - 




J. CHENEY, a prominent farmer 
of Washington Township, was born 
" in Cattaraugus County, New York, 
October 21, 1832, the son of Hurd Cheney, 
who traces his ancestry back to three broth- 
ers who came from England before the Revo- 
lutionary war, and one of whom participated 
in that struggle. Our subject's mother was 
Phoebe (Ballard) Cheney, a native of New 
York State, and daughter of David Ballard, 
of Scotch-Irish descent. The parents were 
married in Cattaraugus County; the father 
died in Wyoming when crossing the plains 
at the age of seventy-one years, and the 
mother died in Millersburg, Iowa, at the age 
of sixty-four years. 

M. J. Cheney was reared in his native 
State until eleven years of age, when his 
parents moved to Stephenson (bounty, Illi- 
nois. In 1854 he came to Mills County, 
Iowa, which he made his home until 1878, 
excepting ten months spent in Iowa County, 
Iowa. He then came to his present farm of 
160 acres in Pottawattamie County, which he 
has since improved, and on which he has 
erected a tine house. 

Mr. Cheney was married in Mills County, 
to Mary M. Dalph, who was born in Terre 
Haute, Indiana, a daughter of Aaron and 
Eveline (Miller) Dalph, both natives of New 
York State. The mother died when Mrs. 
Cheney was but ten years of age, and the 
father died in Cass County, Nebraska, when 
seventy-six years of age. Mr. and Mrs. 
Cheney have eight children, viz.: Milton H., 
a resident of Neola, Iowa, and a barber and 
jeweler by trade; Hiram E., who is married 



OF POTT AW AVT AM IE COUNTy. 



507 



and lives in Colorado, enojaged in the stock 
business; Amanda E., wife of M. O. Innian, 
of Fremont County, Iowa; Charles O., of 
Colorado; Andrew M., at home; Otha C, 
Sadie May and Khoda Ellen. Political!}- Mr. 
Cheney is a Democrat, is intelligdnt and of 
broad and progressive views, and is regarded 
as one of the best informed tnea in Washing- 
ton Township. 




""'^ ' I ' T ' S 

J. JAMESON.— The Jameson fam- 
ily finds its origin in Scotland, the 
I* founders of the family name in this 
country being Nathaniel and Mary Jameson, 
who came to America about the year 1825, 
locating in Carlton County, New Brunswick. 
Tiiey remained there a short time, and then 
crossed the line to Aroostook County, Maine, 
where the father died, in 1868, at about the 
age of eighty-five years; his wife died in 
1847, at the age of forty five years. Tliey 
had a family of six children, all of whom are 
deceased but one, C. S., the father of our sub- 
ject. He was born in Scotland in 1820, and 
came to this country with his parents. He 
is and has been a farmer all his life, and was 
always a quiet and unassuming man. He 
was married in 1846 to Miss Jane Mclntyre, 
a native of New Brunswick, born in 1825, 
and is still living. They had six children, 
five boys and one girl: William J., the 
eldest, born August 23, 1847; Mary J., wife 
of George E. Tracy, of Carlton County, New 
Brunswick, was born March 24, 1850; Henry 
N., a resident of New Brunswick, was born 
July, 1853; John H., also a resident of New 
Brunswick, was born January 28, 1855; 
Charles O., born March 7, 1858, is a resident 
of Council Bluffs; Dr. G. L. S., a resident of 
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was born August 
25, 1861. The mother's family originated 



in Ireland, her parents being Patrick and 
Jane (Scott) Mclntyre, the latter a sister of 
General Winfield Scott. Mr. and Mrs. Mc- 
lntyre came to America in 1890, locating in 
New Brunswick, where they still reside, at 
the advanced age of ninety-four and ninety- 
one years respectively. They had a family 
of thirteen children, all of whom are living 
but two, and all are residents of New Bruns- 
wick and Maine except one, who resides in 
Montana. They were farmers by vocation. 
William Jameson, our subject, was reared 
in New Brunswick until he was twenty-one 
years of age, and his education was received 
by dint of hard labor and close application. 
When he was a small boy the bears were so 
thick that it was dangerous to venture out 
alone, and he was therefore deprived of much 
of his early schooling. In 1870 he came 
West to Creston, Iowa, where he remained 
eighteen years, and while there was employed 
on the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Rail- 
road, after which he came to Council Bluffs. 
In January, 1888, he took the position of 
Secretary and Treasurer of the largest Masonic 
Association in the world that confines its 
membership to the fraternity. This organ- 
ization was incorporated in 1884, but com- 
menced business in 1886, and in four years 
has written up over 10,000 applications. 
December 1, 1888, the assets on hand were 
$84,238.55; income during the year 1888, 
$161,686.21; total during 1889, $139,346.75; 
total assets on hand December 31, 1889, 
$106,578.01; assets December 31, 1890, 
$129,311.61; total amount of death losses 
paid since organization, $300,772.22; total 
amount of actual insurance in force, $22,000,- 
000. The annual report of the association 
is verified by the Iowa State Commission of 
Insurance. This association was founded by 
the exertions of our subject, William Jameson, 
and it is through his efforts that the associa- 



SOS 



BIoaBAPHlCAL HISTOliT 



tioii btands where it does to-daj. During 
the first twu years of its existence, lie could 
give it but a small part of his attention, as 
he was still in the employ of the Chicago, 
Burlington & Quincj Kailroad, but in 1888 
he turned his whole attention to the same, 
and his presence is wonderfully felt. The 
Board of Directors are: Hon. Joseph K. 
Reed, President; W. O. Wirt, Vice-Presi- 
dent ; William J. Jameson, Secretary and 
Treasurer; T. B. Lacy, Medical Director; 
Fred. H. Brown, Manager of Agencies, and 
a resident of Chicago, Illinois. The office is 
located in rooms two and three, Masonic 
Temple, Council Bluffs, Iowa. 

He is a member of the A. F. & A. M., No. 
71; Bluff City Royal Arch Cliapter, No. 77; 
of Ivanhoe Commandery, No. 17; El Kahir 
Temple, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; of the Mys- 
tic Shrine; of the I. O. O. F.; of the K. of 
P.; also of the I. O. of R. M., Pottawattamie 
Tribe, No. 21, and also Chicago Nest, No. 9, 
1. I. O. of Owls. 

Politically he affiliates with the Demo- 
cratic party. He was married in 1873 to 
Hattie M. Wing, of East Saginaw, Michigan, 
and they had a family of three children: 
Charles P., Guy B. and Gertrude Jane. The 
mother died in February, 1884, and Mr. 
Jameson was married to Miss Ella A. Glass 
in 1885, a native of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. 
She was born in 1860, and they have one 
child, Vesta E. 

. .^ . M; . ^ .. ^ 



fB. BOREN, a farmer of Hazel Dell 
Township, was born in Union County, 
"* Illinois, April 6, 1817, a son of Israel 
and Susannah Boren, natives of Tennessee. 
They came to Illinois in an early day, 
where the mother died, in Nauvoo, in 1842, 
and the father died in Madison County, Ten- 



nessee, in 1825. He was a farmer by occu- 
pation, and was a soldier in the war uf 1812. 
Our subject was reared in his native State 
until his seventh year, when he went to Ten- 
nessee with his parents, and remained until 
he was twelve years of age. He then re- 
turned with his mother and stepfather to 
Illinois, where he was reared to larm life. 
He remained at home nntil he was in his 
twenty-third year when he started ont for 
himself. He remained in that State until 
May 3, 1846, when he came to Davis 
County, Iowa, and spent one winter, and 
in 1847 came to Pottawattamie County, 
which was at that time inhabited by In- 
dians, wolves, deer, etc. He lirst located 
on his present farm, section 18 of what 
is now Hazel Dell Township, where he 
has since made his home. He erected at 
that time a small log cabin about 200 yards 
south of where his present residence now 
stands, and in which he made his home 
for a nutnber of years. This was erected 
on the primitive plan, with puncheon floor, 
clapboard roof and door, and an old stick 
chimney. Here they started to make a home 
in the new 'country, and here they faced all 
the hardships incident to pioneer life, but 
faced them bravely. Their next residence 
was a hewed-log house on the more modern 
plan, witli brick chimney aud plaak floor, 
and in this he made his home for a number 
of years, or until 1870, when he erected his 
present comfortable home, 26 x 38 feet, and 
one and a half stories high. He has accu- 
mulated in real estate until he now owns 320 
acres in one body, sections 18 and 19, Hazel 
Dell Township; eighty acres in section 23, 
Crescent Township; 100 acres in section 22, 
and also eight residence lots in Crescent City. 
He has made all of the many improvements 
on his land, and has done much toward build- 
ing up this part of the county. He was 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE 00UNT7. 



509 



formerly an old-titne Wiiig, hut is now a 
Democrat. lie liis held the offices of Trus- 
tee. Justice of the Peace, a member of the 
Scliool Board, etc. He lias always devoted 
himself to farming and stoclv-raising, and 
was also one of the first to engage in the bee 
business in this county. 

Mr. Boren was married in Illinois, Sep- 
tember 25, 1840, to Nancy Mcintosh, who 
was born December 2, 1810. and who died 
in I ottawattamie County, \pril 12, 1868. 
They were the jjarents of tive children: Is- 
rael, a resident of Crescent Township; Jane, 
deceased; Fermelia, wife of Philip Ballard, 
a resident of Idaho; Cornelius, a resident of 
Hazel Dell Township; Laura, wife of James 
McMullen, a resident of Crescent Township. 
Mr. Boren was again married, October 1, 
1868, to Mrs. Agnes Brownell, daughter of 
Matthew and Jennett Hutchinson, natives of 
Ayr.sliire and Glasgow, Scotland. They were 
married in that country, and came to Amer- 
ica about the year 1841, locating in Provi- 
dence, Rhode Island, where they both died. 
Agnes was born May 8, 1837, was reared in 
Providence, and on account of the death of 
her parents was thrown upon htr own re- 
sources at the age of twelve years. She had 
two children by her first marriage: Eugene, 
a resident of Crescent City, and Mabel, de- 
ceased, the wife of John McMiller, also de- 
ceased. They left three children: Annie, 
Gracie and Edward; the two former make 
their home with their grandparents, Mr. and 
Mrs. Boren. 



SEXTER M. BRIGGS, a substantial 
farmer of Knox Township, is a native 
of the State of Yermont. His grand- 
father on the maternal side was in the Revo- 
lutionary war, and was at the battle of 



Plattsbnrg, New York. Royal Briggs, his 
grandfather on the paternal side, was from 
an old Puritan family who settled in Boston, 
There were three brothers of that name who 
came from England. Royal Briggs was a 
sea captain, sailing from Boston. His son, 
also named Royal, the father of our subject, 
was born in that city, learned the trade of 
blacksmith, and settled in the town of Hines- 
burg, Yermont. He was married in Leices- 
ter, same State, to Fannie Dow, daughter of 
Moses and Rebecca Dow, natives of France. 
The father was born in Germany and later 
was a Yermont farmer. Mr. and Mrs. Briggs 
were the parents often children who lived to 
maturity: Murray, Dexter M., Nelson, Byron, 
Cummings, Royal, Amelia, Leticia, Calfer- 
nia and Julia A. The father lived in Yer- 
mont nearly all iiis life, having come from 
Boston at the age of sixteen years. He was 
in the war of 1812, and drove a team from 
Plattsburg to Sackett's Harbor. Both he and 
his wife were members of the Free- Will Bap- 
tist Church. Mr. Briggs held the office of 
Justice of the Peace, and was one of the 
Board of Selectmen of his town. He lived 
to the age of sixty-five years, and was an up- 
right and honorable man 

Dexter M., the subject of this sketch, was 
bora February 3, 1822, in Hinesburg, Yer- 
mont, and received a common-school educa- 
tion. He drove a stage sixteen years from 
Burlington, Yermont, to Montpelier. He 
was also engaged in the stock business, buy- 
ing cattle for the Boston market eight years, 
but in the financial panic of 1857 lost all his 
property. In 1866 he went to Omaha, Ne- 
braska, and after six months moved to Coun- 
cil Bluffs, where he resided two years. He 
then came to Avoca, where he was a check- 
man of the railroad, checking the baggage 
and passengers across the Missouri River 
from Council Bluffs to Omaha. In 1871 he 



510 



BIOGRAPHICAL HlaTOIiY 



bought his present fann, and has also inter- 
ested himself in pure-hred Scotch collie dogs. 
Mr. Briggs was married in Vermont to 
Emily Brown, daughter of John and Betsej 
(Growj Brown. The lather was an old set- 
tler of that State, and participated in the 
war of 1812. His father, also named John 
Brown, was a Captain in the Revolutionary 
war. To Mr. and Mrs. Briggs were born 
two children: Frank, who married Rebecca 
Davis, and is now a farmer of Knox Town- 
ship, and Clotilda, now the wife of Seth 
Hnnt, a merchant of Burlington, Kansas. 
Mr. Briggs' first wife died in Brattleboro, 
Vermont, and he was married to Alma Tracy, 
daughter of Harry and Catherine (Reynolds') 
Tracy. The father was a prominent mer- 
chant at Barre, Vermont, and his father was 
in the Revolutionary war. To Mr. and Mrs. 
Briggs were born three children, viz.: Emma, 
Charlie and William. Emma married David 
Gates, of Council Bluffs, a conductor on the 
Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad. 



ffACKSON LEWIS, one of tiie enterpris- 
ing and well-known citizens of Washinsj- 
ton Township, has been a resident of 
this county since 1878, in which year he 
came from Fremont County, Iowa. He was 
born in Hocking County, Ohio, March 27, 
1848, the son of Samuel James and Rebecca 
(Hardin) Lewis, the former a native of New 
Jersey, and of PuritaTi ancestry, and the lat- 
ter of Pennsylvania, of Pennsylvania Dutch 
ancestry. The parents were married in Perry 
County, Ohio, and afterward removed to 
Hocking County, Ohio, where the father died 
when Jackson was four or five years of age. 
He was a farmer and blacksmith by trade. 
Politically he was a Democrat, and religiously 
was a member of the Old-School Baptist 



Church. The mother died August 9, 1888, 
in Lucas County, Iowa, at the age of eighty 
years. They were the parents of eleven chil- 
dren, two of whom died in childhood, but 
four sons and five daughters grew to matu- 
rity. Two of the sons served in the late war: 
Ben, who served in the Thirty-fourth Iowa 
Infantry, died in Lucas County, Iowa, in 
1882; Arami, who served in the same regi- 
ment, now resides in Colorado. Jackson was 
a lad of eleven years when his mother and 
family moved to Clark County, Iowa, and 
they afterward returned to Hocking County, 
Ohio, where they remained for a time, and 
tlien returned to Iowa. 

Our subject grew to manhood on a farm 
in Clark County, Iowa, and in 1871 removed 
to Fremont County, where he lived seven 
years. He then came to Pottawattamie 
County, Iowa, first settling on eighty acres 
two miles south of where he now lives. In 
1885 he bought his present farm of Chancey 
Serry, which consists of 160 acres of well 
improved land. It is watered by the Little 
Silver flowing through it, and everything 
about the farm shows the thrift and prosper- 
ity of its owner. He is engaged in general 
farming and stock-raising. 

Mr. Lewis was married May 1, 1870, in 
Clark County, Illinois, to Isabelle Beal, a 
woman of intelligence and education, who 
was born in Washington, Tazewell County, 
Illinois, the daughter of John Beal, a native 
of Beaver County, Pennsylvania. He was a 
son of George Beal, a native of England. 
John Beal was County Judge of Blackford 
County, Indiana, many years, and died in 
Decatur County, Iowa, when seventy-two 
years of age. The mother of Mrs. Lewis was 
Ruth (Prichard) Beal, who was born in Vir- 
ginia and died in Clark County, Iowa, in 
1853. She was a daughter of Rev. John Prich- 
ard, who was a predestinarian or old-school 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



511 



Baptist minister and baptized Alexander 
Campbell. Mrs. Lewis was reared and edu- 
cated in Clark and Decatur Counties, Iowa, 
and was also a successful teacher before her 
marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Lewis have four 
children, viz.: Myrtle Irene, Sarah Elizabeth, 
Edgar B. and Cornelius Benjamin. They lost 
one by death, Eva May, their second born, at 
the age of one year. Politically Mr. Lewis 
is a Democrat, and has served as Township 
Trubtee and as a member of the School Board. 
Both he and his wife are members of the 
Evangelical Church, and both are workers in 
the Sabbath-school. 



P^HARLES GREEN, of Lewis Township, 
a native of the Province of Schleswig- 
Holstein, was born September 16, 1834, 
the son of Jurgen and Dora (Goldstadt) 
Green. The father died in 1846 or 1847, in 
the old country, and the mother died in Pot- 
tawattamie County, in 1883. She came to 
America in the year 1866, and had a family 
of eleven children, of whom nine came to 
Mills and Pottawattamie counties, where 
they all reside excepting one, who resides in 
Seattle County, Washington Territory, and 
two still reside in the old country. 

Charles Green, our subject, was reared in 
bis native country until he was twenty-one 
years of age. He was reared to the life of a 
farmer, and attended the public schools until 
he was sixteen years of age, when he learned 
the cabinet-maker's trade, which he followed 
until October 28, 1860. After having been 
in the country live years he was married, in 
Mills County, to Julia Aiuia Elizabeth Bauer, 
who was born in Missouri, the daughter of 
Christian and Caroline (Plumer) Bauer. 
After tkeir marriage they commenced farm- 
ing in Mills County on a tract of eighty acres 



which he pre-empted. They remained here 
for seven years, when he sold out and pur- 
chased 240 acres of improved land, where 
they resided until 1875. In that year they 
removed to Pottawattamie County, where he 
had purchased a farm of 280 acres, the most 
of which was ]irairie land, on section 22- 
There was a small frame house on the place, 
where they resided until 1876, when he 
erected a fine frame residence, 18 x 36 and 
16 x 20 feet. He has also erected good barns 
for stock and grain, and planted groves, 
orchards, etc., and everything denotes thrift, 
energy and prosperity. He devotes his at- 
tention principally to farming and stock- 
raising. 

Mr. Green served in Comjjany C, Thir- 
tieth Iowa Infantry, serving nine months. 
Politically be is a stanch Democrat. Mr. and 
Mrs. Green have a family of seven children: 
Maria Cornelia, born August 30, 1861, wife 
of B. Brandt, residing in Mills County; John 
A., born November 25, 1863, is a resident of 
Lancaster County, Nebraska; Henry F., born 
June 12, 1865; Christopher P\, born March 
25, 1870; Martha, born March 16, 1873; 
Julius, born October 25, 1875; and Ella, 
born June 3, 1880. They are members of 
the German Lutheran Church. 



jgalCHOLAS LERETTE, a prominent 
W'^ farmer of Pottawattamie County, was 
born in Canada, the son of Lewis Le- 
rette, who was born in Lower Canada. He 
was married to Eliza Delill, of French and 
Pennsylvania-German descent. In the fam- 
ily of Lewis Lerette were five children who 
lived to maturity, namely: Catherine, Mar- 
garet, Nicholas, Mary and Matilda. In 1852 
Mr. Lerette came to Will County, Illinois, 
where he lived until his death, which oc- 



513 



BIOOBAPETCAL HISTORY 



curred in 1859, at the age of tifty-two years. 
He was a devout Catholic, and a hard-work- 
ing and industrious man. 

Nicholas Lerette, our subject, was but 
three years of age when his parents went to 
Illinois, and after his father's death he re- 
turned to Canada with the other children to 
live with his grandfather Delill. He re- 
mained with him one year, and then went to 
Will County, Illinois, his mother having 
married a man by the name of Gilbo in 
Canada, where they now live. Young Nich- 
olas received but little education, and learned 
farming in early lite. He remained in Will 
County until 1877, when he came to Potta- 
wattamie County, and settled on his present 
farm, wiiich was then wild land. By indus- 
try and perseverance he has converted this 
into a fine, fertile farm. 

Mr. Lerette was married September 3, 
1874, in Will County, Illinois, to Mattie 
Lasure, daughter of Wilson D. Lasnre, who 
was born in Ross County, Ohio, and is of 
Pennsylvania-German descent. He was mar- 
ried to Mary Bell, and they were the parents 
of ten children, viz.: Mattie, John, Newton, 
Jane, Alura, Nelson, Carrie, Benjamin, Eli- 
sha, Clara and Guy Raymond. After mar- 
riage Mr. Lasure went to Illinois, settlino- on 
a farm in Will County, where he is now a 
substantial farmer, and an upright and' hon- 
orable citizen. In his political opinions Mr. 
Lerette is a Republican, and both he and his 
wife are members of the Methodist Church. 



iILLIAM LEWIS,of Lewis Township 
II was born in Monroe County, Michi- 
\^-^i gan, November 28, 1834. His father, 
Silas Lewis, was a native of Onondaga County, 
New York, born in 1792, and in 1808 came 
to Monroe, Michigan, with his parents. In 



his youth he learned the shoemakers' and 
tanners' trades, which he followed a number 
of years. He then engaged in farming until 
his death, which occurred in 1852, at the age 
of sixty years, in Monroe, Michigan. He 
was married in Michigan, to Lydia Chilson, 
who was born in Delaware County, New 
York, in 1799. She had moved to Michigan 
in an early day, and died January 15, 1890, 
at the home of her son William, in Lewis 
Township, Pottawattamie County. They had 
a family of ten children, of whom all are 
living except three: Shubael, a retired farmer 
of Kansas; Samuel B., a nurseryman of 
Monroe, Michigan; Silas, deceased; Chilson, 
a farmer of Pottawattamie County; James, 
residing in Colorado; William, of Lewis 
Township, Pottawattamie County; Nelson, a 
dairyman of Pottawattamie County; George, 
a nurseryman of Monroe, Michigan. The 
father served in the war of 1812, under Gen- 
eral Hull. Tliey were members of the Meth- 
odist Episcopal Church. 

William Lewis, our subject, was reared to 
farm life, and received his education in the 
public and private schools. He remained at 
home until he was twenty years of age, and 
then came to Iowa, stopping at various points 
until he finally landed in Pottawattamie 
County, where he located. He engaged at 
work by the month for a couple of years; 
the tirst man he worked for was D. B. Clark, 
of Council Bluffs. He then commenced 
farming for himself, renting for a few years, 
and in 1861 he purchased a tract of forty 
acres on section 9, Lewis Township, which 
had been broken. Here he erected a resi- 
dence and spent one year, when he sold out 
and purchased 200 acres of J. P. Casady, of 
Council Bluffs, on sections 10 and 15, Lewis 
Township, which was partially improved. 
The farm contained a small house, in which 
they lived for some time, and in 1885 they 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



513 



erected a line two-Btory frame residence, 
40 X 40 feet, wliicli is one of the finest in 
this part of the county. He has also good 
barns for stock and grain, and tiiree or four 
acres of grove. He has added to his first 
purchase 120 acres, making a total of 320 
acres, all of which he has under good culti- 
vation. It lies on sections 10, 11 and 15, 
Lewis Township. He devotes his attention 
mostly to farming and stock-raising, and 
takes an interest in all better grades of stock. 
He feeds quite a number of cattle each year 
for the market, and is one of the live, ener- 
getic business men of his township. Politi- 
cally he is a stanch Republican. He is a 
lover of law and order, and strives to pro- 
mote the best interests of his county. 

William Lewis was married January 2, 
1862, to Miss Lydia Edwards, who was born 
at Mt. Clemens, Macomb County, Michigan, 
July 27. 1844. She is the daughter of W. 
A. and Lncretia (White) Edwards, natives of 
Genesee County, New York, and Michigan 
The father is a farmer during his later years, 
and is a resident of Appanoose County, Iowa; 
llie mother died in 1848. Tliey had a family 
of five children: Nelson, deceased; Sarah, de- 
ceased; Frank, residing in Lewis Township; 
Lydia, the wife of the subject of this sketch; 
and Daniel, deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Lewis 
are the parents of six children, viz.: George, 
born November 15, 1863, residing on his 
father's farm in Lewis Township; Emma, 
wife of John Short, residing in Council 
Bluffs; Edward, born February 26, 1869, is 
at home; William, born March 28, 1872, is 
employed in a creamery in Dexter, Iowa; 
Elsie, born October 29, 1875; Katie, born 
November 24, 1877. Mr. Lewis is a self- 
made man, having risen from the very bottom 
of the financial ladder. When lie landed in 
Council Bluffs he had but $10 to call his 
own, and how well he has succeeded is 



demonstrated by looking at his beautiful 
home, surrounded by his broad acres of well 
cultivated land. The family are among the 
county's most worthy and respected citizens. 



KELVIN C.GOUDIE, section 9,Wave- 
jlV/tllt land Township, has made his home 
^^^ in Pottawattamie County, Iowa, since 
the spring of 1882. 

He was born in Des Moines County, Iowa, 
May 4, 1854, the son of Gilbert and Sarah 
(Harps) Goudie, natives of Scotland and 
New York State respectively. His parents 
were married in New York and subsequently 
came to Iowa, settling in Des Moines County. 
When Melvin C. was twenty years old, his 
father died, leaving a widow and nine chil- 
dren. The mother died in 1879. Eight of the 
children are now living, as follows: Jane, Fred, 
Henry, Joseph, Sarah, wife of Henry Kerr of 
Waveland Township, Pottawattamie County, 
Iowa; William and Melvin C, also of Wave- 
land Township, and Mary, wife of William 
Potter. 

Mr. Goudie was reared on his father's 
farm in Des Moines County and received 
his education in the public schools. At Mo- 
line, Illinois, September 9, 1880, he, at the 
age of twentv-six, was united in marriage to 
Miss Anna E. McDevitt, aged twenty-one, 
who was born in Wapello County, Iowa, 
daughter of Benjamin and Susanna (Newby) 
McDevitt, the former a native of Ohio and 
the latter of Indiana. Mrs. Goudie's father 
resides with her, her mother having died 
when she was six years old. Mr. Goudie 
bought his present farm of eighty acres of 
S. Graham, in March, 1882. It is well im- 
proved with good buildings and fences. Mr. 
and Mrs. Goudie have one son, Ross 
L., who was born July 6, 1882. Their 



514 



BIOQRAPHICAL HISTORY 



second son, Edgar L., died at the age of two 
years and four montlis. Mr. Gondie is a 
Republican. He and his wife are worthy 
members of the Methodist Episcopal Church 
of Walnut Valley, and both are active work- 
ers in the Sabbath-school. Mr. Goudie is 
regarded as one of the representative citizens 
of Pottawattamie County. 



jRUCE B. DENTLER, one of the well- 
known citizens of Pleasant Townsiiip, 
has filled an important office in this 
county for many years. His grandfather, 
George Uentler, was a native of Pennsylva- 
nia and of German descent. He was the 
father of si.K children: John, William, Fred- 
erick, Franklin, Maria and Kachel. Hf 
died in Pennsylvania in early life. His son 
Franklin, tlie father of our subject, was born 
in Danphin County, Pennsylvania, October 
15, 1819, and was reared to farm life. At 
the age of twenty-one years he went to St. 
Joseph County, Michigan, where he was 
married to Mary Cathcart, daughter of Will- 
iam and Mary (Burrows) Cathcart, and to 
them were born nine children, viz.: Bruce 
B., William C, Frank D., James B., John 
E., Flora A., Luella, Nettie and Emma Lista. 
The father settled on a farm in St. Joseph 
County, Michigan, where he lived several 
years; next he went Kalamazoo County, re 
maining twelve years, and then returned to 
St. Joseph County, where he still resides. 
He is one of the pioneers of that county, 
and is a well-known citizen. His wife was 
born in Pennsylvania, but when ten years of 
age came with her parents to Michigan. Mr. 
and Mrs. Dentler were for many years mem- 
bers of the Presbyterian Church, but having 
no church near they united with the Meth- 
odist. Mr. Dentler was an elder in the 



former church for many years. He is a 
prosperous man, a good farmer, and a law- 
abiding and honorable citizen. 

Bruce B., his son and the subject of this 
sketch, was born in St. Joseph County, 
Michigan, February 26, 18-15, and in early 
life was inured to farm work. He was mar- 
ried in Kalamazoo County, when twenty-five 
years of age, to Flora Cox, daughter of 
George and Amanda (McHuron) Cox. The 
father, a native of Vermont, and from an old 
New England family, settled in Kalamazoo 
County in 1868. He had two brothers in 
the civil war. Mrs. Cox was born in New 
York State, and her daughter, Mrs. Dentler, 
was born in the town of Lysander, Onondaga 
County, same State, April 29, 1854. Mr. 
and Mrs. Dentlei- have three children: 
George E., born September 8, 1873, in 
Schoolcraft, Michigan; Dora M., born March 
29, 1876, in Schoolcraft; and Claude B., 
born January 1, 1885, in Pleasant Township, 
Pottawattamie County, Iowa. After mar- 
riage Mr. and Mrs. Dentler lived for five 
years on a farm in Schoolcraft, Kalamazoo 
County; then one year in St. Joseph County; 
and in 1882 they came to Pottawattamie 
County, Iowa, and settled on their present 
farm. Mr. Dentler has been township clerk 
for seven years, and in his political opinions 
is a stanch Democrat. Socially he is an 
Odd Fellow, belonging to Canopy Lodge, 
No. 401, Shelby, Iowa, in which he is Noble 
Grand. He is interested in the schools, and 
has been a director four years. He has an 
excellent reputation in his township, and is 
known as a capable and intelligent business 
man. His children have descended from 
good old pioneer stock who have aided in 
founding the institutions of our country, 
and also helped to subdue the wilderness and 
make possible the pleasant homes and privi- 
leges of the present generation. The Amer- 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



515 



ican farmer is a man of wide intelligence 
and great energy of character, and npon his 
shoulders rest the hopes of our country, and 
from his descendants may we look for the 
future of America. 



►^«^ 



fOSEPHQS KIRBY, an enterprising 
farmer of Waveland Township, Potta- 
wattamie County, Iowa, has resided here 
since 1881. He was born in Warren County, 
Illinois, March 19, 1858. His father, Isaac 
Kirby, was born in Greene County, Penn- 
sylvania, fifty miles north of Pittsburg, son 
of Joseph Kirby. Isaac Kirby married Eliza 
Ann Bailey, a native of Greene County, 
Pennsylvania. Theysettled in PeoriaCounty, 
Illinois, in 1850, and two years later removed 
to Warren County, that State, where they 
still live. The father is now sixty-five years 
old and the mother is sixty-three. They 
have eight children, as follows: Emily Jane, 
K. B., O. P., Ruth Allen, Josephus, Mary 
E., George M. C. and Madison. Josephus 
is the only one in Pottawattamie County' 
His brother, K. B., is also in Iowa, located 
in Cass County. 

The subject of our sketch was reared on a 
farm and was educated in the common 
schools and one year at Monmouth College 
in Illinois. For a short time he was engaged 
in teachinj):. In 1881 he came to Pottawat- 
tamie County and settled on an eighty-acre 
farm in section 5, Waveland Township, 
which he itnproved and which, in 1888, he 
exchanged with M. C. Talbei't for 160 acres 
where he now livef, in section 33. He Las a 
small frame house, buildings for stock and 
other farm improvements. 

Mr. Kirby was married. May 30, 1882, to 
Clara Belle Yoho, who was born in Fulton 
County, Illinois, daughter of Jasper and 



Mary E. (Collins) Yoho. Mr. Yoho, eldest 
son of Thomas and Eliza Jane Yoho, was 
born at Mansfield, Ohio, May 25, 1837; 
was a mechanic; married December 17, 1861, 
and had three children: Clara B., Dora A. 
and William J. He died October 15, 1871. 
Mrs. Yoho was born in Hancock County, 
Illinois, February 21, 1843, and is still living. 
Mr. and Mrs. Kirby have five children: 
George Melvin, Orlaff Ray, William Isaac, 
Freddy Lewis and Edgar Ellsworth. I'oliti- 
cally Mr. Kirby is a Democrat. He is a 
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church 
of Walnut Valley, as is also his wife. 



jAX REIMER, one of the prominent 
fiVWK German farmers of Walnut, Iowa, 
^^~ was born in Schleswig-Holstein, Ger- 
many. October 26, 1844, the son of Ditlof Rei- 
mer, who was a prominent German farmer. 
He died at the age of fifty-one years, when 
our subject was but two years old. His wife, 
nee Mary Reimer, was of the same name, but 
of a different family. They had five children : 
Katie, Maggie, Mary, George and Max. 
Katie was married in Germany to Claus 
Roch, a wealthy farmer of Clinton County, 
Iowa, and came to America in 1857. They 
had one son, named John. She died in 1864, 
and the remainder of the family are still in 
Germany. 

Max Reimer, our subject, came to Amer- 
ica in 1866, at the age of twenty-one years, 
landing at ^e.^ York from the English 
steamer Superior. He sailed from Ilolstein, 
and was four months on the way. He came 
direct to Iowa and engaged in farm work in 
Clinton County, and also in the brewery at 
Lyons for seven years. In 1874 he came to 
Pottawattamie County, where he bought 160 
acres of wild land, which, by industry and 



516 



BIOOEAPHIGAL UlSTORY 



hard work he has converted into a fine, fertile 
farm, and to which he has wisely added until 
he now owns 320 acres, and where he has a 
fine barn costing $1,000, a good house and 
windmill and many other improvements. 
Mr. Keimer is a trustee of his township, and 
stands high as a citizen of sterling worth 
whose word is as good as his bond. Politi- 
cally he is a Democrat, and both he and his 
wife are members of the Lutheran Church. 
He is a self-made man, having by his own 
industry made his property in America, 
having had but $9 when he landed. He 
well illustrates what good, honest, hard work 
will do in America. 

He was married in Lyons, October 21, 
1871, to Maggie Roona, daughter of John 
and Elizabeth (Frahan) Roona. The father 
was a native of Germany, was a well edu- 
cated man and a school-teacher in Holstein. 
He died in this county, and was the fatlier of 
four children: Katie, Annie (who died in 
Germany), Maggie and George. All of the 
children came to America. Mrs. Roona came 
in 1884, and is living with her son-in-law, 
the subject of this sketch, at tbe age of eighty 
years. Her daughter, Maggie, now Mrs. 
Reimer, was bora August 4, 1850, and came 
to America in the spring of 1869. To Mr. 
and Mrs. Keimer have been born nine chil- 
dren, six of whom are now living: Henry 
W., Emil W., Alvenia M., Bernhart, Katie 
P. and Annie. 



►>+£-. 



F. VAN is one of the early settlers and 
successful farmers of Waveland Town- 
'** ship, Pottawattamie County, Iowa. 
He has made his home here since the spring 
of 1873. Mr. Van is a native of the Hawk- 
eye State, born in Jones County, October 11, 
1850. His father, R. T. Van, was born in 



Ohio, and reared in that State and in Indi- 
ana. He w-as a son of James Van, a de- 
scendant of Holland ancestry. Our subject's 
mother was Esther Ann Van, a native of In- 
diana. The Vans were among the early pio- 
neers of Jones County, being the first to set- 
tle in Wyoming Township. For a time they 
lived in their covered wagons and tents. The 
country abounded in wild game, and it was 
not an infrequent sight to see deer come 
within view of their camping ground and 
snort and stamp their feet as if to say, " From 
whence do you come, and why are you here 
on our domains?" Mr. and Mrs. Van reared 
five children: W. H., Azilda Tompkins, S. F., 
Lamon and Mary A. The father has been a 
farmer all his life, and is still living in Jones 
County, aged seventy-two years. He is a 
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church; 
was formerly a Whig, but is now a Republi- 
can. His wife died in 1884, at the age of 
sixty years. 

S. F. Van grew to manhood on his father's 
frontier farm, and received his education in 
the typical pioneer school-house, a log cabin 
with slab seats and a fire-place. In 1873, as 
already stated, Mr. Van came to Pottawatta- 
mie County, and bought eighty acres of wild 
land in section 4, Waveland Township. With 
three horses he broke the sod, and here he 
has since lived, worked and prospered. He 
has added to his first purchase, and is now 
the owner of 240 acres of well improved 
land. He has a good frame house, stables, 
granary, cribs, sheds, yards and feed lots, a 
modern wind pump, and a grove and orchard. 
His land is fenced into several different fields, 
and is devoted to general farming and stock- 
raising. 

Mr. Van was married Septeniber 9, 1878, 
in Fremont County, Iowa, to Eva J. Lewis, 
a lady of education and refinement and a 
popular and successful teacher. She taught 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



517 



the first school in the district where they now 
live. Mrs. Van was born in Warren County, 
Iowa, and reared and educated principally in 
this State. She is a daughter of Rev. J. B. 
Lewis, a Methodist minister, who was born 
in Illinois, and Martha A. Lewis, a native of 
Indiana. Her parents are now residents of 
Kepublican County, Kansas. Mr. and Mrs. 
Van have two sons, Walter Scott and Lemuel 
Ray. They lost one son, Robert Don, who 
died in infancy. 

Politically Mr. Van is a Republican. He 
and his wife are members of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church of Walnut Valley. Mrs. 
Van is the efficient superintendent of Walnut 
Valley Sabbath-scliool, wliere she is doing a 
good work. Mr. Van is a man in the prime 
of life, and for his many estimable qualities 
is highly regarded by all who know him. 
He and his worthy companion are both 
friends to education, good morals and religion, 
and any enterprise that has for its object the 
advancement of the best interests of the com- 
munity finds in them earnest supporters. 




— --■&> S " ; ', 5 ' " - — ■ 

[ILLIAM V. ROCK, a prominent 
farmer of Pleasant Township, was 
born March 19, 1851, on a farm in 
the Province of Waldeck, Prussia, the sou of 
Frederick Rock, who was born in the same 
province, September 26, 1818. He was mar- 
ried to Louisa Schnore, who was born in 
1822, and they had eleven children: Caro- 
line, Louisa, Fred, Carl, William, Christian, 
Christiana and Henry, three others dying in 
infancy. The father was a soldier in the 
Prussian army, but saw no active service. 
Both he and his wife were members of the 
Lutheran Church. In 1882 Mr. Rock came 
to America to visit his children, nearly all of 
whom liad emigrated here, and spent about 



eighteen months in Iowa, and then returned 
to Prussia. He is yet living on his farm, at 
the age of seventy-two years. One son and 
one daughter, Carl and Caroline, are still liv- 
ing in Prussia. The father is a leading man 
in his town, having been Justice of the Peace 
for many years, also School Director, and an 
Elder in his church. His children are all 
prosperous in life, owning good farms, and 
from such sturdy stock the people of Iowa 
have been indebted for much of their pros- 
perity and steady progress. The hardy Ger- 
mans bring with them to this country traits 
of industry and perseverance which overcome 
all obstacles, and these are being infused also 
into the blood of the young Americans wlio 
are destined to become our best citizens, and 
who will form a new generation of Prussian- 
Americans that will be a liberty-loving, loyal 
and industrious race. 

William V. Rock, the subject of this sketch, 
received a part of his education in the old 
country, and when but a lad of fifteen years, 
in 1866, he came with his brother Fred to 
this country. They went to Davenport, Iowa, 
and for four years worked at farm labor in 
Scott County and four more in Clinton 
County. In 1873 he purchased 160. acres of 
wild land in this county, and in 1874 broke 
up eighty acres, on which he built a home. 
He has been very prosperous in farming, and 
has added to his first purchase until he now 
owns 400 acres of tine land. He is also a 
raiser and breeder of cattle, and is one of the 
most energetic and prosperous farmers of 
Pleasant Township. In 1880 he set out 2,000 
fruit and shade trees. In his political views 
he is a stanch Democrat, and has filled the 
ofiices of Road Supervisor, Township Trus- 
tee, Assessor, School Treasurer for five years 
and is School Director at the present time. 
He is a self-made man, and stands deservedly 
high as one of the beat citizens of his county 



518 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY 



His children are being well educated, and he 
takes pride in aiding their desire toward im- 
provement and cultivation, and he may well 
take an honest pride in what he has accom- 
plished in life. His honest efforts and pur- 
poses have been well rewarded, and it may 
be truly said that " his word is as good as 
his bond." 

March 8, 1875, Mr. Rock married Louisa 
Freese, daughter of Ludwig and Wilhelmina 
Freese, and to them have been born six chil- 
dren, viz.: Minnie, born November 15,1875; 
Frederick, September 12,1877; Henry, Jan- 
uary 23, 1880; Christina, August 17, 1883; 
Albert, October 2, 1886; and Louis, April 
11, 1890. The father of Mrs. Rock died in 
Prussia, in the same town where Mr. Rock's 
father now lives, and his widow came to 
America with her children, Wilhelmina, Fred 
and Louis. She was again married in Amer- 
ica, and is now living in Clinton County, 
Iowa. Mrs. Rock was born in Prussia, Jan- 
uary 10, 1856, and was but eleven years of 
acre when she came with her mother to this 

o 

country. Mr. Rock and family are members 
of the Lutheran Church. 



K.. ♦ i| . ; n ; . | i.->» ■ 

fOHN FLINT is another well-known pii>- 
neer of Pottawattamie County. He 
cast his lot here in 1856, and has since 
made this place his home. 

Mr. Flint was born in Madison County, 
Ohio, August 28, 1838, son of Samuel Flint, 
who was of English extraction and a native 
of New Hampshire. Samuel Flint married 
Miss Nancy Dominy, who was born in New 
York, a descendant of English ancestors. 
After their marriage they removed, in 1884, 
to Madison County, Ohio, where the mother 
died, leaving nine children, when John, the 
youngest, was six years old. Six years later 



the father died. All the children grew to 
adult age. For two years John was engaged 
in boating on the Ohio and Mississippi 
rivers with his brother, U. M. He after- 
ward went to La Salle County, Illinois, where 
he worked by the month on a farm two years 
and where he attended the common schools 
in winter. 

In 1856 Mr. Flint came to Pottawattamie 
County. In 1857 or '58, he entered a quar- 
ter section of land in Wright Township, 
which is now owned by Samuel Passmore. 
In 1860, in company with his brother Han- 
nibal and others, he went to Pike's Peak on 
the hunt for gold, and prospected the most 
of the summer, failing to make it pay. In 
1861 he bought his present farm, 178 acres 
on section 11, Waveland Township. A pirl 
of this farm is timber land. During the 
years of his residence here Mr. Flint has 
made great improvements in his place. He 
has a good frame house, 26 x 32 feet, situ- 
ated on a natural building site and sur- 
rounded by shade and ornamental trees. 
Other improvements are a barn, sheds, yards, 
feed-lots and an orchard and grove. The 
school-house of District No. 1 is located only 
a few rods from his house, and it is a pleas- 
ant drive of three miles from his home to 
Griswold. Like many other farmers of this 
county, Mr. Flint's attention is divided be- 
tween stock-raising and cultivatinj; the soil. 

During the late war he served eight months 
and a half in the Thirteenth Iowa Infantry, 
Company B. 

Mr. Flint was united in marriage, January 
18, 1863, to Miss Mary E. Pierson, a native 
of Sheli)y County, Indiana. She was ten 
years uld when her parents, Joseph and Sarah 
Pierson, came to Pottawattamie County, 
where she was educated and grew to woman- 
hood. Her father died in Griswold, where 
her mother still resides. Mr. and Mrs. Flint 




'■■■ \l I 



OF POTJ'AWArTAMTE UOUNrT. 



51'J 



Iiave seven children: Delia A., wife of Jolin 
W. McCaskey, of Waveland Township; Alvin 
also of Waveland Townsliip; Warren, Khoda, 
Ada E., Ida M. and Edna. Mr. Flint is a 
Democrat. He has served officially in the 
townsliip at different tiiries, but never aspired 
to political distinction. He is a inernl)er of 
the I. O. O. F., Nashnabotna Lodge, No. 409, 
of Griswold. Mrs. Flint is a wortiiy mem- 
ber of the Chri-tian Church, as is also one of 
her daughters. Two otiier daughters are 
members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 
Mr. Flint is frank and cordial in his manner, 
broad and progressive in iiis views, and is 
well known throughout the ciMinty. 



— ^^ ^ " ; .3...^ 



IfVON. HORACE EVERETT, of Council 
Bluffs, Iowa, descended on both the 
paternal and maternal sides from the 
oldest and best known of the early Pilgrim 
families of Massachusetts. His mother, Mary 
Leverott, was a daughter of William Leverett, 
of Windsor, Vermont. Tlie founder of the 
family in America arrived in Boston in 
1633, in tiie ship Griffin, from England. His 
son, Sir John Leverett, was Governor of 
Massachusetts from 1673 to 1679. His 
grandson was Rev. Jolin Leverett, President 
of Harvard College from 1707 to 1724. Mr. 
Everett's father, the Hon. Horace Everett, 
of Windsor, Vermont, came from Foxborouo-h 
Massachusetts, and from the same family as 
the great and polished orator, Edward Ever- 
ett. Richard Everett, the forefather, came 
from England in 1635, and the family for 
many generations lived in Dedham and 
Waltham, Massachusetts. Hon. Horace Ev- 
erett was a prominent lawyer of his State 
and represented the Windsor district in Con- 
gress for fourteen years, where he established 
a reputation tiiat cannot be overrated and ex- 

38 



erted an influence which will long be felt. 
His labors in the cause of justice to the In- 
dians are in themselves a monument to his 
memory. 

Horace Everett, the subject of this sketch, 
was born at Windsor, Vermont, February 8, 
1819. With the keen desire that the parents 
of that day had '• that their children should 
be brought up to learning," he was sent at 
tlie early age of eight years to the Kimball 
Union Academy in Meriden, New Hampshire. 
When fourteen years of age he entered the 
University of Vermont at Burlington, and 
graduated thei'efrom in 1887. After grad- 
uation he spent two years in the study of 
law under his distinguished father, and was 
admitted to the bar. In 1841 he decided to 
seek a wider Held for his talents, and settled 
in Gainesville, Alabama, where he practiced 
in the courts of that State and Mississippi, 
for fifteen years. 

In 1851 he was married to Mary, daughter of 
Judge Abiel Leonard of the Supreme Court 
of Missouri, also a descendant of Sir John 
Leverett. In 1855 Mr. Everett settled in 
Council Bluffs, where he resided at the time 
of his death and with whose best interests 
he was ever identified. He was appointed 
by President Lincoln to the responsible po- 
sition of Collector of Internal Revenue for 
the Fifth District of Iowa, embracincr all 
southwestern Iowa. He served one term as 
member of the city council, but so distasteful 
to him were the petty annoyances of the office 
he declined a re-election. He was one of the 
trustees of the Fairview Cemetery Association, 
had been its president ever since its organiza- 
tion, and to his taste and wise forethonsrlit was 
due the selection of the romantic and beau- 
tiful site it now occupies. His interest in the 
cause of education was great. He was twice 
elected by the Legislature as one of the Re- 
gents of the State University in Iowa City, 



520 



BIOORAPUICAL IIISTORT 



and was regarded as one of the most zealous 
and efficient members of tliat board. Mr. 
Everett had a remarkable literary ability', his 
private and business letters show a decided 
genius for composition. It is to be hoped 
that a collection of his letters may be ])ub- 
lished. He repeatedly interested liimself to 
have tlie Legislature abolish corporal punish- 
ment in the schools of the State, considering 
the use of the rod on little children as bar- 
barous and cruel. 

Mr. Everett was a member of the Episcopal 
Church, and had been a member of the ves- 
try of St. Paul's Church since the organiza- 
tion of the parish. To his long continued 
benefactions during all the years of his resi- 
dence in Council Bluffs the church owes 
much of its present success. Always a lib- 
eral giver to every worthy object, lie was 
sadly missed in the two institutions in which 
he took a special interest, the church and the 
public library: of the latter he was really the 
founder, and was the president of the board 
of trustees at the time of his death. While 
Mr. Everett was a successful and practical 
man of affairs, yet his tastes and pleasures 
were those of a scholar. He enjoyed poetry 
and literature, and only those who knew him 
intimately realized how largely sentiment and 
imagination characterized his mind. In every 
enterprise relating to the welfare of Council 
Bluffs he was an active factor. lie was one 
of the men to whose zeal the city was indebted 
for the location of tlie terminus of the Union 
Pacific Railroad. A life time Whicf and Re- 
publican and strong Union man, always an 
advocate of the emancipation of the negro, 
he sacrificed large property interest in the 
South rather than remain where free speecii 
was denied him. Mr. Everett was a devoted 
lover of nature; he never tired of the beauti- 
ful scenery of the Missouri River bluff's, and 
the prairies bordering on them, and was 



never happier than when rusticating on his 
large "Highland" farm of 4,000 acres near 
Council Bluffs, where under his personal 
supervision were planted 100 acres of forest 
trees and forty acres of apple orchards. He 
had the pleasure of gathering nuts from his 
walnut groves and of seeing his orchards red 
with apples. The trees planted by himself 
in front of his residence are now four feet in 
diameter and seventy feet in height. Mr. 
Everett retained to the last a warm place in 
his heart for his birthplace, "delightful 
Windsor," as he called it. He never looked 
upon a Vermonter as a stranger, and never 
forgot the hills, brooks or mountains of his 
native State. He was not willing that the 
old homestead, situated on the banks of ihe 
beautiful Connecticut River, should ever pass 
into the hands of strangers: so early in life 
he purchased the interest of the other mem- 
bers of the family, and made provision in his 
will for retaining this beloved old home in 
the family. Mr. Everett's great interest in 
everything that related to the early history 
of the country and his zeal and enthusiasm 
in the collection and preservation of manu- 
script and books led to his ai)pointnient as 
trustee of the Iowa Historical Society. Mr. 
Everett's private library was a very large and 
well selected one. His collection of rare old 
books was complete and interesting. He 
took great care of all interesting papers and 
manuscripts whicli came into his possession 
and has preserved many autograph letters of 
great value. 

Mr. Everett was a man of unfailing cour- 
tesy, great dignity and beautiful refinement, 
one of the most sympathetic of men, but of 
a retiring nature and wholly unambitious of 
public life, preferring tiie quiet comfort of 
home and society of his family and books. 
Exemplary in all the relations of private life, 
genial, benevolent anil hospitable, he was 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



531 



tenderly beloveii by his family and friends, 
and lionored by the esteem of all who knew 
him. He was in failing health for a year 
previous to his death and was stricken with 
paralysis on tlie 30th day of September, ren- 
dered almost helpless thereby, but lived until 
the 3d day of November, 1890, tenderly 
and assiduously ministered to by his devoted 
family until the end. When the appointed 
time came he had passed to that world 
where there shall be no more death, neither 
sorrow, nor crying nor any more pain. lie 
was buried in the family grounds in Fairview 
Cemetery beneath the beautiful elms he had 
so carefully planted and cared for. Mr. Ev- 
erett left surviving him of his family iiis 
widow, Mrs. Mary L. Everett, his sons, Leon 
ard. Torrey and Edward, and his daughter 
Ada, wife of Prof. J. A. L. Waddell, of Kan- 
sas City, Missouri. 




fsEILLlAM STEELE, a farmer of Lewis 
Township, was born in Harrison 
County, Ohio, July 1, 1841, the son 
of S. K. and Rebecca (Kerby) Steele. Our 
subject, the second in a family of eight chil- 
dren, was reared in his native county until 
fifteen years of age, when he removed to 
Burlington County, Iowa, where he re- 
mained until 1869. He then entered the 
United States service in the great Rebellion, 
in Company H, Thirteenth Iowa Volunteer 
Infantry, and served eleven months and four 
days, being honorably discharged at Daven- 
port, Iowa. He participated in four differ- 
ent battles: Franklin, Tennessee, Nashville, 
Wise's Forks, North Carolina, McCarver's 
Station, Tennessee, and was also in a num- 
ber of skirmishes. After his discharge he 
returned to Des Moines, where he was en- 
gaged in farming for three years, and in 1869 



he came to Pottawattamie County, Iowa, piir- 
chasinff forty acres of wild land on section 
14, Lewis Township. Here he erected a 
small frame house, 14 x 16 feet, in which 
they lived until 1880, when he erected his 
present neat frame residence, IG x 26, one 
and one-half stories high, with an L 16 x 18, 
one story high. He has added to his first 
purchase until he now owns eighty acres of 
land, which is all well improved. He devotes 
himself to farming, stock-raising and fruit- 
growing, and is preparing to devote his en- 
tire attention to the growing of all kinds of 
fruits and vegetables. He is one of the live, 
energetic men of this part of the county, and 
has by honesty and integrity won a large cir- 
cle of friends. He has assisted largelv in 
opening up and developing this part of the 
county, and is deserving of all the honor and 
esteem shown him. Politically he is a stanch 
Republican, has served his township as Asses- 
sor for the past four years, and has also served 
as Constable two years. 

Mr. Steele was married December 31, 1864, 
to Miss Mary E. Hou.k. who was born in 
Champaign County, Ohio, near Urbana, May 
2, 1844. They are the parents of seven 
children: Lucy B., at home; Clara J., wife 
of E. L. Gladwin, a resident of Lewis Town- 
ship; James H., at iiome; William, John W., 
Hattie M. and Mabel B. 



J. HALL, a farmer of Hazel Dell 
Township, was born in Crawford 
» County, Indiana, May 20, 1817, a 
son of William and Anna (Copeland) Hall, 
natives of Virginia, and of Irish and English 
extraction. They were married in Grayson 
County, Virginia; then removed to Ken- 
tucky; thence to Tennessee; in 1851 to 
Crawford County, Indiana; in 1824 to Ver- 



522 



BIOGRAPHICAL U I. STORY 



uiilion County, Illinois, which was at that 
time a wild and unsettled country, the In- 
dians tar outnumbering the white men. They 
improved two farms in that State, and was 
also engaged extensively in stock-raising. In 
1839 they removed to Bates County, Mis- 
souri, where the father died in the fall of 
1840, at the age of sixty-tliree years. His 
widow died in Decatur County, Iowa, in 
1858, at the age of seventy-two years. They 
h.id a family of eleven children, three of whom 
still survive, viz.: Elijah, deceased; Fielden, 
Mary, Eli, William, Andrew J., our subject; 
Ransome, Eliza J., Miles, a resident of 
Utah; and David, also a resident of Utah. 

Andrew J., our subject, was reared to farm 
life, and received his education in the com- 
mon schools. He remained in his native 
State until May, 1846, when he removed to 
Lee County, Iowa, where he remained live 
years; thence to Decatur County, same State, 
remaining eleven years; and in 1862 he came 
to Pottawattamie County, locating for one 
year at Crescent City. In 1863 they removed 
to Utah, and remained until 1866, making 
the trip by wagon. He returned in 1866 
and located a tract of land in Boomer Town- 
ship, this county, thirty acres of which was 
partially improved. In the spring of 1872 
he located upon his present farm, which con- 
sists of 195 acres on section 14, Hazel Dell 
Township. Mr. Hall tirst erected a log cabin, 
16 X 20 feet, in which they made their home 
until 1879, when he erected his present com- 
fortable home, 28 X 16 and 16 x 22. Politi- 
cally he is a stanch Democrat. 

Mr. Hall was married in Vermilion County, 
Illinois, May 16, 1839, to Ellen Trimmell, a 
native of Kentucky, and daughter of Samp- 
son Trimmell. She died about two years 
after their marriage, leaving one child, who 
died a short time afterward, both dying in 
Missoui-i. Mr. Hall was again married, Feb- 



ruary 12, 1848, in Bates County, Missouri, 
to Miss Nancy W. Hudson, who was born in 
Franklin County, Tennessee, December 6, 
1815, the daughter of William and Sarah 
(Bigham) Hudson, natives of Pennsylvania. 
Mr. and Mrs. Hudson were the parents of 
eleven children, six of whom still survive: 
Mary A., wife of S. Ellis, a resident of Mis- 
souri; Nancy, wife of our subject; Camp- 
bell, deceased; James and Eliza (twins), lioth 
deceased; Ewing. a resident of California; 
Heed, of California; Macklin, a resident of 
Arkansas; Vance, deceased; Margaret, de- 
ceased; and La Fayette, a resident of Cali- 
fornia. Mr. and Mrs. Hall are the parents 
of seven chUdren: Elethe J., wife of Dalorma 
Parish, a resident of Hazel Dell Township; 
Mary Ann, deceased; Sarah E., wife of Mor- 
ris Hough, of Hazel Dell Township; Miles, 
residing at home; Eliza, deceased; Ewing, 
of Hayard, Nebraska; and Isabella, deceased. 
Mr. and Mrs. Hall have assisted largely in 
opening up and developing this country in 
many ways, and have always aided any enter- 
prise tending to the good of the county. 
Their eldest son Miles is a live, energetic 
young man, and is among the most prosper- 
ous citizens of this county, owning 658 acres 
of land in Pottawattamie County, 239 in 
Hazel Dell Township, section 24, 160 acres 
on sections 10 and 14, fourteen acres on sec- 
tion 9, live acres on section 20, and 240 acres 
on section 5, Neola Township. Politically 
he is a Democrat. 



^EV. THOMAS J. MACKAY, the pres- 
ent rector of St. Paul's Episcopal 
Church, was born January 8, 1844, in 
County Mayo, Ireland. Our subject was 
reared in his native county until his ninth 
year, when he came to America with his par- 



OF POrrAWArTAillE COUNTY. 



52J 



eiit-, locating in western Pennsylvania. When 
lie was sixteen years of age he engaged in 
the dry-goods business in Worcester, Massa- 
chusetts, where he remained one year. He 
then enlisted in the Forty-second Massachu- 
setts Yolunteer Infantry, serving six months, 
after which he again engaged in the dry- 
goods business in western Pennsylvania. 
Next he entered the St. Stephen's College, 
Amondale, New York, from which he entered 
the Cambridge Episcopal Theological School. 
He took his lirst parish in 1874, in Boston, 
Massachusetts, where he remained until 1877; 
thence he went to Fort Worth, Texas, where 
he erected a church and remained one year; 
next he went to Central City, Colorado; thence 
to Leadville, Colorado, where he erected St. 
George's Church, having held services in the 
opera building two years. He remaitied there 
four years, and then came to Council Bluffs, 
where he has since remained. 

Mr. Maekay was married September, 1878, 
to Georgia Coons, a native of St. Louis, Mis- 
souri, and they have three children: Odin C, 
Ralph R. and Robert M. Mr. Maekay is a 
member of the Ivanhoe Conimandery, K. T., 
No. 17; Bluff City Lodge, A. F. & A. M., 
and the R. A. M., No. 156. He has been 
Eminent Commander and Prelate of Ivan- 
hoe Commandery, and Regent of the Royal 
Arcanum. In connection with this sketch 
we will add a short history of his present 
church, the St. Paul's Episcopal Chnrch of 
Council Bluffs. 

The parish of this church was organized 
April 17, 185(5, through the efforts of E.W. 
Peet, then of Des Moines, he being the first 
Episcopal minister to hold services in this 
county. The congregation worshiped at that 
time in the rooms now occupied by the 
American Express Company, corner of Broad- 
way and Main streets. The first vestry was 
composed of the following members: J. B. 



Bess, Horace Everett, W. C. James, J. P. 
Conady, D. C. Bloomer, A. Cochran, J. P. 
Treynor, Samuel Perin and G. M. Dodge. 
Two of these, Horace Everett and D. C. 
Bloomer, have always been and are still 
members of the same vestry. 

August 1, 1857, the corner-stone of a pro- 
posed church building was laid by the Right 
Rev. Henry W. Lee, the Bishop of Iowa, 
assisted by the Rev. George W. Watson 
and the missionary in charge. A brief his- 
tory of the parish, the newspapers of the city, 
a few coins and other interesting articles 
were deposited in a box prepared for the pur- 
pose, and over this a large stone was placed. 
The hard times coming on, nothing further 
was done toward the building of the church, 
and the corner-stone remained undisturbed 
with its contents until about three years ago, 
when some oiie overturned the stone and 
stole the contents. A small frame edifice 
was erected, however, on the same lot in 
1860, and this building was enlarged in 
1868 by the addition of transepts, and is still 
standing as a place of worship, being used 
by the congregation of All Saints' Mission. 

The first pastor was Rev. George W. Wat- 
son, who took charge in February, 1857, and 
who also had a charge in Omaha, dividing 
his time equally between the two. He re- 
mained in charge until 1862, when he was 
succeeded by Rev. Faber Byllesby, who re- 
mained from 1862 to 1865. The third rector 
was Rev. John Chamberlain, who resigned 
in 1871, and was succeeded by Rev. Theoph- 
ilus Brooks, who remained three years. The 
Rev. F. T. Webb was then elected, and held 
the position until the fall of 1882, when he 
accepted a call in Helena, Montana, and the 
present rector, T. J. Maekay, was called, and 
entered upon his duties in January, 1883. 

The present edifice, the only church in the 
city built of stone, was erected at a cost of 



534 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY 



about $50,000, and is the finest, both in in- 
terior and exterior, in Council Bluff.-, and is 
surpassed by but few in the West. It was 
opened for services Sunday, September 5, 
1886, and since that time the society has had 
a period of wonderful prosperity. A iine 
new pipe organ has been placed in the 
cluirch, the services being equal if not 
superior to many of the old established 
churches. Since the accession of the present 
minister. Rev. T. J. Mackay, tlie church has 
more than doubled its membership, and has 
now a fiourisliing mifsion church in the 
western part of tlie city, with a Sunday-school 
of over 100. The church building and 
grounds were the gift of Mrs. S. C. Key, a 
noble-hearted Christian, who is well known 
as a warm friend to all worthy objects. An- 
other church, Unity Mission, is organized 
and at work in the eastern part of the city, 
and the present rector hopes soon to have 
three self-supporting Episcopal churches in 
Council Bluffs. This church has the follow- 
ing healthy organizations: Ladies' Aid So- 
ciety, Unity Guild of Unity Mission, All 
Saints' Guild of All Saints' Mission, Daugh- 
ters of the King, and Missionary Host. The 
present officers of the church are: Rev. T. J. 
Mackay, Rector; Rev. C. H. Bohn, Associ- 
ate Rector; D. C. Bloomer and M. Duquette, 
Wardens; John Baldwin, Horace Everett, J. 
F. Kimball, S. P. McConnell, II. C. Besley, 
Thomas Calvin, W. J. Jameson, M. E. Smith, 
John T. Stewart, Vestry; J. F. Kimball, 
Treasurer; Charles Calvin, Secretary. The 
church has a membership of over 400. 

' ^^I ' l ^ l - l 




ILLIAM H. TAYLOR is one of the 
early and best known settlers of Sil- 
ver Creek Township. He came to 



Pottawattamie County in 1850 and has since 
made this place his home. 

Mr. Taylor was born in Clark County, 
Illinois, March 5, 1812. 11 is father. Pleas- 
ant Taylor, a prominent citizen and pioneer 
of that county, was born in Smith County, 
West Tennessee, and his mother, nee Jane 
Alison, was born in Pennsylvania. They 
were married in Indiana and subsequently 
removed to Barry County, Missouri, settling 
near the Ozark Mountains. From that place 
they went to Clark County, Illinois, and from 
there, in 1843, to Wapello County, Iowa. 
Seven years later they came to Pottawattamie 
County and settled in Silver Creek Township. 
Pleasant Taylor was the first Gentile to set- 
tle among the Mormons here. He bought a 
claim of Mr. D. Jacobs for which he paid 
$450. This was before the land here was 
put upon the market. For several years Mr. 
Taylor kept the stage station„the proprietors 
of the stage line between Des Moines and 
Council Bluffs at that time being Frink & 
Walker. Mr. Taylor is now eighty years of 
age and resides in Washington Township. 
Hie wife died in 1868, leaving three children 
living, namely: James A., of Washington 
Township; Mary A. Gorton, of Oklahoma, 
and William H., the subject of this sketch. 
The latter was reared on his father's frontier 
farm and received his education in a log 
school-house with a board against the wall 
for a writing-desk and wooden benches for 
seats, free-schools not being common those 
days. In 1864 he made a trip to Montana, 
Virginia City and Helena, and was engaged 
in mining. 

In the fall of 1865 Mr. Taylor returned to 
Pottawattamie County. He came down the 
Missouri River from Fort Benton to Omaha 
on a steamboat named Twilight. September 
28, that year, he was united in marriage to 
Miss Mary E. Bratton, a native of Guernsey 



OP POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



52S 



Coantj, Ohio, and a daui^liter of John and 
Rebecca (Harris) Bratton, who was born No- 
vember 22, 1845. Her fatlier is a native of 
Pennsylvania and her mother of Tuscarawas 
County, Ohio. They removed to Mills County, 
Iowa, in 1855, and are now residents of Sil- 
ver City, that county. Mr. Bratton has been 
a carpenter and a farmer, a County Judge 
and a minister. Religiously he is a Meth- 
odist. Mrs. Taylor was reared and educated 
in Mills County. After his marriage Mr. 
Taylor resided on Silver Creek two years and 
then removed to York Township. In 1869 
he came to his present location. He is the 
owner of a one-fourth section of rich boftom 
land on Silver Creek. This is well improved 
and is one of the best stock and grain farms 
in the township. Mr. Taylor has a good 
frame house, a tine grove and orchard, stables, 
cattle-sheds, and a corn-crib made of lo28 
that were hewed by the Mormons forty-three 
years ago. 

Mr. and Mrs. Taylor have three children: 
George P., at home; M. R. J., wife of F. M. 
Smith, of Silver Creek Township; and 
Emma L., at home. Mr. Taylor is a gentle- 
man in the prime of life, is broad and pro- 
gressive in his views on general topics, and 
is regarded by all who know him as an up- 
right man and a popular citizen. His polit- 
ical views are in accordance with Democratic 
principles. 



fILLIAM STEVENSON, one of the 
pioneer settlers of "Valley Township, 
came from Ohio in March, 1870, and 
settled on his present farm. It was then 
wild land, but by dint of industry and per- 
severance he has converted it into a iine, fer- 
tile farm. William Stevenson, hisgrandfather, 
was born in Virginia, near what is now known 




as the Cow Pens. His father caaie from Ire- 
land, and was a Scotch-Irishman. He was a 
soldier in the war of the Revolution, and 
was the father of a large family of children. 
He had two wives, his tirst being Rachel 
Wilkins, by v.'liom he had eight children: 
Robert, John, William, Charles, Samuel, 
Elizabeth, Polly and Jennie. This wife died 
and he married a widow by the name of 
Scott, who had a large family of children by 
her first husband. By this marriage Mr. 
Stevenson had live children: James, Daniel, 
Homer, Preston and Rachel. The father 
lived on a farm in Virginia for some time, 
and then moved to Kentucky, and next to 
Tennessee, where his eldest son, Robert, was 
born, July 4, 1788. In 1796 he moved to 
Ohio, settling on the banks of Massie's Creek, 
in what was then Greene County. After a 
short residence at this place, Mr. Stevenson 
moved to the Little Miami, near Clifton, 
where he was among the early pioneers, 
and where he lived until he was a very old 
man. He was a member of the Presbyterian 
Church, a soldier in the war with Indians, 
and a typical pioneer of the American wil- 
derness. He had held the oflice of Justice 
of the Peace. 

Robert Stevenson, a son of the above and 
the father of our subject, was born in Tennessee, 
July 4, 1788, and was eight years of age 
when he went with his father to Ohio, and 
was brought up in Greene County. He was 
married to Sarah, daughter of William and 
Sarah Cohagan. The father was a native of 
Maryland, and was a prominent farmer of 
Greene County, Ohio. To Mr. and Mrs. 
Stevenson were born eleven children, viz.: 
William, Caroline, John, Thomas P., Charles 
W., Samuel, James, Robert, David, Henry 
H. and Eliza. The father lived in Greene 
County all his life, was a substantial farmer, 
and a soldier in the war of 1812, serving 



536 



BIOGRAPHICAL HlaTURT 



under General Harrison. He was afterward 
a Lieutenant in tlie militia, and both he and 
liis wife were members of the Presbyterian 
Church. He sold his farm and n)oved to 
Xenia, Ohio, where he lived for fifteen years, 
dying at the age of eighty. 

William Stevenson, the subject of this 
sketch, was born on his father's farm in 
Greene County, Ohio, November 17, 1814, 
and learned farming in early life. He re- 
mained in his native county until March, 
1870, when he came to this county, where he 
has since resided. Politically he is a stanch 
Republican, and has taken an active interest 
in the schools of his township, having been 
school director for many years. He is a self- 
made man, and stands high as a citizen whose 
word is as good as his bond. The family is 
from an old American stock of pioneers and 
soldiers, and their histories should descend to 
the most remote generations. 

Mr. Stevenson was married in Greene 
County, to Catherine Mills, daughter of 
Jacob and Elizabeth (Webb) Mills. The 
father was an American, and a farmer of 
Greene County, and his wife was an Amer- 
ican of Welsh descent, Mr. and Mrs. Ste- 
venson have one child, Catherine Owens. 
The mother died, and Mr. Stevenson married 
Emily Goldthwaite, daughter of Thomas and 
Abigail H. (Skinner) Goldthwaite. The father 
was from Massachusetts, a descendant froi:i 
an old American family. He enlisted in the 
civil war, in the Forty- fourth Ohio Volunteer 
Mounted Infantry, as the Fifth Ohio Cavalry, 
and served under General Tliomas. He was 
killed in one of the skirmishes preceding 
the battle of Shiloh. He was born in 1800, 
in Northbridge, Massacliusetts, and was over 
sixty years of age when he enlisted. He was 
very patriotic, having a very great desire to 
serve his country, and made several efforts 
before he was accepted. He was the father 



of six living children: FrankJin, Emily, Sa- 
rali, Jeanette, Freeman and Maria L. Mr. 
and Mrs. Stevenson were the parents of four 
children: Benjamin J., William P., Mary A. 
and James F. 

—f-^-J^f— 

W. REYNOLDS, contractor and 
builder, has his residence at No. 419 
** North Eighth street, and his office at 
the corner of Sixteenth street and Eighth 
avenue. 

Mr. Reynolds was born in Brighton, North- 
umberland County, Canada, in May, 1840, 
son of Silas and Maria (Potter) Reynolds, of 
English extraction and natives of New York 
State. Both are deceased. Mr. Reynolds 
lived in Canada until he was seventeen. He 
was reared on a farm, antl at the age of four- 
teen entertd upon an apprenticeship to the 
carpenter's trade. In 1857 he went to New 
York, and soon afterward, as first mate of a 
vessel, he sailed on the lakes, remaining; thus 
employed for six years. From 1863 until 
1868 he was in Saginaw, Michigan, engaged 
in the lumliering and carpentering business. 
In 1868 he came to Council Bluffs and con- 
tinued work at his trade. The next year he 
began to take contracts and since then has 
been engaged in contracting and building. 
He has also been interested in other enter- 
prises. From 1872 until 1877 he dealt 
largely in lumber. He afterward erected 
buildings and placed a plant for sash, doors, 
blinds, etc., the establishment located on E 
avenue, between Seventli and Eighth streets. 
This he conducted some three years. Mr. 
Reynolds lias erected a number of buildings 
in Council Bluffs, Omaha and vicinity, and 
has furnished a vast amount of employment 
for others, at some times having as many as 
seventy men in his employ. He is also an 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



527 



architect and drafts many of tlie buildings he 
constructs. In addition to seeing after the 
maTiy details of his varions enterprises, Mr. 
Reynolds also finds time to devote to jour- 
nalistic work. He is a regular correspondent 
of the St. Louis Trade Journal, and occa- 
sionally writes for other papers. His politi- 
cal views are in harmony with Republican 
principles. He is a member of the Y. A. S. 
Mr. Reynolds was married in April, 1868, 
to Ellen I. Hollenbeck, who was horn in 
Jackson County, Michigan, in 1846. They 
have had seven children: John H., Edith E., 
May, Arthur C, Wilbur G., Ethel L. and 
Warren W. May and AVarren W. are de- 
ceased. The other children are at home. The 
family are associated with the First Baptist 
Chui'ch. 



-|->^ 



4.ii..«o»»- -« 



fRANCIS ASI3URY De HART is the 
name of one of the enterprising citi- 
zens of Waveland Township, who has 
made his home in Pottawattamie County, 
Iowa, since 1874. He is a son of the late 
Larkin De Hart, a well-known and highly es- 
teemed early settler of Waveland Township, 
who was born in Tennessee, a son of John 
and Letta De Hart, both natives of Tennes- 
see. Larkin De Hart was married in Ken- 
tucky, to Sarah Collett, daughter of William 
CoUett, a Kentuckian. The De Harts are 
of French extraction. The great grandfather 
on the maternal side was an Englishman, the 
son of an English lord by the name of Toli- 
son ; but, being a spendthrift in his school 
days, he became involved in debt; and being 
ashamed to face his parents he contracted 
with a man to act as valet to get across the 
water to America; twice he took passage to 
visit his father, but each time was ship- 
wrecked. This so discouraged him that he 



settled here and raised a family. Some of 
his descendants became wealthy people. 
Some time subsequent to his marriage Larkin 
De Hart moved from Kentucky to Indiana, 
and from there to Warren County, Illinois. 
He remained in the latter place until 1874, 
when he came to Pottawattamie County, 
Iowa, and located on the land where his son, 
F. A., now resides. To Larkin De Hart and 
Sarah, his wife, sixteen children were born, 
nine of whom are now living, four sons and 
five daughters, viz.: Verleny, wife of G. Raw- 
lins, Guthrie County, Iowa; Elisha F., Allen 
County, Kansas; Elizabeth, wife of W. T. 
Johnson, Saunders County, Nebraska; Mary, 
wife of Ben Conklin, Ringgold County, 
Iowa; James, Saunders County, Nebraska; 
Asa, an old soldier, resides at Los Angeles, 
California; Miranda, wife of John Ciiapman, 
Allen County, Kansas; Ellen, wife of Clark- 
son Godfrey, Waveland Township, Pottawat- 
tamie County, Iowa; and Francis Asbury. 
Mrs. Godfrey was a successful teacher before 
her marriage. For many years Larkin De 
Hart was a local preacher in the Methodist 
Episcopal Church, doing much toward ad- 
vancing the cause of his Master. Later in 
life he was a Baptist. His wife was a Meth- 
odist all her life, her father having been a 
local Methodist minister for years. 

F. A. De Hart was the youngest child of 
his parents' numerous family. He was reared 
at farm work in Warren County, Illinois, and 
received his education in the public schools. 
At the age of sixteen he came to Pottawatta- 
mie County, Iowa. In April, 1875, he mar- 
ried Miss Rosa M. Blaney, daughter of Will- 
iam and Catherine (Nogle) Blaney. Mrs. 
De Hart was born in New York city, in 
1856. Her father, a worthy citizen of Grove 
Township, settled in this county many years 
ago. Mr. and Mrs. De Hart have live chil- 
dren: Charles Frederick, Clarence L., Lillian 



528 



BIOGRAPHICAL aiSTORT 



May, Maud Ethel and Larkin Ewall. Julia 
Irene died at the age of eight months. 

Mr. De Hart's farm consists of 120 acres 
and is located in section 7. It has good build- 
ings, orchard, grove and wind-pump, all being 
kept in tirstclass condition. On December 
16, 1890, his house burned to the ground, 
with about all its contents. The ashes were 
cleared away, and with the help of his neigh- 
bors a new house was soon raised, in every 
way superior to the old one, and on January 
23, 1891, the family moved into tlieir new 
home. Mr. De Hart is a member of the 
Masonic fraternity, Cass Lodge, No. 412, 
Griswold, Iowa. He casts his vote and in- 
fluence with the Democratic party. 

--«|->.f^— 

„4ETER BRADEN, section 12, Silver 
m Creek Township, ranks among the en- 
terprising and well-known citizens of 
his community. He was born in Richland 
County, Ohio, March 11. 1837. His father. 
Samuel Braden, a native of Washington 
County, that State, was a son of John Bra 
den. The Bradens were of German ancestry. 
The mother of our subject, Margaret (Gates) 
Braden, was born in New Jersey, daughter of 
Peter Gates. When they were children Sam- 
uel Braden and his wife came to Ohio with 
their parents. They grew up and were mar- 
ried in that State. The Braden family was 
one of the first to settle among the Indians 
in Ohio. Samuel Braden lived in Richland 
County until 1849, when he came West and 
settled in Macon County, Illinois. His wife 
died in Ohio when her son Peter, the subject 
of this sketch, was about ten years old. By 
her Mr. Braden had five children, and after 
her death he was twice married. He died in 
Iowa, at the age of seventy-eight years. He 
was a farmer all his life; was a member of 



the Lutheran Church, and affiliated with the 
Democratic party. 

Peter Braden was about twelve years of 
age when he went to Macon County, Illinois, 
with his father. There he was reared on a 
farm and was educated in the common schools. 
He was married at that place in August, 
1864, to Miss Sarah A. Poole. She was 
born in Henry County, Illinois, daughter of 
Simeon and Elizabeth (Parineter) Poole, and 
was left an orphan at tiie early age of four 
years. Mr. Braden lived in Illinois until 
1866, when he removed to Otoe County, Ne- 
braska, where he lived nine years, at the end 
of that time coming to Pottawattamie County. 
He settled near Macedonia, where lie resided 
until he purchased his present farm of eighty 
acres in Silver Creek Township. It was then 
wild land, and with the enterprise and push 
which characterized the western pioneers he 
went to work to improve his farm. He now 
has a good frame residence, a grove, orchard, 
stables, feed lots, and everything about the 
place shows the thrift of the owner. He is 
engaged in general farming and stock- 
raising. 

Mr. and Mrs. Braden have seven children, 
namely: Belle, wife of John Harburt, of 
Carson Township, this county, Elmer E., of 
Macedonia, is a painter; Ida, wife of A. E. 
Seaburg, of Silver Creek Township; Willie, 
Gracie, Claude and Archie. They had three 
children who died in childhood. Mr. Bra- 
den has always been a Democrat, but has 
never aspired to public office. 



,ENRY H. SPETMAN, a resident of 
Lewis Township, Pottawattamie County, 
was born in Holsteiu, Germany, April 
21, 1825, a son of G. H. and Ann H. (Ellis) 
Spetman. They had a family of nine chil- 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



529 



dreii, six of whom came to America, and four 
still survive, namely: H. H., our subject; 
William H., a resident of Mills County; J. 
H.,a resident of Omaha, Nebraska, and Mar- 
garet C, wife of Charles Wymiller, also of 
Omaha. Henry H. was reared on a farm in 
his native country until he was seventeen 
years of age, after which he engaged as a 
seaman on a sailing vessel in the employ of 
German merchant ships for seven years, and 
three years in American ships on the coast 
of China. After this he went to California, 
wliere he engaged in mining for a period of 
three years. He then returned to his home 
in Germany, spending about one year, and 
iu 1853 returned to America. He came to 
Iowa and spent one year in Davenport and 
St. Mary's, and in 1854 came to Pottawat- 
tamie County, locating on his present home- 
stead, which he purchased of a Mormon. His 
farm consists of 240 acres, on sections 34 
and 35, Lewis Township. Here he com- 
menced life in the then new country, where 
Indians were frequently seen and the wild 
game plentiful. 

Mr. Spetman was married October 15, 
1854, to Catherine H. Beck, daughter of A. 
H. and E. H. (Kickbush) Beck, natives of 
Germany. She was born June 27, 1830, in 
Holstein, and in 1854 emigrated to America 
with her parents, and the same year was 
married to Mr. Spetman. About six inontlis 
afterward they came to Pottawattamie County, 
where they commenced housekeeping in a 
small log house erected by the Mormons fur 
a church, but with the expectation of some- 
thing better in the future. They gradually 
ascended the ladder of wealth until they have 
reached the topmost round, with 960 acres 
of fine farm land, and the following property 
in Council Bluffs: four dwelling-iiouses and 
lots, three brick store buildincrg and lots and 
two vacant lots, all located iu the business 



portion of the city. Their anticipated home 
has been realized in a nice frame residence, 
unpretentious but roomy, with a number of 
buildings for stock and grain. Mr. Spetman 
is a public-spirited man, and has enjoyed 
seeing his county come to the front in every 
respect, and has assisted the Democratic 
party to the extent of his ability and vote. 
He has represented his township as Trustee 
for several years. Mr. and Mrs. Spetman's 
life is brightened and made happy by eight 
children: Fred W., a resident of Council 
Bluffs; William C, also of this city; Mary, 
the wife of D. Holz; Henry and Lizzie, of 
Council Bluffs; Wilhelmina, wife of Frank 
Fox; Carl L., at home, and John, deceased. 
The family are worthy and consistent mem- 
bers of the Lutheran Church, and are highly 
respected citizens. 



►>*^ 



mlLLIAM O. YOUNG has been a 
hI resident of Pottawattamie County 
since 1876. He was born in Seneca 
County, Ohio, near Tiffin city, September 
16, 1848. His father, Alfred Young, was a 
native of Maryland, and his mother, Sarah 
(Montieth) Young, was born in Ohio, of 
Scotch ancestry. William O. was but a small 
boy when his parents came to Iowa in 1856, 
and settled in Iowa County, near Marengo. 
The parents still reside in Iowa County, on a 
farm where they have lived since 1861. They 
are consistent members of the Methodist 
Church, and in his political views the father 
is a Republican. 

William O. was reared at farm work and 
was educated in the public schools of Iowa. 
In 1876, as already stated, he came to Potta- 
wattamie County, and in 1878 he bougiit his 
present farm, eiglity acres of which had been 
broken. On this place he has made many 



530 



BIOGBAPUWAL IHSTORY 



improvements, and now lias one araonjjf tho 
best farms in the neigliborbood. He has a 
laro'e frame residence, which was erected at a 
cost of $1,400. It is well situated and is 
surrounded by shrubs and shade and orna- 
mental trees. Near by is a fine orcbard of 
about three acres. Mr. Young's barn is 
34x36 feet, with 16-foot posts. He has 
yards feed lots, a wind-mill, and other farm 
conveiiiences. He devotes his time to gen- 
eral farming and stock-raising, and every- 
thing alout the premises shows the pros- 
perity which has attended his labors. 

Mr. Yoi ng was married at the age of 
twenty-six years, in Iowa County, to Miss 
Alice Tibbies., a native of New York State- 
She was rearea there and in Wisconsin. The 
three children born to them are Bertie, Orley 
and Elsie. Poliiically Mr. Young is a Re- 
publican. 

■■ «=i »i ^ 'i 'SnS' ' |S' "'^' 



lENJAMIN F. BIXBY descends from 
an old American family who have been 
famous as soldiers and pioneers from 
old colonial times. Deacon Solomon Bixby, 
grandfather of our subject, was born in 
"Worcester, Massachusetts, and was the father 
of eirrht children, viz. : Amasa, Rufus, Amos, 
Sumner, Jothara, Jonathan, Simon, Deborah 
and Nancy. The father emigrated to the 
State of Maine, and settled at Norridge- 
wock, on the Kennebec River, during the 
latter part of the eighteenth century. He 
lived to the age of sixty-six years, auG was a 
prominent member of the Congregational 
Church, in which he was a deacon for many 
yfears. He was one of the founders of the 
church in Norridgewock, and was a prosj er- 
ous farmer, owning one of the finest farms 
in the State. Rufus Bixby, a son of the 
above and the father of our subject, was born 



on the old homestead at Norridgewock in 
1796, and received a common-school educa- 
tion. He was married to Betty Weston, 
daughter of Deacon Benjamin Weston, who 
was born at Skowliegan, Maine, and was a 
son of a Revolutionary soldier. He was one 
of Arnold's brave soldiers who invaded the 
then impenetrable and unexplored forests of 
Northern Maine in the late fall and early 
winter. Mr. Weston received his death from 
exposure. He reached home and died two 
weeks after his return. Mr. and Mrs. Rufus 
Bixby were the parents of fourteen children, 
three of whotn died young: Solomon, Will- 
iam, Benjamin F., Augustus, Mary, Caroline, 
Elizabeth, Eunice and Sarah. The father 
was a soldier in the war of 1812, and was a 
deacon in the Congregational Church. He 
lived to the age of eighty-five years. 

Benjamin F. Bixby, the subject of this 
sketch, was born on his grandfather's farm at 
Norridgewock, Maine, June 17, 1828, and 
received a good academical education at the 
old academies of Bloomtield, Anson and 
Thompson. He began life as a school-teacher 
at Madison, Maine, and on the Penobscot 
Bay. In March, 1852, he sailed from Boston 
around Cape Horn to California. While his 
vessel was stopping at Chili for a supply of 
water during an insurrection there, they 
found Captain Brown, of the bark Florida, 
held a prisoner by the Chilian authorities, 
accused of aiding the insurgents; and at 
night the captain of Mr. Bixby's vessel res- 
cued Brown and immediately put to sea, ex- 
pecting to be followed by a man-of war. The 
former carried two large guns, besides small 
arras and cutlasses, and was ready for defense. 
The next day, however, Captain Brown was 
placed aboard his own vessel, and went on 
his way rejoicing. 

On arrival in California Mr. Bixby mined 
for gold at Volcano, Placerville and Cedar- 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTV. 



531 



ville. He followed this business quite suc- 
cessfully four years, and then went into the 
dairy business in Jackson, California, which 
he contined two years. He then returned to 
Maine to visit his relatives, and in 1858 
came to Winterset, Iowa. He obeyed the 
call of his country, and enlisted in Company 
E, Forty-seventh Iowa Volunteer Infantry, 
and served at Helena, Arkansas. He was 
taken sick with malarial fever, and came near 
death. He was in the hospital at Helena, in 
the old residence of General Hindman, a 
noted Confederate General. After serving 
out his time, Mr. Bixby returned home to 
Winterset, and was honorably discharged at 
Davenport, Iowa, September 28, 1864. He 
was shattered by the malaria and for two 
years was disabled. He then went into the 
employ of the Rock Island Railroad in the 
depot at De Soto, Iowa, for five years. In 
1874 he came to Walnut in the employ of 
the same railroad company, as station agent, 
in which capacity he served fourteen years; 
he was also agent for the United States Com- 
pany. Mr. Bixby's long service with the 
Rock Island Company is the best indication 
of his character and of his faithful and 
honest services. In 1889 he was appointed 
Postmaster under Harrison, and is now filling 
tliat office to the satisfaction of the Govern- 
ment and the people of Walnut. He is well 
fitted for this position by his long business 
training, his pleasant and courteous disposi- 
tion, and his accommodating way of dealing 
with the people. He is a member of John 
A. Dix Post, G. A. R., No. 408, Walnut, of 
which he has been Adjutant many years. In 
his political principles he is a Republican. 

Mr. Bixby was Tuai'ried in Winterset, 
Iowa, in September, 1859, to Miss Mary A. 
Hornback, daughter of Abraham and Eliza- 
beth (McConnell) Hornback. The father was 
a native of Ohio, and of German descent, and 



was a resident of La Fayette, Indiana, for 
many years. He settled in Madison County, 
Iowa, in 1852, and died in 1884, at the age 
of seventy-eight years. He was the father 
of six children: James, George, John, Eliza- 
beth, Nancy and Mary A. To Mr. and Mrs. 
Bixby have been born five children: I'ranklin 
(deceased at five years of age), William, Loyd, 
Maud and Bessie. William W. Bixby, the 
next eldest brother of our subject, made the 
first survey ever made to the Pacific Coast, 
about 1854-'55, which was made for a rail- 
road from St. Paul to Puget Sound. Lyman, 
the youngerbrothe r, was a soldier in a Maine 
reginjent, and was captured at the battle of 
Cold Harbor. He was a Lieutenant, and 
was in charge of the company when captured. 
He was six months in Anderson ville and 
Libby prisons, and escaped from the former, 
and after nine days in the swamp was re- 
captured by means of blood-hounds. He 
was finally exchanged. He saw service be- 
fore Richmond, being for two weeks under 
fire at one time. 



ARTHA MARTIN is one of the 
||jMl|t self-reliant women of Valley Tovvn- 
*^^^ ship, who, after the death of her hus- 
band, Robert Martin, has successfully carried 
on the farm and reared her family. Robert 
JMartin was born in County Antrim, Ireland, 
and was the son of James Martin, who was 
born at that place, and was a farmer by occu- 
pation. He married Susan Taylor, and they 
were the parents of four children: Daniel, 
James, Robert and Jane. The fatner lived 
to the age of eighty-seven years, dyinof in his 
native place. Both he and his wife were 
members of the Presbyterian Church, llis 
son Daniel marrieil and was the father of 
five children, and also died in County An- 



532 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTOUT 



tritn. The remainder of the children came 
to America. 

Robert Martin, a son of the above, and the 
husband of our subject, was born about 1832, 
on ins fatlier's farm, who had been born, 
reared and died there. At tlie age of seven- 
teen, wishing to Ijetter iiis fortune, he came 
to America, landing at Philadelphia. He 
learned the trade of ingrain-carpet weaver, 
at which he worked until about 1860. In 
1856 he went to Illinois, and June 3 was 
married to Martha McBride, of Fulton, Illi- 
nois, and the daughter of John and Elizabeth 
McBride. The father, a Scotch-Irishman, 
was born in Countj Antrim, Ireland, and 
after marriage moved to County Derry, about 
three miles frum where James Martin lived. 
In 1842 he came to America, settling at 
Philadelphia, wliere he worked at his trade 
of weaver, which he had learned in Scot- 
land. He died in Philadelphia about three 
years after his arrival. Mr. and Mrs. Mc- 
Bride were the parents of five children: 
Isabel, Mary J., William, Ellen and Martha. 
The mother also died in Philadelphia, pre- 
vious to her husband's death, and they were 
both members of the Presbyterian Church, 
in which the father was an Elder and a de- 
vout Christian. 

Martha was a little girl of about six years 
when her parents died, -and she was brought 
up in Philadelphia by a married sister, Mary 
J.Thompson, wife of Daniel Thompson, who 
moved to Fulton County, Illinois, where she 
lived three years, until her marriage to Rob- 
ert Martin. They then returned to Phila- 
delphia, remaining until 1862, when they 
settled on a farm in Ontario, Canada, re- 
maining until 1871, and in that year they 
came to their present home. When they set- 
tled here it was wild land, and they tirst 
lived in tents, but by industry and economy 
this laithful pioneer coui)le converted their 



frtrm into fine, fertile land, and to which they 
have added until Mrs. Martin now owns 160 
acres in her own right, and her sons have 
240 acres more, making in all 400 acres of 
splendid farm land. January 16, 1880, Mr. 
Martin died, since which time his widow has 
carried on the farm and brought up her 
fcimily. She possesses good business ability 
and is an excellent manager. She is the 
mother of seven children, viz.: Mary J., de- 
ceased in infancy; Ella J., also deceased in 
infancy; William J., of Hancock, was mar- 
ried to Margaret J. Dool, and they have one 
child; Robert J. was married to Louisa E. 
Bair; Daniel T. married Mina Britton; An- 
nie E. mari-ied Albert Peterson, this county, 
and Emma M. Both Mr. and Mrs. Martin 
were members of the Presbyterian Church, 
and the former assisted in organizing the 
Knox Presbyterian Church, in which he was 
an elder until his death. In his political 
views he was a Republican, and he had an 
honest ambition to have Jiis family in com- 
fortable circumstances, and to gruw up good, 
moral and industrious men and women, with 
Christian principles. He was a kind father 
and loving husband, and his descendants 
may well revere his memory. Mrs. Martin 
has, ill a measure, since his deatii tilled his 
place, and has instilled in her children the 
same principles of truth and honesty. 



tTIS HARDENBERGH, one of the 
prominent farmers of Lincoln Town- 
ship, is from an old American family 
of Dutch descent. The remote ancestors of 
the family came with the Pilgrims to Plym- 
outh Rock, in 1620. There were three broth- 
ers of that name who landed at that time. 
The Hardenberghs were soldiers in the war 
of the Revolution, and were early pionee 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTT. 



533 



settlers of Ulster County, New York State. 
Nicholas Hardenbergh, the father of our sub 
ject, was born on a farm in Ulster County, 
and was a man of education, and was a sur- 
veyor by occupation; he did a great deal of 
business for the people, such as writing 
deeds, etc. He was married in that county, 
to Margaret Cronk, of Scotch ancestry. To 
Ml', and Mrs. Hardenbergh were born twelve 
children: Cornelia A., Mary J., Thomas H., 
Susan, Abraham, John 13., Garrett C, Ger- 
trude, Otis, Rachel, Nicholas, Eliza, all of 
whom grew to maturity, and of whom live 
are now living: Thomas, Garret C, Otis, 
Mary J. and Eliza. Tlie father lived on a 
farm in Ulster County, New York, and was 
a soldier in the war of 1812. He was a man 
of honorable character, respected by all who 
knew him, and a man of great intelligence 
and quiet disposition. He was an excellent, 
sensible and well informed gentleman. 

Otis Hardenbergh was born October 3, 
1828, and learned farming and carpentering 
in early life. He followed the former occu- 
pation in Ulster County, until twenty-eight 
years of age, when he came to Iowa and set- 
tled in Lewis, Cass County, as a carpenter, 
where he remained six years. In .1866 he 
went to Colorado, settling in Arapahoe 
County, seven miles from Denver, where he 
worked on a ranch and also at his trade for 
fifteen years. In 1881 he returned to Iowa 
and settled in Lincoln Township, Pottawat- 
tamie County. Mr. Hardenbergh has the 
respect of the people, and has served as Town- 
ship Trustee, and was also Township Clerk 
in Cass County. In religious principles he 
is a Reformed Episcopal, but both he and 
his wife attend the Congregational Church at 
Lewis. In politics he is a stanch Jacksonian 
Democrat, and socially is a Master Mason, 
being a member of the lodtce No. 117, at 
Lewis, Iowa. He has accumulated his prop 



erty by his own unaided efforts, and stands 
high as an honorable and industrious man. 
He is a practical farmer, and takes an active 
interest in all matters pertaining to his town- 
ship and county. He is a man of good judg- 
ment, a clear thinker, and expresses his 
thoughts in a vigorous manner. He has al- 
ways lived a life of probity, has been self- 
sacrificing, and endeavored in aU ways to 
lead a correct and moral life. 

Mr. Hardenbergh was married in Januaiy, 
1860, to Margaret Hopley, daughter of 
Thomas and Francis (Arrowsmith) Hopley. 
The father came to Iowa from England in 
1856, and became a prominent farmer in 
Lewis, Cass County. He lived to the age of 
sixty-eight years, and was the father of eleven 
children, ten of whom lived and came to 
America: John, William, Thomas, James, 
Peter, Joseph, Margaret, Hannah, Anna and 
Fannie. The father was shipwrecked and 
lost nearly all his property, and part of his 
family were sent back to England, but finally 
came to America. Mr. and Mrs. Harden- 
bergh were the parents of three children: 
George H., Sophia (who died in infancy) and 
Jessie. George was born October 25, 1860, 
and Jessie was l)orn August 11, 1864, and 
was married to Henry Conn, of Beatrice, Ne- 
braska, and they have two children: Otis and 
Harrold. Mr. Conn is connected with the 
Union Pacific Railroad. In February, 1882, 
Mrs. Hardenbergh died, and in 1889 Mr. 
Hardenbergh married Eliza Wilson, daughter 
of Knight and Margaret (Rath born) Wilson. 
The father was boi-n in Churn ley, Cheshire 
County, England, and was a prominent 
farmer, within five miles of the old city of 
Chester, famous for its splendid cathedral. 
He died at the age of fifty-five years, from 
the effects of an accident. His father, Sam- 
uel Wilson, was a Scotchman by birth, who 
settled in England in 1800. Mr. Wilson's 



534 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY 



wife was of an old English family, who lived 
on the home farm eight miles from Cliester, 
for 200 years. He lived to the age of sixty- 
fonr years, and died in England. By his 
last marriage Mr. Hardenbergh has one 
daughter — May W. 

Thomas H., the eldest brother of our sub- 
ject, served tiirough the Seminole or Florida 
war, and was shot through the hand; he now 
receives a pension. 



LBERT E. FULLER is one of the well- 
known citizens of Center Township, 
^ Pottawattamie County. He was born 
in Cuyahoga County, Oiiio, April 7, 1860, 
the son of Ezra Fuller, deceased. 

Ezra Fuller came to Iowa in April, 1861, 
soon after the firing on Fort Sumter. He 
was born near Bloomtield, New York, in 
1803, the son of Jerrod and Cynthia (Wait) 
Fuller. During the war of 1812 his father 
was employed in lianling provisions from 
Blooomtield to Bnffalo, New York. When 
a youth Ezra removed with his parents from 
his native State to Cuyahoga County, Ohio, 
where he grew to manhood. He married 
Raciiel Hickby, a native of New York. By 
her he had six children, as follows: Corydon, 
who resides in Florida; Jerrod, who was a 
soldier of the Fiftli Iowa Infantry, and who 
<iied in Missouri of a fever contracted in 
the war; Moses, a resident of Cuyahoga 
County, Ohio; Calestea died in Pottawatta- 
mie County, in 1865; James, who was in 
the same regiment with his brother Jerrod, 
also died of disease contracted in the war, his 
death occurring in Syracuse, Missouri, and 
Sophronia, a resident of Cuyahoga County, 
Ohio. In 1842 Mr. Fuller wedded Arloa 
Turner. She was born in Washington 
County, New York, in 1825, the daughter of 



James M. and Charity (Mora) Turner, both 
natives of New York State. Mrs. Turner 
died two years and a half after the l)irth of 
Arloa. Mr. Turner died at the home of his 
daugliter, Mrs. Fuller, in Center Township. 
By his second marriage Mr. Fuller had five 
children, viz.: Marion, who lives in Ohio; 
Sarah Wynans, who resides near Avoca, this 
county; Vienna, wife of John Rollins, Center 
Township; Hannah, wife of Alexander Hair, 
also of Center Township; and Albert E., 
whose name heads this sketch. Mr. P'uUer 
made his home in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, 
until 1861, when he came to Iowa and 
settled in Cedar County. In 1861 he located 
in Center Township, Pottawattamie County, 
on the farm where Albert E. now resides. 
It was then wild prairie land, and Mr. Fuller 
broke the soil the first season he was there. 
The Indians were so troublesome on tiie 
western frontier at that time that the Fuller 
family returned to Cedar County to spend 
the winter, returning the next spring to the 
same farm. Mr. Fuller had traded Ohio 
land for 800 acres in this vicinity, which he 
divided among his children. He was a man 
well posted on political matters, and cast his 
vote witli the Republican party. He was 
upright and honorable in all his business 
dealings; was retiring in his disposition, and 
had a great love for home. The golden rule 
was the one he followed all through life. 

Albert E. Fuller is the youngest of the 
family, and was but four years of age when 
his parents came to thig county. He was 
reared on the home farm, and received his 
education in the public schools. Arriving at 
tiie age of manhood, he was married, July 6, 
1880, to Miss Martha Swain, a native of 
Iowa and a daughter of Ira and Fanny Swain, 
of Orinnell, Iowa. Two children have been 
born to them: Frances and Ida. Politically 
Mr. Fuller is a Republican. Like his worthy 




'Jt-O/i ^ c^o.-lj/^ 



OF POTT AW ATT AM IE COUNTY. 



535 



father, he is fair and honest in all his busi- 
ness transactions, and is highly respected by 
his fellow-citizens. 



E. AVERY, Street and Sidewalk Com- 
ilf^\& missioner of Council Bluffs, was 
''^ elected to his jireseiit position in 
1887. Previous to that time, during the 
years 1882-'83, he officiated in the same 
capacity, and in 1883-'84 he was Sidewalk 
Commissioner. 

Mr. Avery was born in Susquehanna 
C'Ounty, Pennsylvania, in January, 1843, son 
of George L. and Mary L. (Harding) Avery. 
His father and mother were descendants of 
English ancestry and were natives of Con- 
necticut and Massachusetts respectively. Mr. 
Avery was reared on a farm in his native 
county and was educated in the public and 
commercial schools. At the age of twenty- 
one he began to do for himself, and in 1867 
he came to Council Bluffs. In the fall of 
the SI ne year he went to Monona County, 
Iowa, where remained until 1869. Since his 
return to Council Bluffs he has principally 
been engaged in corporation work. He is a 
Democrat, and is one of the energetic men 
of this city. 



^SCAR F. LODGE, of Walnut, is the 
pioneerraerchant of that thriving town, 
and a man who has been identified with 
the business interests tliere since its founda- 
tion. He was born December 31, 1827, in 
Greenville, Mercer ('ounty, Pennsylvania. 
His father, Samuel Lodge, a tanner but 
afterward a farmer, was of English descent. 
His grandfather, Benjamin Lodge, was a 
lieutenant in the war of the Revolution. 

39 



He also was born in Pennsylvania, and was a 
farmer in Westmoreland County. Samuel 
Lodge was an industrious and economical 
man and in comfortable circumstances. For 
many years he was an elder in the Presby- 
terian Church. At the age of about fifty he 
moved to Henry County, Illinois, where he 
bought a farm, and where he died at the age 
of about sixty years. He was a man of ex- 
cellent character and had descended from a 
long line of American pioneers and soldiers. 
Mr. Lodge married in Pennsylvania, Miss 
Jane McCord, daughter of George and Eliza- 
beth (Mossman) McCord. Both families 
were old settlers and pioneers in Pennsyl- 
vania, and of Scotch descent. Mr. and Mrs. 
Lodge were the parents of eleven children: 
Benjamin, Oscar F., Elizabeth, George, Mar- 
garet, Martha (died in infancy), Albert, 
Leander, Mary A., Samuel H. and one who 
died an infant. 

Oscar F. Lodge, the subject of this sketch, 
learned when young the business of farming, 
and the greater part of his life has been de-, 
voted to th^t most prinjeval calling. At the 
early age of twenty-three he came to the 
State of Iowa, and near Davenport carried on 
a farm, on which he lived nine years, in 
company with his brother, Benjamin, who 
was a man of family. In 1871 he came to 
Walnut, which at that time contained no 
store and but three or four houses, and here 
he established a mercantile business, in com- 
pany with his brother, Leander, the stock 
consisting of general merchandise. This 
business continued until 1880, and was suc- 
cessful, and in 1883 Mr. Lodge went into the 
hardware business with Alfred E. Kincaid, 
under the firm name of Lodge & Kincaid. 
This has also been a prosperous business. 
Mr. Lodge has naturally taken an active in- 
terest in assisting to build up the town. He 
has been School Director and Township 



536 



BIOORAPHWAL HISTORY 



Tnistee. He has seen the town's steady 
growth from a small hamlet to its present 
prosperity. 

In political opinion he is a stanch Re- 
publican. When the great civil war broke 
out he enlisted in Company D, Eleventh 
Regiment, Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and 
served fifteen months, receiving an honorable 
discharge. He was in the great battle of 
Shiloh, but escaped without wounds. 

In 1880 he married Jennie Elliot, daugh- 
ter of Benjamin Elliot, of McDonough 
County, Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. Lodge have 
had six children, namely: Arthur E., Walter 
E., Oscar L. and Harry G. (twins), Nellie H. 
and Edna. Mr. Lodge is a man of quiet 
tastes and a citizen well known and highly 
respected by all the people who know him. 
He is a self-made man, having by his own 
industry and economy accumulated his prop- 
erty. The family is American on both sides, 
coming from good stock. 



•^Mf. 



T. LAINSON, contractor and builder, 
JSo. 32 Fourth street, residence. No. 
^* 120 Franklin street, Council Bluffs. 
Mr. Lainson's business was establshed in 1887 
and during the year 1890 aggregated $40,- 
000. lie employs an average of twenty-live 
men per day. Some of the principal build- 
ings in Council Bluffs have been erected by 
him. Among them we mention the follow- 
ing: the residences of W. C. James, W. W. 
Loomis, J. J. Steadman, A. W. Askawith, 
O. P. Wickham, George W. Crane, J. A. 
Herreld, Henry Van Brunt, Forest Smith, 
Mrs. T. B. Lewis, H. A. Baird, three flats for 
S. H. Foster, and the interior work of the 
Grand Hotel, besides other buildings of 
minor importance. 

Mr. Lainson is a native of Kent County, 



England, born near London, December 28. 
1853, son of William find Mary Ann (Argles^ 
Lainson, the former a second cousin of Will- 
iam Cubit, Lord Mayor of Lijiidon. His 
parents have been residents of Council Bluffs 
for two years. The father, although now 
seventy two years old, is following his trade, 
that of carpenter, and is assisting his son. 
The mother is in her sixty-eighth year. Mr. 
Lainson was only three years old when the 
family came to America and located in Can- 
ada, where they lived thrive years, after which 
they moved to Pennsylvania. Thirteen years 
later they came to Iowa and settled in Car- 
roll, where they remained three years. In 
1876 they took up their abode in Ida County, 
this State, and in 1883 came to Council 
Bluffs. His father being a carpenter, Mr. 
Lainson was brought up to that trade. He 
received a common-school education. He 
gives his undivided attention to his business, 
and has met with eminent success. He 
makes interior work a specialty. 

Mr. Lainson was married, in Ida County, 
Iowa, December 20, 1880, to Miss Cassie E. 
Battin, who was born in Wisconsin, Decem- 
ber 27, 1862. They have one child, Harry 
A., four years old. Politically Mr. Lainson 
is independent, casting his vote for the man 
he thinks best qualified to fill the position. 
He is ranked among tlie energetic young 
business men of Council Bluff's. 

- "te ' 3"!: ' S" '" ~' 



3|SAACN.GARDNER,a prominent citizen 
in of Pottawattamie County, descended from 
W a prominent American family. His 
grandfather, James Gardner, was an English 
soldier, and came to America with the British 
army at the time of the war of the Revolu- 
tion, when but nineteen years of age. He 
deserted from the English army and joined 



OF POTT AW Arr AM IE COUNT T. 



537 



the American forces. After the war he mar- 
ried and settled in Ohio, and was the t'atlier 
of eight children: William, James, Robert, 
John L., Washington, Nancy, Betsey and 
Fannie. The father settled on a farm in 
Marion County, Iowa, where he died, at the 
age of eighty-seven years. John L. Gardner, 
his son, and the father of our subject, was 
born in Muskingum County, and was a farmer 
and miller by occupation. 

Fie was married in Marion County, Ohio, 
to Sarah Goodwin, dauyhter of Asa and 

Margaret ( ) Goodwin, and they were 

the parents of four children: Isaac, John, 
Smith and Sarah. The father was a pioneer 
settler of Ohio, where lie lived to the age of 
seventy years. He then settled in Blackford 
County, Indiana. To Mr. and Mrs. Goodwin 
were born ten children: Margaret (who died 
in infancy), James W., C. V., John N., Asa 
A., Isaac N., Rhoda A., Mary H., Sarah and 
Washington. Alter marriage Mr. Gardner 
settled on a farm in Marion County, Ohio, 
which was then Delaware County, and where 
all of his children were born. He lived there 
until 1853, when he came to Iowa County, 
Iowa, where he remained until his death, 
which occurred in Atchison, Kansas, at the 
age of sixty-nine years. He was an upright 
man and a good citizen, and held the respect 
of his fellow-townsmen. He was Justice of 
the Peace at Marion, Iowa, and also held sev- 
eral township othces. Politically he was an 
old time Whig and Republican. He had live 
sons in the war: James M., who enlisted in 
the Twenty-fourth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, 
Company C, and served through the great 
struggle; Croven V., Company A, Twenty- 
ninth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, was Captainof 
his company and served through the war. He 
was in the same regiment with Hon. James Ly- 
man, and was promoted from Orderly Sergeant 
to Captain. A8aj^.,C(>m]iany D, Thirty-fifth 



Ohio Volunteer Infantry, served through the 
war, and was promoted as Captain. He was 
badly wounded at the battle of Stone River, 
Tennessee, the hall passing through his body 
below the heart and through the breast, and 
he is now suffering from the efi'ects of this 
wound. He was again badly wounded at 
Chickamauga, Tennessee, through the upper 
right thigh. He was in the battle of Shiloh, 
and all the engagements until he was wounded 
at Stone River. He was absent about six 
weeks. Isaac N., Company C, Eighty-eighth 
Ohio Volunteer Infantry, served seventeen 
months, and was transferred to the Twentv- 
seventh United States colored troops, as First 
Lieutenant, serving until the close of the 
war. Washington was in Company D, Sixty- 
fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, was but sixteen 
years of age when he enlisted, in 1861, and 
was awarded a medal at Stone River for 
bravery. He was in every march and battle 
that his regiment took part in; was wounded 
at Resaca, Georgia, and was conveyed from 
the field by three comrades in the heat of the 
battle. He went to school in Ashley, Marion 
County, Ohio, and then wen. to Hillsdale, 
Michigan, but was graduated at the Ohio 
Wesleyan University, in Delaware, Ohio. 
He is now Vice-President of Albion College, 
Albion, Michigan, and lias also been Com- 
mander of the G. A. R. Post of Michigan. 
This is one of the most remarkable army 
records to be found in any family. 

Isaac N. Gardner, the subject of this 
sketch, was born October 7, 1841, on the old 
homestead, six miles from Mt. Gilead, Ohio, 
and was but twenty years of age when he left 
the farm and school, where he had tauo-ht 
four terms, to begin the life of a soldier. 
He entered as a private, was promoted to 
First Lieutenant of a colored regiment, and 
came out as Captain. He was in the battles 
of the Wilderness, Fort Fisher, Petersburg, 



588 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



was not wounded or taken prisoner, and did 
active service throughout the great struggle. 
He ret'irned to Ohio, where he was honorably 
dischsrged, October 7, 1865. He then went 
to southwestern Missouri, where he bought 
a tract of land, and remained one and a half 
years. In 1869 he came to Iowa, settling on 
his present place, which then consisted of 
160 acres of wild laud, but which he has 
since converted into a line farm, and Uj en- 
ergy and industry has added to it until he 
now owns 240 acres. 

He was married to Emily W. Kearney, 
daughter of Thomas Kearney. The father, a 
native of Ireland, came to Council Bluffs 
from Galena, Illinois, in 1857. He is still 
living, at the age of sixty-two years. To 
Mr. and Mrs. Gardner have been born six 
children : Frank, Gerald, Chester A ., Marcus, 
Mary I., and an infant yet unnamed. Mr. 
Gardner is a stanch Republican, has held the 
office of Justice of the Peace, and has also 
been School Director. He is a well-known 
citizen of this county, and his descendants 
for generations will hold in respect the names 
of the soldiers of this family who fought for 
their country. 



^.■*^g^i-,'~^+.^ 

W. WILLIAMS, contractor and builder. 
No. 123 West Broadway, is a native of 
i* Ashtabula County, Ohio. He was born 
May 2, 1842, son of James and Sarah (Wood- 
ruff) Williams, both natives of New York 
State and descendants of old Puritan families. 
When the subject of our sketch was four 
years old his father died, and when he was 
twelve he left his native State and went with 
his mother to Michigan and located near 
Coldwater. After remaining there three 
years they removed to Warren, Jo Daviess 
County, Illinois, where tix'.y lived one year. 



In the fall of 1857 they located in Furt Cal- 
houn, Nebraska, where th'^ mother died the 
following autumn. In December of that 
year, 1858, Mr. Williams and his two sisters 
came to Council Bluffs, where he has since 
made his home. In 1860 he began a two 
years' apprenticeship to the trade of brick- 
laying and plastering, but before his time 
expired, in August, 1861, he enlisted in 
Company A, Twenty-ninth Iowa Volunteer 
Infantry, and served six months, until P^el- 
ruary, 1862, but was not accepted. He then 
returned to Council Bluti'-i and completed his 
trade, after which he worked as a journey- 
man until 1870, when he commenced con- 
tracting. In 1883 he turned his whole 
attention to contracting and nas since been 
extensively engaged in the same. During 
the year 1883 he took the contract for 
seventy houses. His annual business the 
past two years aggregates $45,000. During 
the busy season Mr. Williams employs about 
thirty men. On upper Broadway he has a 
brick-yard where he manufactures his own 
brick besides supplying the trade. Some of 
the contracts he has taken are numbered 
among the best business blocks and jirivate 
residences. In connection with the business 
already referred to he also has a wholesale 
flour and feed store and deals in wood ;uid 
coal, lime and all building materials. lie 
handles the Diamond Blutf flour of St. 
Peter's, Minnesota, and is agent for the 
Acme Cement Plaster, one of the best plas- 
ters in existence, just entering the market in 
this city. 

Politically Mr. Williams is a stanch iie- 
publican. He is a memUer of the A. O. U. 
W., Pottawattamie Lodge, No. 46, and of 
the Modern Woodmen, Hazel Camp. 

Mr. Williams was married, July 21, 1863, 
to Miss Charlotte E. Armstrong, a native of 
Nanvoo, Illinois, burn May 6, 1844. They 



OF POT PAW ATT AM [E COUNTY. 



639 



are the parents ot seven children: Fannie, 
Italpli, Mark, Stella, Olive, Emma and Ruth. 
P^annie, Stella and Olive are deceased. Mr. 
Wlliaras and his family reside at No. Ill 
Stuttnian street. lie is the owner of u num- 
ber of city properties, eleven in all. 



IDWIN J. ABBOTT, Assistant Clerk 
and Treasurer of Council Bluffs, has 
been serving this city in various capac- 
ities at least eij^ht or nine years. He was 
bjrn in London, England, September 27, 
1841, the son of Josepli and Mary (Bam- 
ford) Abbott. At the age of twelve year.s, 
he came to America, locating at Cleveland, 
Ohio, where he received his education, and 
remained until his fourteenth year, when he 
commenced work for himself. He was va- 
riously employed until he entered the service 
of the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern 
(Northern Indiana) Railroad. In 1861 he 
enlisted in the hundred-day service, after 
which he did hospital duty for some time. 
Mr. Abbott then enlisted in the One 
Hundred and Thirty-fifth Iowa Volunteer 
Infantry, and was honorably discharged Sep- 
tember, 1864, at Camp Chase, Oiiio. After 
the war Mr. Abbott returned to Cleveland, 
and connected himself with the Metropolitan 
Police forje, in which capacity he served 
until 1871. In that year he came to Coun- 
cil Bluffs, where he has since remained. He 
has served as Deputy Recorder and Township 
Clerk for several years, and since that time 
he has been twice elected as Justice of the 
Peace and in the employ of the city as Fi- 
nance Clerk. He has been a faithful friend 
to the public, and has been untiring in his 
duties. He is a member of the G. A. R., 
Abe Lincoln Post, No. 29, of which he is a 
charter member, and Past Judge Advocate 



and Assistant Adjutant General of the De- 
partment of Iowa, G. A. R. He has organ- 
ized fifteen posts in this locality. He is also 
a charter member and Post Commander of 
St. Albans Lodge, K. of P., No. 17, and also 
a member of the I. O. O. F. Politically he 
affiliates with the Republican party. 

Mr. Abbott was married October 27, 1861, 
to Sarah E. Packer, of Elyria, Lorain County, 
Ohio, who died December 26, 1888, leaving 
the following children: Mrs. James H. Craig- 
mile, of Council Bluffs; Mrs. James. R. Bar- 
rett, also of Council Buffs, and two deceased. 
Mr. Abbott was again married, January 7, 
1890, to Mrs. Mary H. Dougherty, a native 
of Rome, New York. They are both mem- 
bers of St. Paul's Episcopal Church. 



LEXANDER WOOD, Alderman at 
large, and a resident of the First Ward 
of Council Bluffs, was elected to liis 
present position first in 1882, serving two 
years, and was re-elected in March, 1890. 
He was born in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1836, 
a son of James and Jennie (Glass) Wood, 
both of Scotch descent. The parents died 
when Alexander was quite young, and he 
went to live with an uncle in Ayrshire, Scot- 
land, where he made his home until he 
reached his majority. He then came to 
America, locating at Florence, Nebraska, 
and in 1870 came to Council Bluffs, where 
he has since made his home. Shortly after 
he came to this county he established a vine- 
yard of twelve acres and an orchard of two 
acres in the corporate limits of Council 
Bluffs. The average yield of this place is 
about 6,000 pounds to the acre, and he has 
turned his whole attention to horticulture, 
and has made a decided success. He is a 
live, energetic business man, and strives to 



fl40 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTilRY 



promote the welfare of the public good. He 
affiliates with the Republican jiarty, and is a 
member of the Western Iowa Horticultural 
Society, and also of the Pottawattamie County 
Fruit-Growers' Society. 

Mr. Wood was married in 1870 to Mrs. 
Pyper, nee Ellen Watson, a native of Ayr- 
shire, Scotland. She had one child by her 
former marriage — William Pyper. 



-|->-^^" 



?OSEPH McGINNIS was born in Greene 
County, Pennsylvania, March 12, 1850, 
sou of John McGinnis, Jr., also a native 
of that county. His grandfather, John Mc- 
Ginnis, Sr., was born in London, England. 
He was a saddle-maker, at which trade he 
worked in London for seven years. John 
McGinnis, Jr., married Elizabeth Hoffman, 
a native of Greene County, Pennsylvania, a 
descendant of German ancestry. They reared 
ten children, seven sons and three daughters, 
Joseph being the seventh born. His parents 
passed their lives and died in their native 
county, the father at the age of sixty-two 
years, and the mother at seventy-six. The 
latter was a member of the Baptist Church, 
and the children were reared in that faith. 
Their father was a farmer all his life. In 
politics he was a Republican. 

At the Jige of six years Joseph McGinnis 
went with his parents to Ritchie County, 
West Virginia, where he remained until he 
was nineteen. Then he came to Iowa, and 
first settled in the eastern part of the State. 
In 1872 he came to Pottawattamie County 
and bought his present farm in section 16, 
"Wright Township. At that time it was wild 
land, and he was one of the earliest settlers 
in the neighborhood. He at once went to 
work to improve his place, tlie present 
flonrisliiug condition of his farm being the 



result of years of labor and well directed 
efforts. Air. McGinnis erected a comfortable 
frame house on a natural building site, and 
surrounded it by a grove and orchard of two 
acres. He also has other buildings and farm 
improvements. A branch of Walnut Creek 
flows tbrough Ids premises, furnishing an 
abundant supply of water for stock purposes. 
The most of the graiti raised on the farm he 
feeds to his stock. 

Mr. McGinnis was married March 31, 
1878, to Miss Roxanna Bridges, of Madison 
County, Iowa. She was born in Des Moines, 
and was reared there and in Madison County. 
Her parents, Lawson and Malinda Bridges, 
both natives of Rush County, Indiana, now 
reside in Madison County, Iowa. Mr. Bridges 
was born in 1822, and Mrs. Bridges in 1829. 
They moved first to Burlington, Iowa; next 
to Pleasant Grove, then to Des Moines, and 
in 1869 to Madison County. Mr. and Mrs. 
McGinnis have two children: Hattie, born 
February 11, 1879; and Joseph, July 19, 
1885. They lost two children: David, the 
second child, who died at the age of seven 
years, and an infant daughter not named. 

Mr. McGinnis' political views are in ac- 
cordance with Republican jirinciples. He 
and ins wife are members of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church, and both are Sabbath- 
school workers. He ranks among the repre- 
sentative citizens of Pottawattamie County. 



MON L. ALLEN, a substantial farmer 
of Layton Township, descended from a 
prominent American family, who were 
early settlers of Maryland. His grandfather, 
Isaac Allen, was born in that State, settled 
on a farm in Harrison County, Ohio, and 
died from cliolera in Burlington in 1851. 
His son, Isaac Allen, the father of our sub- 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



541 



ject, wa^i horn in Oliio, and learned farning 
in early life. lie was married in his native 
State, to Sarah A. Lemmon, daughter of 
Jacob Lemmon, of Scotch descent. They 
were the parents of live children: Amon L., 
Madison, Alvin, Alice and Frank, in 1851 
the father moved to Iowa, settlins in Wash- 
in^ton County, where he became a substan- 
tial farmer. He passed the remainder of 
his days on this farm, and was a hard-work- 
ing and influential man. He held many of 
his township's offices, and died at the age of 
fifty years. 

His son, Amon L., our subject, was born 
in Harrison County, Ohio, December 5, 1847, 
and was reared to farm life. When but 
three or four years of age his father moved 
to Iowa, 80 that he has passed nearly his 
whole life in this State. In 1882 he moved 
to Pottawattamie County and bought his 
present farm of 160 acres, which is now 
under a good state of cultivation. He was 
married in Washington County, at the acre 
of twenty-three years, to Mattie Maxwell, 
daughter of Robert and Rachel (Thompson) 
Maxwell. To Mr. and Mrs. Allen have been 
born two children — Sheldon and Roy. They 
are both members of the Presbyterian 
Church. 

Robert Maxwell, the grandfather of Mrs. 
Allen, was born in America, but his father 
was a native of Ireland, and settled in this 
country in an early day. Robert Maxwell 
was a farmer of Harrison County, Ohio, and 
was a soldier in the war of 1812. He was 
married to Martha Crowson, of Scotch de- 
scent, and to them were born eleven children: 
William, Thomas, Robert, Samuel, Martha, 
Rachel, John, Nancy, Walter, and two who 
died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Maxwell 
were both members of the Presbyterian 
Church. In 1847 they came to Iowa, settling 
in Washington County, where the father 



lived to the age of eighty-seven years. Rob- 
ert Maxwell, a son of the above, was born in 
Harrison County, Ohio, in 1819. At the 
age of twenty-eight years he was mirriud to 
Rachel J. Thompson, and in 1846 they set- 
tled in Washington County, Iowa. They 
w^ere the parents of nine children: Ella, 
Martha, Mary, Jennie, Thomas, Florence, 
Estella, and two who died in infancy. The 
parents were members of the Presbyterian 
Church, and the father was a hard-working 
and substantial farmer, and is still living at 
the age of seventy years. He was one of 
the men who helped to build up the country 
in which be lived, and has added his quota in 
making the State of Iowa one of the grandest 
in the Union. 

Thomas Thompson, the maternal grand- 
father of our subject, was also a pioneer of 
OhiOj and lived in that State when the In- 
dians were very troublesome. He married a 
lady of German descent, and they were the 
parents of eleven children. 



►^«H 




flf ILLIAM A. COOPER, section 15, 
Waveland Township, Pottawattamie 
County, postoffice Griswold, is anoth- 
er one of the enterprising and successful citi- 
zens of the township. He has resided here 
since 1881. 

Mr. Cooper was born in Scott County, 
Iowa, near the Muscatine County line, Octo- 
ber 6, 1855. His father, John Perry Cooper, 
owned land in both counties. He was a na- 
tive of Tennessee, of Irish extraction. Mr. 
Cooper's mother, nee Jane Pace, was a na- 
tive of Kentucky. His parents were married 
in Illinois, near Rock Island, and were among 
the early settlers of Iowa. The mother died 
in the fall of 1877, and the father, at this 
writing, aged seventy-eight years, resides in 



542 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY 



Muscatine County, Iowa. The}' reared a 
family of eleven cliildren, teu of whom are 
now living, viz.: Robert, Mary, Jolin P., 
Louisa, Catherine, Harriet, William A., 
Emma, Josephine and Winona. Vilena, the 
second born, is deceased. Robert, the eldest, 
served all through the late war, and now 
lives in Adams County, Iowa. 

The subject of our sketch passed his 
youth on a farm, eleven miles from Mus- 
catine, and attended the public schools in 
Muscatine and Scott counties. In 1877 he 
took up his abode in Montgomery County, 
Iowa, where he worked at farm work by the 
month. He was married in that county, 
March 24, 1880, to Miss Mary Everett, a na- 
tive of Henry, Marshall County, Illinois. 
Her father, Cliarles Everett, a native of Ohio, 
born near Urliana, is now a resident of 
Cheltenham, Illinois. He was formerly a 
druggit^t, but is now engaged in the grocery 
business. Her mother, Sarah (Jenkins) 
Everett, a native of Virginia, is deceased. 
She was a Methodist, as also is Mr. Everett. 
Politically he is a Democrat. 

In 1881 Mr. Cooper came to Pottawatta- 
mie County and bought eighty acres of im- 
proved land. He sold that property, and in 
1889 purchased his present farm of J. G. 
Cramer. Mr. Cooper has a good frame resi- 
dence situated on a natural building site and 
surrounded by shade and ornamental trees. 
He has barns, sheds, cribs, hog house, yards 
and orchard. His farm is well watered, and 
is considered one of the best improved in the 
neighborhood. 

Mr. and Mrs. Cooper have four children: 
Earl, Edna, Howard and Ida. He and his 
wife are members of the Evangelical Church, 
of which he is a trustee. Mr. Cooper is a 
man yet in the prime of life. He is fair and 
honorable in all his dealings, and is regarded 
as one of the representative citizens of Wave- 



land Towns^hip. Politically 
crat. 



i;: a Demo- 



<- > ^l' l " 



HjENJAMIN WINCHESTER, retired, is 
a well-known pioneer and the pioneer 
brick-manufacturer of Council Pluffs 
and Omaiia, having arrived here in May, 
1854, and ever since made this county his 
home. He was born in Erie County, Penn- 
sylvania, August 6, 1817, a son of Stejihen 
Winchester, a native of Orange County, Ver- 
mont. The family trace their ancestry back 
to two brothers, who settled one in New Eng- 
land and the other in Virginia. Stephen's 
father was Benjamin Winchester, who served 
with distinction and bravery for seven years 
in the Revolutionary war, under General 
Putnam. Mr. Winchester, our subject, was 
reared in agricultural pursuits and at brick- 
making. At tiie age of fifteen years he be- 
came a Mormon, and attended the laying of 
the corner stone of the Mormon Temple at 
Kirtland, Ohio, in 1836. At eighteen he 
began as a missionary and preached both in 
New England and in Europe, his headquar- 
ters being at Philadelphia; and for nine years 
he was thus a zealous laborer for the Mor- 
mons' cause. He became disgusted, in 1844, 
with the leaders, owing to their immorality, 
and withdrew from the church. About this 
time Joseph Smith„the founder of Mormon- 
ism, was killed. Mr. Winchester resided 
then for a time at Philadelphia, and next was 
engaged in the tobacco trade in Pittsburg. 
In the spring of 1854 he arrived at Council 
Bluffs, coming by railroad to Alton, Illinois, 
and thence up the Missouri River. In the 
fall, by team, he went by way of Davenport 
to Pittsburg for his family At this time 
Council Bluffs comprised about 1,500 inhabit- 
ants, dwelling mostly in log cabins along 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



543 



Broadway and Madison streets. The leading 
hotels then were the Roliertson House and 
the Pacific House, — tlie hitter just opened. 
Mr. Winchester engaged in the manufacture 
of brick, being the first in the county to 
engage in that business to a considerable ex- 
tent, very lew small lots having been previ- 
ously made by the Mormons. Subsequently 
he assisted in laying out the town of Omaha, 
and afterward broke the ground for making 
the iirst brick-yard there. He entered into a 
contract with the Ferry company to make a 
quantity of brick, and built a log cabin near 
by in which to keep the laborers. Mr. Duell 
and wife did the cooking; but Indians and 
squatters stole their lumber and other sup- 
plies to such an extent that brick-making 
was not profitable. He sold out and retired 
to this side of the river. Mr. Winchester, 
however, continued in this business from that 
period to 1887, when he also sold out and 
retired. In 1867 he made the brick foi- the 
Ogden House and several business blocks, 
manufacturing $20,000 worth that season 
and employing twenty to thirty men. He 
now lives at 420 Washington Avenue, where 
he has a tine residence. 

In his political principles he is a zealous 
and active Democrat. He has served two 
years as City Councilman, and during the 
war was a candidate for the State Lesislature, 
but then his party were more tlian ever in 
the minority. 

He was married, February 25, 1840, to 
Miss Mary Hannah Stone, an intelligent and 
well educated lady, who was born and reared 
in Brooklyn, New York. She is a daughter 
of Robert and Maria (Smith) Stone, natives 
of England. Mr. and Mrs. Winchester have 
three sons and two daughters, namely: Savil- 
lion A., of Garner Township; Americus, at 
home; Benjamin, Jr., at home; Josephine 
Marion, wife of Thomas Owen, of Garner 



Township; and Frances Amelia, now Mrs. 
Joseph Abel, also of Garner Township. 
Three children died: Orlando, at the age of 
seven months; Richard A., when seven years 
old; and a babe. Mr. and Mrs. Winchester 
celebrated their golden wedding February 
25, 1890, when live children and eleven 
grandchildren were present. 



EORGE S. DYE, of section 9, Carson 
Township, was born in Lee County, 
Iowa, April 6, 1854, the son of Henry 
and Jane (Mickelwait) Dye. The father 
was born in Miami County, Ohio, and was 
the son of John Dye, who was a native of 
Kentucky and of Scotch ancestry. Henry 
Dye is now living with his son, George S., 
and is one of the old pioneers of Iowa, who 
settled in this State in 1839. The mother 
was a native of England, and died in Lee 
County, in 1861. She was a member of the 
Baptist Church. The Mickelwaits of Mills 
County, Iowa, are brothers of hers. 

George S., our subject, resided in Lee 
County, Iowa, until in 1883, when he came 
to Pottawattamie County, and purchased 160 
acres of wild prairie land, where he now lives. 
He has since improved the same, and now 
has a fine farm of 200 acres. He also owns 
eighty acres of land in Silver Creek Town- 
ship, on section 24. He is engaged in general 
farming, stock-raising and feedii.g. Mr. 
Dye was married in Grant County, Wiscon- 
sin, November 7, 1879, to Miss Julia C. 
Kirk, of that county. She was born in St. 
Lawrence County, New York, the daughter 
of Joseph and Charlotte (Meyer) Kirk. The 
father was engaged by the United States 
Government as civil engineer and surveyor, 
and was sent to Russia to take plans of cer- 
tain portions of railroad from Petersburg to 



544 



BIOGRAPHICAL BISTORT 




Moscow. Here he met Charlotte Meyer, to 
whom he was married. During the civil 
war he was engaared in biiildino; gunboats and 
ships for the United States Government. 
Mr. and Mrs. Dye have six children, viz.: 
Harry K., Ralph B., Albert L., Olga J., 
Georgia S. and Merl. Politically Mr. Dye 
is a liberal Democrat, and is a member of 
the I. O. (X F., lodge No. 444, of Carson, 
Iowa. Mrs. Dye is a member of the Presby- 
terian Church. Mr. Dye has always taken 
an active part in educational matters. Has 
been a member of the School Board in some 
capacity ever since he has resided in the 
county. 



SILLIAM N. CONFARR, one of the 
substantial farmers of James Town- 
ship, descended from an old American 
family of German descent. His great grand- 
father participated in the war of the Revolu- 
tion, and his remote ancestors settled near 
Reading, Pennsylvania. Colonel Long, the 
great-grandfather of our subject on the ma- 
ternal side, was a colonel in the Revolutionary 
war, and received his pay in Continental 
money, which became worthless, and was used 
for papering the walls of a room in his resi- 
dence. Michael Confarr, the paternal grand- 
father of our subject, who spelled his name 
Confer, was a farmer in Berkeley County, 
Virginia, and was married to Elizabeth Gild- 
ner, who lived to the great age of ninety-six 
years They were the parents of three chil- 
dren: David, John and Catherine. John 
Confarr, a son of the above and the father of 
our subject, was born in Berkeley County, 
Virginia, and learned the blacksmith's trade. 
At the age of nineteen years he was married 
clandestinely to Eve C. Stimmel, daughter of 
Abraham Stimmel. To Mr. and Mrs. Con- 
farr were born eight children, viz.: Eliza, 



William N., Mary C, John W., Sarah L., 
Isaac T., Charles E. and Susannali C. The 
father began business as a blacksmith near 
Winchester, Virginia, where he lived until 
about 1838, when he went to Clifton, Greene 
County, Ohio, where he still resides. He 
was very prosperous, and began loaning 
money before the civil war, and is now 
worth at least $25,000. He is greatly re- 
spected by his fellow townsmen, and has been 
Treasurer of his township for twenty -five 
years, and has also held the ofBce of Town- 
ship Trustee. Politically he is a Democrat, 
llis wife is still living; they have been mar- 
ried sixty years. 

William N. Confarr, our subject, was born 
March 5, 1833, near Winchester, Frederick 
County, Virginia, and in early life learned 
the trade of l)lacksmith from his father, and 
was also a clerk in a general store. He was 
then in the mercantile business at Clifton, 
Ohio, until 1883, when he came to James 
Township, Iowa, and settled on his present 
farm of 160 acres. Politically he is a Re- 
publican. He has served in the civil war, 
and was called out when Cincinnati was 
threatened b}' the rebels. He also served in 
the National Guards for 100 days, and is now 
a member and commander of the U. S. Grant 
Post, No. 123, G. A. R., at Avoca, Iowa. 
Socially he is a member of the Mount Nebo 
Lodge and Ral)boni Chapter of Masons at 
Avoca, and both he and his wife are mem- 
bers of the Presbyterian Church, in which he 
is an elder. Mr. Confarr has served as Jus- 
tice of the Peace, and has also been a mem- 
ber of the Board of Education. He is an 
active man of wide experience and much 
practical information, and stands deservedly 
high as a citizen. The family are from old 
Colonial stock, and they should take an 
honest pride in the sterling ancestry from 
which they sprung. 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



545 



Mr. Cont'arr was married to Eliza Bick- 
inore, daughter of Sedate Bickmore, who 
was of English descent, and emigrated from 
Maine to Ohio. To Mr. and Mrs. Confarr 
have been born one son, Herbert O., who is 
a well-read young man, and lias spent four 
years at Antioch College at Yellow Springs, 
Ohio. The Biekmores own St. George's 
Island off the coast of Maine, which has 
been in the family for many generations. 

— ♦' ^ • !"l - | '««" 



ID WIN A. WOOD, one of tlie old 
soldier citizens of Pottawattamie (boun- 
ty, is from an old American family of 
Scotch descent. Thomas G. Wood, the grand- 
father of our subject, was a native of Massa- 
chusetts, and the father ot five children: 
Thomas, Henry, Gideon, Nancy and Tabor. 
Tabor Wood, a son of the above and the 
father of our subject, was born near New 
J]edford, Massachusetts, and learned tiie 
manufacture of woolen cloth, which lie fol- 
lowed in that city for many years. He was 
also a farmer and sheep-raiser. He married 
Eliza Fuller, and to them were born seven 
children: John, Samuel, Ellen (deceased at 
the age of fifty-eight years), Edwin, Francis, 
and Thomas, — all l)oin in Massachusetts ex- 
cept Thomas H., who was born in Chautau- 
qua County, New York. In 1841 the father 
moved to Jamestown, New York, and en- 
gaged in the manufacture of woolen cloth, 
where he remained seven years; next he went 
to Black Rock, now a part of Buffalo, New 
York, and here he resided three years; about 
1852 he moved to Elvira, Lorain County, 
Ohio, remaining three years; in 1854 he 
went to Brownhelm, same county, where he 
resided on a farm until 1863; next he went 
to a farm near Oberlin, and in 1887 moved 
to Oberlin, where he still resides, at the age 



of ninety years. He was born March 4, 
1800, in the town of Fairhaven. Massachu- 
setts. Mr. Wood took an active interest in 
local affairs and in the cause of education, 
and at Elvira was a member of tiie School 
Board, and when a citizen of otlier places he 
was usually a member of the same board. 
He was also a member of the Board of 
Supervisors in Elvira, and was a member of 
tlie Congi'egational Church; a man of ex- 
cellent character and morals, and exceedingly 
temperate, as his long life will show. He 
won the confidence of the people as a neigh- 
bor and friend, and was also true to his pro- 
fession. He is now retired, and is spending 
his last days in peace in the beautiful town 
of Oberlin. 

Edwin A. Wood, a son of tiie above, and 
the subject of this sketch, was born in Fair- 
haven, Massachusetts, Angnst 5, 1834, and 
received but a limited education in the public 
schools. At the age of ten years he went to 
work for his father in the woolen mills, and 
tlie remainder of his education was gained at 
odd times by diligence and liard work. Being 
very strong physically he was obliged to 
work when he was very young, to assist his 
father in the care of the family, and thus liis 
youthful years were passed. At the age of 
eighteen years he went to Ohio, where he 
remained on a farm in Lorain County until 
Lincoln made his first call for 300,000 men. 
He promptly responded, and on August 5, 
1862, on his natal day, he enlisted, leaving 
his wife with two young children. He en- 
listed in Company F, One Hundred and 
Third Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served 
two years and ten months, which period 
closed our great civil war. He was one of 
the soldiers who chased John Morgan through 
Kentucky, and was in many skirmishes with 
him. The next year he crossed the moun- 
tains with Burnside into East Tennessee and 



546 



BIOOBAPHTCAL HISTORY 



was in the battles of Knoxville, Tunnell Hill, 
Resaca, and was with that great General, who, 
with his victorious army, marched through 
the heart of the Confederacy to the sea. Mr. 
Wood was with his regiment all through the 
heavy fighting until they i-eached Atlanta, 
when they were ordered back, and reached 
Nashville in time to participate in that battle, 
and assisted in driving Hood across the 
Tennessee River and annihilated his army. 
The regiment was then ordered to Washing- 
ton, District of Columbia, and they then 
went by boat to Cincinnati, and by rail to 
Annapolis, where they took ^ steamer to 
Fort Fisher, where they were engaged in the 
capture of Wilmington. They then fought 
their way into the lieart of North Carolina, 
and durinp' the march had one continual 
skirmish. They joined Sherman at Colum- 
bia, North Carolina, which they had captured, 
and here the regiment was discharged and 
brought by boat to Baltimore, and then home 
to Ohio. Mr. Wood was promoted as Cor- 
poral at Frankfort, Kentucky, and detailed as 
clerk lor tiie Adjutant General at brigade 
headquarters, and served in this capacity 
about one year. He was in active service all 
of the time, and was but a short time sick. 
When lie entered the artny he was the per- 
fection of physical manhood, but like many 
others of those brave men who risked their 
lives for tlieir country's canse, he came from 
the army with a constitution shattered by 
exposure. 

On returning home he found that farm 
life did not agree wiih him, and he engaged 
in the mercantile business in Brownhelm, 
Ohio, which he continued three years, but 
was burned out and met with a loss of all his 
property. He then engaged in buying prod- 
uce for one and a half years, and was in New 
York city one year. In 1879 he came to 
Avoca, Iowa, and engaged in the dairy busi- 



ness, which proved verv successful. He was 
appointed Postmaster under Harrison, March 
10, 1890, which office he still holds, to the 
general acceptance of the people. Being 
naturally a man of good nature, tiiis oth'ce 
is particularly adapted to him, and due him 
as an old soldier who risked in his young 
manhood life and health in the service of his 
country. Mr. Wood is a man of quiet tastes, 
and his straightforward character has always 
given him the confidence of his fellow towns- 
men. In Ohio he held the office of Town- 
ship Assessor and Clerk, and was also a 
member of the School Board. Politically he 
is a stanch Republican, voting as he fought. 
He is Chaplain of the G. A. R., D. S. Grant 
Post, No. 123, Department of Iowa, in which 
he was one of the commanders. 

At the age of twenty- three years Mr. 
Wood married, at Brownhelm, Ohio, Miss 
Angelina Cooley, daughter of Rensselaer and 
Julia (Wells) Cooley, both descended from 
old American families who had been con- 
nected with the early history of our country 
as pioneers and soldiers since the first settle- 
ment. Mr. Cooley was born in Stockbridge, 
Massachusetts, and his wife was from Con- 
necticut. To Mr. and Mrs. Wood have been 
born ten children: Eliza F., Almira E., Julia 
M., Rensselaer T., Mercy Anna, Sarah G., 
Edwin, Thomas G., Dora B. and Frank H. 
The daughter, Mercy Anna, is deputy post- 
mistress, which position she fills with ability 
and skill. 



— |->-f^- 



IPSENRY PIEPER, one of the pioneer 
settlers and a prominent merchant of 
Minden, was born in the village of Leet, 
Ilolstein, Germany, August 26, 1848, the son 
of John N. Pieper, who was a farmer by oc- 
cupation. He was the father of six children: 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



547 



Henry, Christina, Emma, Nicholas, Herman 
and Keimer. 

Henry Pieper, onr subject, came tu Amer- 
ica in 1867, landing iu New York. He came 
directly to Davenport, Iowa, where he re- 
mained seven years engaged in farm work. 
In 1874 he bought 280 acres of wild land one 
and a half miles northwest of Minden, 
which, by hard work and industry he has 
converted into a tine, fertile farm. He re- 
mained here two years and then came to Min- 
den, where he engaged in running the first 
livery stable in this city. In 1885 he en- 
gaged in the hardware business in company 
with John P. Stuhr, and they carry a large 
stock of furniture and hardware, having a 
commodious building for the purpose. Per- 
sonally Mr. Pieper owns the building iu 
which Dr. Wyjand's drug store is located, 
and also the building in which the Bank of 
Minden is situated. He still owns his or- 
iginal 280 acres, which is now one of the 
best farms in the township. 

Mr. Pieper was Constable of Minden three 
years, and for two years was a member o" 
the School Board. In 1881 he married Abel 
Ilolhfs, and they have two children: Sophie 
and Rudolph. Mr. Pieper deserves much 
praise for his manly and straightforward 
course in life, and is a credit to the sturdy 
German-American people who have d(jne so 
much to develop this country. 



^LONZO GROUT, a prominent farmer 
of Pottawattamie County, is of Holland 
Dutch ancestry. Three brothers of that 
name came from Holland before the war of 
the Revolution, one settling in Massachusetts, 
one in New Hampshire and one in Vermont. 
The grandfather of our subject, Hezekiah 
Grout, was a soldier in the Revolutio.tary 



war, and was a farmer of Wethersfield, Wind- 
sor County, Vermont, but passed most of his 
life inKutland County, that State. He lived 
to the great age of ninety \ears. He was the 
father of seven children, viz. : Hannah, Chloe, 
Elmina, Nabia, John, Hezekiah and George. 
The father was an honest man, a patriotic 
soldier, and one who assisted in founding this 
great Republic. John Grout, the father of 
our subject, was born in Wethersfield, Ver- 
mont, and learned farming in early life. He 
was married to Polly McAllister, and they 
had nine childien, namely: Elkana, Daney, 
Alonzo, William, Henry, Rockwood, Marcia, 
Lucia and Louisa. The father lived all his 
life in Vermont, and died at the age of sixty 
years. He was a soldier in the M'ar of 1812, 
and was an industrious and hard-working 
man. 

Alonzo Grout, a son of the above and the 
subject of this sketch, was born April 10, 
1829, in Wethersfield, Vermont, and learned 
the mason's trade in early life. In 1849 he 
came to Kane County, Illinois, and worked 
at his trade in Aurora for ten years. He 
then moved to De Kalb County, Illinois, 
where he remained four years, and next set- 
tled on a farm in Will County, where he 
lived fourteen years. In 1876 he came to 
Pottawattamie County and settled on his 
present farm of 250 acres, where he has made 
many good improvements. The farm is in a 
good condition, showing the effects of careful 
husbandry. Mr. Grout has always held the 
respect of his fellow-citizens, and in Will 
County held the oSice of Assessor, and in 
Knox Township, this county, has been Trustee, 
Supervisor and School Director several times. 
In his political opinions he is a Republican. 

He was married in Aurora, Illinois, to 
Emeline Kice, daughter of Layton and Man- 
dana (Waters) Rice. The fatiier came from 
Vermont, and settled near Aurora. Mrs. 



548 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY 



Grout was born in Rutland County, Vermont, 
December 26, 1831. Her great-grandfather, 
Joshua Vallet, was a soldier in the Revolu- 
tionary war. To Mr. and Mrs. Grout have 
been born eleven children, namely: Addie 
E.. Clara C, deceased at thirty two years of 
age; Fred A., Edgar R., deceased in infancy; 
Cora G., who died at the age of two years; 
Lizzie M., John D., Maude E., Merton B., 
Harry E. and Roy, deceased in infancy. 
There were eleven brothers and sisters in Mrs. 
Grout's family, viz.: Asahel, Emeline, 
Philander, John, Isaac, Alphonso. Mary, Ed- 
gar, Albert, Eugene and Emigene. Mr. 
Grout had three brothers in the civil war: 
Henry, William and Rockwood. Henry was 
in the Fifty-seventh Illinois, and was 
wounded at the battle of Pittsburg Landing, 
the ball passing into his stomach and be- 
ing evacuated from his bowels, and he is still 
living. Rockwood was in a Vermont regi- 
ment. Mrs. Grout had two brothers in the 
war: Isaac and Alpiionso. The former was in 
the Thirty-sixth Illinois, held the office of 
Orderly, and served all through the struggle. 
He was in the battles of Pea Ridge, Shiloh 
and many otliers. Alphonso was also in an 
Illinois regiment, and was killed in his first 
battle— Vicksburg, May 16 and 17, 1863. 



— l-^-^l'— — 

ROBERT M. WHITE is one of the promi- 
nent pioneers of Valley Township. His 
grandfather, Nathaniel White, was a 
farmer in Washington County, Pennsylvania, 
and of English descent. He lived to the 
great age of eighty years. He was married 
to Mary Little, and they had nine children, 
viz.: Nicholas, David, John, Nathaniel, 
Samuel, James, Mary A., Jane and Eliza, all 
born in Washington County. The father 
moved tu Lawrence (^uinty, where he owned 



a farm of 200 acres, and where he died. He 
was a member of the United Presbyterian 
Church, and was a man of industrious habits 
and integrity of character. Samuel Wiiite, 
his son, and the father of our subject, was 
born on the farm in Washington County, in 
1806, and was reared to the life of a farmer. 
He married Mary Leslie, in Lawrence County, 
where he had gone with his father when a 
boy. They were the parents of seven chil- 
dren, namely: Nathaniel, Nancy A., Mar- 
garet, Robert, Samuel, Maria and Eliza — all 
born in Lawrence County. The father owned 
a farm in that county, where he died at the 
age of seventy- three years. Both he and his 
wife were members of the United Presby- 
terian Church, and the father was a conjfort- 
able farmer, an honorable man, and enjoyed 
the respect of his fellow-citizens. His son 
Samuel was a soldier in our great civil war, 
belonging to the First Pennsylvania Volun- 
teer Artillery, was in several battles, and iiad 
the drum of one ear destroyed by the dis- 
charge of the artillery. 

Robert M., the subject of this sketch, was 
also born in Lawrence County, December 7, 
1833, and, like his father before hira, was 
reared to farm life. At the age of nineteen 
he left home, and began work for himself. 
At the age of twenty-one, in 1854, he went 
to Mercer County, Illinois, where he remained 
five and a half years. In 1860 he went to 
Brown County, Kansas, but returned to Iowa 
the same year, and settled in Valley Town- 
ship, Pottawattamie County, on his present 
farm. Iowa was then a new country, and 
Valley Township had but few settlers. His 
land was wild, but by dint of energy and 
perseverance he has converted it into a fine 
fertile farm, to which he has added until 
he now has 480 acres. He is a prominent 
citizen of this county, and a pioneer, and as 
such his name will go down to posterity in 



OP POTTAWATTAMIE COUINTT. 



549 



the annals of the State of Iowa. He lias 
given each of his three sons 160 acres of land. 
He was married in Mercer County, Illi- 
nois, to Martha Clark, daughter of Charles 
and Sarah Clark. The father was a native 
of Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, and set- 
tled in Mercer County, Illinois, in 1850. 
He came to Pottawattamie County, Iowa, in 
1860, and died in 1886, at the advanced age 
of eighty-one years. He was a member of 
the Presbyterian Church, as was also his wife, 
but in Iowa they joined the Baptist Church. 
Fie was an industrious man, and well known 
to the early settlers. Mr. and Mrs. Clark 
were the parents of six children, viz.: Uriah, 
William, Samuel, Margaret, Martha and 
Catherine. Mr. and Mrs. White have had 
six children: Charles, Warren, Uriah, Leslie, 
Edmond, and one who died when yoniig. 
Warren was a graduate of the State Univer- 
sity, and was a lawyer by profession, but 
while at his home, and while assisting in 
the harvest field, he was instantly killed by 
lightning. He was unmarried, but was a 
young man of great promise. His death 
was H severe blow to his parents and friends. 
Socially Mr. White is an Odd Fellow, and 
politically a Republican. He was Township 
Trustee seven years and Clerk sixteen years. 
He stands high in his county as a man of 
integrity and good judgment, and his honor 
is un impeached. 



^LEXANDER KENEDY, an enterpris- 
ing and well-known citizen of Center 
Township, Pottawattamie County, Iowa, 
has resided on a farm in section 1 since 1880. 
lie was born in Huntingdon County. 
Pennsylvania, February 5, 1819. His father, 
Gilbert Kenedy, was born in Belfast, County 
Down, Ireland, son of John Kenedy. Gilbert 



Kenedy was only two years old when his par- 
ents came to America and settled in Franklin 
County, Pennsylvania. John Kenedj' was a 
soldier in the Revolutionary war, and fought 
bravely all through that struggle for his 
adopted country. 

Gilbert Kenedy married Jane Applebee, 
who was born on the ocean, of Scotch-Irish 
parents. They reared six sons and three 
daughters, Alexander being the youngest 
sou. The father died at Shade Gap, Hun- 
tingdon County, Pennsylvania, at the age of 
eighty-five years; and the mother died in 
Pike County, Illinois, when pa^t eighty. Mr. 
Kenedy followed the vocation of a farmer 
all his life. He was in politics a Whig, and 
in religion a Presbyterian. 

Alexander grew to manhood on a farm in 
Pennsylvania, receiving a somewhat limited 
education. Arriving at the age of manhood, 
he was married, November 3, 1852, to Jane 
Gillis, who was born in Bedford County, near 
the Fulton County line, Pennsylvania. Her 
father, Daniel Gillis, was born in Glasgow, 
Scotland, and when a young man he came to 
America and settled in Pennsylvania. Her 
mother was also a native of Scotland, her 
maiden name having been Margaret Carlisle. 
Daniel Gillis and wife passed the remainder 
of their lives in Fulton County, Pennsylva- 
nia, the former living until lie passed the 
seventieth mile-post, and the latter reaching 
the advanced age of eighty-eight years. Tiiey 
reared nine children, three sons and six 
daughters. Two of the sons, David Andrew 
and John McCoy, were soldiers in the late 
war, the latter dying of disease contracted 
while in the service. Daniel Gillis was a 
farmer all his life; was a Whig and a Pres- 
byterian. 

Mr. Kenedy resided in Pennsylvania until 
1856, when the family moved to Pike Coun- 
ty, Illinois, where they lived six years. He 



550 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTOBF 



also spent some time in other portions of 
Illinois. In 1874 they took up their abode 
in Chariton County, Missouri, where they 
re;nained until 1880. In that year, as before 
stated, he came to Pottawattamie County and 
settled on his present farm. Mr. and Mrs. 
Kenedy have eight children: John Calvin, 
at the homestead; Mary Rebecca, wife of J. 
L. Phillips, Center Township, Pottawattamie 
County, has seven children; Sarah Emma, 
wife of TiiomasB. Phillips, of Wright Town- 
ship, same county, also has seven children; 
Margaret Jane, at home; James Chalmers, 
who is married and has two children, resides 
in Layton Townsiiip, this county; Newton 
Daniel is married, has one child, and lives in 
"Wright Township; Virginia Adeline, wife of 
Daniel P. McLaiu; and Luella P., wife of 
S. J. Smith, of Lincoln Township, has two 
children. 

Our subject was rocked in an Abolitionist 
cradle, and is now a Kepublican. He is a 
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
as also is his wife. Tiiey have reared their 
children in such a manner that they are 
fitted to occupy worthy and respected posi- 
tions in society. Although over seventy 
years of age Mr. Kenedy is well preserved. 
He has traveled extensively, is well in- 
formed on general topics, and is one of those 
frank and cordial gentlemen with whom it is 
a pleasure to meet. By all who know him 
lie is regarded as an honored and esteemed 
citizen. 

■■I » iy « S < i t « x i « -i " 



, BEL A. RANDALL, a prominent farmer 
of Knox Township, came from Virginia 
in 1859, and settled at Newton, Iowa. 
His father came with his family the same 
year, and settled on 160 acres at Newton 
and 120 at Highland Grove. Jacob Randall, 



the grandfather of our subject, was a farmer 
of Hardy County, West Virginia, all his life, 
dying at the age of eighty-one years. He 
was a member of the Methodist Church, and 
was the father of twelve children: Catherine, 
Ruth, Elizabeth, Margaret, Rebecca, Jemi- 
ma, Asenath, Amelia, Abel, Silas, Mary and 
Tabitha. Abel Randall was born in Hardy 
County, West Virginia, in October, 1803, 
and learned farming and blacksmithing in 
early life. He was married in his native 
county, to Mary Gailey, of Irish descent, 
and they had seven children: Jacob Y., de- 
ceased; George W., deceased; Asenath T., 
Mary R., Isaac D., deceased, and Margaret 
A. After marriage Mr. Randall settled on 
the old homestead, where he remained until 
1859, and where he followed blacksmithincr 
part of the time. Both he and his wife were 
members of the Methodist Church, but later 
in life joined the United Brethren Ciiurch, 
in which the former was a local preacher, 
class-leader and steward. In West Virginia 
he held the office of Justice of the Peace for 
many years. He died at the age of seventy- 
seven years, having lived from 1864 to 1868 
in Wasiiington County, Io«?a. He was a 
good, substantial farmer, a law-abiding citi- 
zen, and a man of integrity of character. 

Abel A. Randall, our subject, was born in 
Hardy County, West Virginia, July 3, 1838, 
and was twenty-one years of age when he 
came with his father to Iowa. After his 
marriage he settled one-half of a mile east of 
Newto :, where he remained until 1879. 
In that year he moved to his present farm of 
eighty acres. He lived in Washington 
County four years before his marriage, an J 
served as Township Trustee. In his political 
principles he is a Republican. 

Mr. Randall was married February 22, 
1870, to Emma Sinclair, daughter of James 
A. and Martha (Adkisson) Sinclair. The 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



551 



fatlier settled ia Newton, Pottawattamie 
County, ill 1854, and was the father of six 
children: Cora A., Emma M., James L., Ada 
A., Frank E. and Foy. The father has been 
Justice of the Peace, Supervisor and Town- 
ship Clerk, and also School Clerk of his 
connty. Both he and liis wife are members 
of the United Brethren Church, in which he 
is class-leader, steward and trustee. He is 
still living, at the ago of nearly sixty years. 
Mr. and Mrs. Randall are the parents of five 
children, only two of whom survived: EtMe 
L. and James Edward. 

— tnt .1.1?' ■ ?l i? 

tUCIUS WELLS is of the firm of Deere, 
Wells & Co., wholesale dealers in agri- 
cultural implements, wagons, and vehi- 
cles, being the leading and the largest 
house cf tlie kind in the Northwest, and one 
of the largest in the whole country, and as 
such deserves special notice here. Tiie tirm 
is made up of Deere & Co. and the Moliue 
Wagon Company, both of Moline, Illinois, 
and Mr. Wells, who is resident partner. The 
former company are proprietors of the John 
Deere Plow Works, which were founded by 
John Deere in 1847, and is the largest steel 
plow works in the world. John Deere was 
the j)ioneer of steel plow-makers, hammering 
the first steel plow out of saw steel, and was 
the founder of the Grand De Tour Plow 
Works, which establishment he left when 
locating at Moline. The Moline Wagon Com- 
pany have one of the largest factories of the 
kind in the country. The house of Deere, 
Wells & Co. was establislied November 1, 
1881, and was the pioneer of the many es- 
tablishments of the kind whose aggregate 
business at this time makes Council Bluffs 
the second largest implement center in the 
Northwest. 

40 



Mr. WelLs was born February 9, 1845, 
near Moline, Illinois, and spent his early 
days on the farm. After receiving a com- 
mon-school education he attended Lombard 
University at Galesburg, Illinois, taking an 
elective course. Upon leaving that institu- 
tion he took a position with Deere & Co. and 
continued with them for a period of fourteen 
years, contributing his mite toward building 
up that great business, and during that time 
saw the establishment double its capacity no 
less than tliree times. He has been a resi- 
dent of Council Bluffs since the opening of 
the house of Deere, Wells & Co. in 1881, 
and to his untiring energy and business man- 
agement is due the success of the business. 

Mr. Wells is known in the West as an act- 
ive business man who l>elieves that "what- 
ever is worth doing at all is worth doincr 
well," and acts upon that principle*. 

His ancestors on his father's side were 
English, who left the old country in the lat- 
ter part of the seventeenth century and set- 
tled in Connecticut. His ancestors on his 
mother's side were Scotch-English and settled 
in New England before the Revolutionary 
war. His great-grandfathers on both sides 
were soldiers under George Washington. 
His father, whose name also was Lucius 
Wells, was born in Windham County, Ver- 
mont, in 1803, and his mother in Genesee 
County, New York, in 1808, they both em- 
igrating with their parents to Wayne County, 
Illinois, in 1823, and were married there in 
1825. They soon after removed to northern 
Illinois, locating in what is now Rock Island 
County, and in that removal passed nearly 
the entire length of the State of Illinois 
through a country inhabited only by wild 
animals and Indians. His father died at the 
homestead in Eock Island County, in 1875, 
after celebrating their golden wedding. His 
mother is at this writing (March, 1891), 



552 



BIOOEAPHICAL HISTORY 



enjoying good health at the age of eighty- 
three. 

Mr. Wells was married March 26, 1868, 
to Miss Martha A. Wadsworth, of Di.xon, 
Illinois, whose parents came from Maryland 
and were of German ancestry. Mr. and Mrs. 
Wells have two daughters: Miss Ennice M. 
aged twenty years, and Cherrie, aged seven 
years. 

— ,^, g ,. ; ,. : . g -^ 



fUIIN A. WOLF, one of the enterprising 
and representative citizens of Washing- 
ton Township, came to this county in 
the spring of 1881, where he has since re- 
sided. Lie came from Mills County, Iowa, 
where he had lived several years. He was 
born in Perry County, Ohio, May 19, 1850. 
a son of Philip Wolf, a native of Pennsyl- 
vania; the Wolfs were of Pennsylvania Dutch 
ancestry. The mother of our subject was 
Mary (Lewis) Wolf, who was born in Perry 
County, Ohio, and her family were of an old 
American family of New England. Philip 
Wolf came to this county in 1887, where he 
resided until his death in June, 1889, at the 
age of sixty-three years. He was a farmer 
by occupation, and politically a Democrat. 
In religion he was connected with the 
Lutheran Church for several years. The 
mother died in Lucas County, Iowa, near 
Chariton, in 1865. The parents reared tive 
children. John A. was about two years of 
age when his parents moved to Van Buren 
County, Iowa, where they were early settlers. 
He was reared in southern and western Iowa, 
and at the age of seventeen years he obtained 
employment with a well-known stockman, 
J. M. Strand. He was in his employ near 
Dallas, Marion County, Iowa, one year, and 
then came with him to Malvern, Mills 
County, in 1869, and whs in his employ in 



that county eight or nine years. He then 
rented land for two or three years, and in 
1881 bought eighty acres of his present 
farm, paying $10 per acre. Later he bought 
forty acres more, and one year later added 
forty acres still more, and he now owns 160 
acres, all under a good state of cultivation. 
Besides his general farming, he is now feed- 
ing twenty-one head of cattle and 115 head 
of swine. 

Mr. Wolf was married at Red Oak, Iowa, 
November 30, 1876, to Miss Henrietta Mil- 
ler, a daughter of John and Ann (Strand) 
Miller. The mother is a sister of J. M. 
Strand, a prominent stockman of Mills 
County, Iowa. Mrs. Wolf was reared mostly 
in Henderson County, Illinois, and was edu- 
cated in Illinois. Mr. and Mi-s. Wolf have 
three sons: Ira Lewis, Philip Miller and 
Eugene Earl. Politically Mr. Wolf is a Dem- 
ocrat, but has never aspired to public office. 
He is a member of the Evangelical Church, 
a class-leader in the same, has served as super- 
intendent of the Sabbath-school, and is at the 
present a teacher. Mrs. Wolf is also a worthy 
member in the same. Mr. Wolf is yet in 
the prime of life, frank and cordial in his 
manner, and is honorable in all his business 
dealings. He is numbered politically, socially 
and financially among the representttive citi- 
zens of ills neighborhood. 



ff K. MURCHISON is one of the thrifty 
1 Scotchmen who left his native land 
* and sought a home in the United 
States. He was born at Lochcarron, Ros- 
shire, in the Highlands of Scotland, in Au- 
gust, 1846, son of Kenneth and Christy 
(McLeod) Murchison, both natives of that 
place. The father died in Scotland, at the 
age of tifty-six years, and the mother is still 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



533 



living there, aged sixty-five. Of their tliree 
sons and two daughters the subject of tiiis 
sketch is the oldest. He was reared on a 
farm and educated in his native land. At the 
age of twentj-one he bade good-bye to home 
and friends and set sail from Grlaso-ow for New 
York. After traveling over Ohio and Ken- 
tucky he went to Stark County, Illinois, where 
he worked by tlie month for two years. Then 
he went to Henry County, same State, where 
he rented land near Kewanee for live years. 
In August, 1869, while in Stark County, 
Mr. Murchison married Ann McKinzie, also 
a native of Rosshire, Scotland, the dangliter 
of Scottish parents, John and Eliza McKin- 
zie. Mr. Murchison then made his home in 
Elmira, Stark County, until 1883, when he 
came to Iowa and settled in Pottawattamie 
County. He bought 120 acres of improved 
land in section 17, Waveland Township. h\ 
1887 he purchased eighty acres more, now 
owning 200 acres in one body. He has a 
comfortable frame house, grove and orchard, 
stable, feed yards, granary, cribs, etc. The 
farm is well improved and everything about 
the premises has a look of prosperity. 

Mr. and Mrs. Murchison have five chil- 
dren: Mary, Kenneth, Willina, John Alex- 
ander and Christena. Two of their children, 
Lizzie and a babe, are deceased. In politics 
Mr. Murchison is a Republican. He is a 
Presbyterian, in which faith he was reared. 
His intelligence combined with his honesty 
and industry has brought prosperity to him 
and won for him the confidence and respect 
of his fellow citizens. 



t RIG AN STILLINGS, one of the pio- 
^J neer settlers of Layton Township, was 
born in Illinois, February 18, 1839, the 
son of Josiah J. Stillings, who was of Ger- 



man descent. His father died in Baltimore, 
Maryland, when Josiah was but three years 
of age, and his mother died when he was but 
six years old, and he was brought up on a 
farm by his uncle, Abraham Swartz, a farmer 
of Knox County, Illinois. When about sev- 
enteen years of age he left his uncle and 
went to Galena, wliere he worked in the lead 
mines. He afterward returned to Knox 
County, and was married to Lucy A. Coy, 
daughter of Benjamin Coy, a native of the 
Eastern states, and who was a pioneer of Ken- 
tucky. He was a great hunter and a fast 
runner, and could outrun his Indian com- 
panions. He married a Welsh lady in Ken- 
tucky, and here Lucy, the wife of Josiah 
Stillings, was born. Her family settled in 
Iowa, where they were among the early 
pioneers. To Mr. and Mrs. Josiah Stillings 
were born eiglit children: Arena A., Mary 
A., Origan A., Eliza J., Sarah E., Martha E., 
James B. P., Emeline and one who died in 
infancy. The father was a miller in Illinois 
for some years, and in 1844 came to Iowa, 
settling in Washington County, where he 
ran a mill for four years. He then moved 
two and a half miles northwest, where he 
built and ran a milL He then went into a 
grocery store and also kept a hotel at Was- 
sonville, one of the oldest towns in Iowa. He 
also owned a small farm, where he died in 
1886, at the age of seventy-seven years. He 
was in the Black Hawk war when a young 
man; held the office of Constable twenty-four 
years in Iowa — seventeen consecutive years; 
and was a member of the Methodist Church; 
Mrs. Stillings was a member of the Baptist 
Church. 

O. A. Stillings, our subject, was reared to 
farm life, and when five years of age he came 
with his father to Iowa, and was early accus- 
tomed to the vicissitudes of pioneer life, and 
well remembers seeing the Indians buy 



554 



BIOORAPHICAL HISTORT 



goods of his father, who could talk and un- 
derstand some of their language. He re- 
mained at home until he was twenty-one 
years of age when, in 1861, he enlisted in 
Company F, First Iowa Volunteer Cavalry, 
and served one year in Missouri. He was 
in the battle of Black Water, where 1,300 
Confederates were captured, and he was also 
in the battle at Silver Creek, where a ball 
struck the visor of his cap. He was honor- 
ably discharged at Sedalia, Missouri. Return- 
ing home he engaged in farming; then went 
to Illinois; thence to Kansas, where he drove 
a Government team to Salt Lake, Utah; next 
he went to Virginia City, Montana, where he 
remained ihrough the winter of 1863-'64, and 
was a member of the celebrated committee 
which established law and order in Montana, 
and who executed a great many desperadoes. 
The next August Mr. Stillings returned to 
Iowa, and in 1867 was married to Elizabeth 
Phillips, daughter of George and Elizabeth 
(Dean) Phillips, and they have five children: 
Bertha, Frank, Wilber, Frederick, and one 
who died in infancy. The mother died, and 
Mr. Stillings married Hortense Van Meter, 
in 1886, during which year he came to Pot- 
tawattamie County and bought his present 
farm of eighty acres, but which he has since 
converted into a tine farm of 120 acres. He 
is a member of Methodist Episcopal the 
Church, in which he is a class-leader and 
steward. Mrs. Stillings is h, member of the 
Christian Church. Politically he is a Re- 
publican, voting first for Abraham Lincoln. 
He is a member of the G. A. R. Post, and is 
a man who stands deservedly high in his 
township as a straiglitforward and honorable 
man. He was injured in the United States 
service, and is now drawing a pension from 
the Government. Mrs. Stillings was born 
in Johnson County, Iowa, the daughter of 
Elias B. Howell, who was born in Ohio, and 



was an early settler of Johnron County. He 
was married to Rachel Pre^toll, and they 
have had seven children: Mattie, Lorena, 
Hortense, Cora J., Fadilla, Ralph, and one 
who died when young. Both Mr. and Mrs. 
Howell are members of the Ciiristian Church, 
in which he has for many years been a dea- 
con and class-leader. The Howell family 
originated in New Jersey. Elias Howell, 
the father of the above, was an old pioneer 
of Licking County, Ohio, and was a member 
of Congress from that State in the time of 
William H. Harrison, and was also promi- 
nent in the Log Cabin and Hard Cider cam- 
paign. He was Sheriff of Licking County 
for many years, was the proprietor of the 
silk interest in Ohio, was married three times 
and was the father of twelve children. His 
son, James B. Howell, was United St.ttes 
Senator from Iowa. 



G. BRYANT, Mayor of Carson, Jus- 
tice of the Peace, agent for the Chi- 
" cago, Burlington & Quincy and the 
Chicao-o, Kock Island & Pacific railroads and 
also express agent, was born in Parke County, 
Indiana, November 3, 1863, the son of S. B. 
J. and Martha (Strother) Bryant. The father 
is now in Atlantic, Iowa, and general agent 
for an insurance business, and is a respected 
citizen of the town. T. G. Bryant was reared 
in Champaign County, Illinois, receiving his 
education there and in Indianapolis, and 
when sixteen years of age they came to Iowa. 
In 1882 he was made operator at Neola, 
Iowa, and later at Anita, Iowa. In 1883 he 
was stationed at Exira, Iowa, where he re- 
mained for about three years, and was then 
promoted to the agency of this town, tilling 
his position well, and gaining the good will 
of the railroad officials. Politically Mr. 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



555 



Bryant is a Republican, and was elected 
Mayor of Carson in 1890, and is serving to 
the best advantage of himself and party. He 
is interested in tducational matters and 
served on the School Board for two or three 
years. He is a member of I. O. O. F. Lodge. 
No. 444, and is Secretary of the same, and is 
also Secretary of the Modern Woodmen, 
Botna Lodge, No. 172. 

Mr. Bryant was married November 4,1886, 
at Exira, Iowa, to Miss Mary Houston, the 
daughter of A. B. Houston, a well-known 
and prominent citiz ;n of that town. They 
have had two children: Clarence Jackson, 
who died July 22, 1890, and Hazel. Mr. 
and Mrs. Bryant are members of the Pres- 
byterian Church. Mr. Bryant, although a 
young man, has gained a position, S(jcially, 
politically and financially among the best 
citizens of Carson. 




H. GRAFF, the proprietor of the 
City Drug Store at Carson, and one 
[' of the leadiuij; business men of the 
town, has been in business in Carson since 
1880, and carries a complete line of drugs, 
patent medicines, stationery, and also gives 
part of his time to the jewelry trade, carry- 
ing a full line of jewelry. He is a registered 
pharmacist, and has had many years of ex- 
perience in the business. His store is 22 x 
65 feet, which was built in 1889, his first 
store having been burned to the ground. 
Mr. Graft' is a native of Fort Madison, Lee 
County, Iowa, was born December 29, 1853, 
the son of F. and Maria (Becker) Graff, the 
former a native of Germany and the latter of 
St. Louis, Missouri. He was reared in Fort 
Madison, Iowa, and Hancock County, Illi- 
nois, and when still a youth spent one year 
n the music store at Burlington, Iowa. In 



1875 he went to Sigournej', Iowa, and was in 
the drug business with Cook & Franken un- 
til 1879, wa3a \\^ spjut ons year in Counoi 
Bluffs, with Dr. C. Deetken, a druggist. In 
1880 he came to Carson, which he has since 
made his home. 

Mr, Graff was married in 1879, at Sigour- 
ney, to Miss Sophronia M. Muzzy, of Clin- 
ton, Iowa, and a daughter of Milton Muzzy. 
They have one daughter — Lulu A. Politi- 
cally Mr. Graff is a Democrat. In 1881-'82 he 
served as Councilman; was City Recorder one 
year and Mayor one year. He was Postmas- 
ter four years under Grover Cleveland's ad- 
ministration, and has been on the School 
Board three years, serving with credit to 
himself and friends. He is a member of the 
Masonic order of Coral Lodge No. 430, and 
was made a Mason in 1882. He was made 
Master of the Carson lodge and served two 
and a half years, but resigned. Mr. and Mrs. 
Graff are members of the Presbyterian 
Church, and Mrs. Graff was a graduate of 
the Iowa City College, and has a life certifi- 
cate. She has taught twelve or fifteen terms, 
and was principal of the Carson school four 
terms. Mr. GraflE is a good business man, 
and is interested in the welfare of the town. 



,OBERT F. WALKER, a prominent 
farmer of Pattawattamie County, de- 
scended from an old American family 
of English origin. His grandfather, Martin 
Walker, was from Maryland, and settled in 
Harrison County, Ohio, where he was among 
the early settlers. His son, Ephraira Walker, 
was married in that State, to Mary Ann 
Rearadon, and they were the parents of four 
children, who lived to maturity: John, Jessie, 
Martin and Robert F. The father was a 
mason and bricklayer by trade, and died in 



BIOGBAFHIGAL UlbTORY 



Harrison County, Ohio, at the age of sixty- 
five years. Both he and his wife were mem- 
bers of the Methudist Episcopal Church. 
His first wife died, and he was married to 
Mary LaPort, and they had three children: 
Wiliiaiu, Ephraiin and Mary. Mr. Walker 
was a well-to-do man, and had three sous in 
our great civil war: Jesse, in Company I, 
Seventeenth Illinois lufantry, who was in 
the battles of Fort Donelson and Sliiloh and 
many others. He served all through the war, 
and was re-enlisted as a veteran. Martin was 
in Company E, Third Iowa Yolunteer In- 
fantry, and died at Raleigh, Missouri, after a 
service of six months. The father was a 
stanch Union man. 

Robert F. Walker, the subject of this 
sketch, was born in Cadiz, Ohio, February 
16, 1841, and learned the trade of brick- 
laying and plastering in early life. In 1862, 
at the age of twenty-one years he enlisted in 
Company C, Ninety-eighth Ohio Volunteer 
Infantry, and served until June 1, 1865, or 
until the close of the war. He was in the 
battles ot Perryville, Kentucky, Chattanooga, 
Chickamauga, Jonesborough, Evansborough, 
Bentonville, Kenesaw Mountain, and was 
with Sherman at Atlanta and through to the 
sea, and was also in a great many skirmishes. 
He was present at the great return march to 
AVashington, and was mustered out at that 
place June 1, and honorably discharged at 
Cleveland, Ohio, June 10, 1865. 

After his marriage, in 1865, Mr. Walker 
came with his wife to Big Grrove (now called 
Oakland), where he remained until the fall 
of 1867. In 1868 he settled on 160 acres of 
wild land in this county, which, assisted by 
his faithful wife, he converted into a fine 
farm. He takes an active interest in the 
schools of his district. He is a member ot 
the G. A. R., William Layton Post, Oakland. 
Mr. Walker is one of tiie pioneers of this 



part of Pottawattamie County. When he 
came to his farm the township was but 
thinly settled, and the Indians visited him 
several times, and often took dinner with 
him. As a citizen he has done his share in 
building up his township and county, and as 
a pioneer he stands high, and is well-known 
for honesty and industry. 

May 8, 1866, he was married to Susan La 
Port, daughter of John L. and Melinda (Har- 
rison) LaPort. The father was of French de- 
scent, and was the grandson of Ephraim La 
Port, who came from France before the 
Revolutionary war and settled in Ohio. His 
son, Abraham LaPort, the grandfather of 
Mrs. Walker, participated in the war of the 
Revolution, and also that of 1812. He was 
a farmer of Harrison County, Ohio, and was 
the father of ten children, viz.: Bazer E., 
Abraham, Isaac, Susan, Barbara E., Ephraim, 
John, Samuel, William and Charles. The 
father lived to the great age of ninety-five 
years, and his father lived to be over ninety 
years old. Mr. LaPort was a member of 
the Christian Church, and was a substantial 
farmer. He was a man of sterling character, 
and was much respected by the old pioneers. 
He was familiar with the Indians, and used 
often to accompany them on their hunting 
expeditions. His sons were soldiers in the 
war of 1812. John L. LaPort, the father of 
Mrs. Walker, was a carpenter of Logan 
County, Ohio, and was married in that State 
to Melinda Harrison, daughter of Ephraim 
Harrison, a full cousin of General Harrison, 
of Tippecanoe fame. They were the parents 
of ten children, namely: Margaret, Mary, 
Charles, Frank, Eleanor, Emily, Jane and 
Eliza (twins). Miller and Susan. The father 
moved to Knightstown, Hancock County, In- 
diana, where he lived until his death, which 
occurred at the age of sixty years. Both he 
and his wife were members of the Christian 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



557 



Clinrcli, in which he was an elder foi- many 
years. He was much respected by his fellow- 
townsmen, and served as Justice of the 
Peace for many years. Mr. and Mrs. Walker 
have had five children, viz.: Mabel, now the 
wife of Emerson Fletciier, a farmer of Valley 
Township; Martin, who died at the age of 
nineteen; Ephraim, Eva, June, and an 
adopted son, named Claudie. Mrs. Walker 
is a member of the Christian Church, 

— — ^>.:-l— — 




j^^^j. IN FIELD S. PACKARD, one of 
I tiie first merchants of Walnut, Iowa, 
has been identified with the business 
interests of this thriving town since its in- 
fancy. When he came to Walnut in 1872 it 
eon tai tied but eleven houses, and Oscar F. 
Lodge was the only merchant. Mr. Packard 
is descended from an old American family 
from Massachusetts. Gahret Packard, his 
grandfather, was born in Vermont November 
15, 1775, and died November 20, 1820. He 
married Elmira Brittan in October, 1797, 
and she died May 15, 1830. They^migrated 
to Ohio in an early day, settling in Mahon- 
ing County. He was a soldier in the war 
of 1812, and died from wounds contracted in 
that struggle. He was the father of eleven 
children, — -of whom the living are: Esther, 
Charlotte, Thomas, John, Asby D. and G-ah- 
ret H. Asby D. Packard, the father of our 
subject, was born July 22, 1816, on his 
father's farm in Mahoning County, Ohio, 
and when a young man learned the trade of 
milling. In 1838, at the age of twenty-two, 
he came to Iowa and took up a claim in 
Johnson County, and being the first settler 
ill HardinTownship, upon which he remained 
until he obtained Government title. He 
then went back to Ohio on foot, having been 
on his claim two years, made a visit, and then 



returned. When he first catne through from 
Ohio he rode a pony, and at Chicago he was 
offered forty acres of land now in the heart 
of the city. April 29, 1845, he married 
Nancy (Akins) Montgotnery, daughter of 
James and Martha Montgomery, born near 
Dublin, Ireland. Her father, one of the early 
settlers of Iowa from Pittsburg, Pennsylva- 
nia, died August 26, 1874. Mr. and Mrs. 
Packard had nine children, eight of whom 
lived to maturity: Winfield S., Nancy A., 
Charlotte, Helen A., Ida, Amelia A. and 
Asby D. The father lived on his farm all 
his life, and died at the age of seventy-one 
years. He owned a fine farm of 425 acres in 
Johnson County, which is still in possession 
of the family. He laid out the town of 
Windham in the center of his farm. Mr. 
Packard served as Justice of the Peace for 
many years, and was an industrious and law- 
abiding citizen. The early pioneers of Iowa 
were men of strong constitutions and able to 
endure the hardships of pioneer life. They 
had strong minds as well as bodies, and were 
capable of self-government, every locality 
governing itself. Mr. Packard voted at forty 
elections, and took an active part in all affairs 
relating to local government. Built a water 
saw-mill in 1845, and in 1855 and '56 built 
a steam grist and saw mill, which was a great 
help to the early settlers. These mills were 
burnt down in 1864. 

Winfield S. Packard, the subject of this 
sketch, was born on the old homestead in 
Johnson County, Iowa, March 19, 1847, and 
gained the elements of his education in a log 
cabin, and also lived in a cabin constructed 
in the same manner. He early learned to 
work on the farm and in his father's saw and 
grist mill, and grew up with that best of aids 
to a sound constitution, a good character. 
He remained with his father until he was 
twenty-four years of age. In March, 1872, 



5o8 



BIOGllAPITICAL UISTORT 



he moved to Walnut and engajJied in tlie mer- 
cantile business, in which he continued until 
1881, when he was burned out. He then 
traveled for a grocery house in Chicago, and 
then, in 1884, went into the real-estate and 
insurance business, which he has since con- 
tinued; he also owns a livery stable. Mr. 
Packard has been a member of the Council 
six years, Township Clerk six years, and Jus- 
tice of the Peace two years. Politically he 
is a Republican, and is a man who stands 
high for good, upright moral character, and 
is well known to the citizens of this part of 
the country. 

December 8, 1871, Mr. Packard was mar- 
ried to Miss Emily J. Myers, daughter of 
Peter and JSIancy (Watson) Myers. The 
father was an old settler of Iowa County, a 
native of Pennsylvania and of German de- 
scent. He moved from Pennsylvania to Ohio, 
where he was a Senator from Columbus. He 
was a substantial farmer, and the father of 
fifteen children: Mary, Elizabetli, Maria A., 
D. and Reside W., twins; William H., Caro- 
line M., Jennie, Mack, Columbia, Ella, Syl- 
vester, Samuel P., and one who died in 
infancy. To Mr. and Mrs. Packard have 
been born three children; Ida M., deceased 
in infancy: Cordie M. and Grade F. 



■ ;n; « 



SELIX N. LESLIE, a substantial fanner 
of Knox Township, was born in Alle- 
gheny County, Pennsylvania, in 1842, 
the son of Hugh Leslie, a native of the same 
State, and of Scotch-Irish descent. His 
great-grandfather came to America, and was 
a soldier in the Revolutionary war, after 
which he settled in Pennsylvania. Hugii 
Leslie married Rebecca Negley, a native of 
that State and of German descent. In 1871 
our subject bought forty acres of land, a part 



of his present farm, to which he has i-ince 
added until he now owns 240 acres of line 
farm land. He is a Union- Labor man, and a 
member of the Farmers' Alliance. He was 
a soldier in the late civil war from Scott 
County, Iowa, in Company G, Twentieth 
Regiment Volunteer Infantry, as a private, 
and was in the battle of Prairie Grove, Ar- 
kansas; Vicksburg, siege of Ft. Morgan and 
Ft. Blakely, Alabama, and also in many skir- 
mishes. He served three years, and was 
honorably discharged at Mobile, Alabama. 
At the battle of Prairie Grove, Arkansas. 
Mr. Leslie was in the Twentieth Iowa Infan- 
try, and marched from near Wilson's Creek 
(Springfield), Missouri, day and night, halt- 
ing only long enough to make coffee, for 
nearly three days, and without any halt went 
into the battle of I'rairie Grove, Arkansas. 
They traveled a distance of 112 miles. The 
regiment was composed of guard troops, which 
stood the shock of the charge as well as 
veterans. Mr. Leslie has been a hard-work- 
ing man, having made a good farm from wild 
prairie. He landed in this county without 
much means, and by perseverance and indus- 
try he has acquired a handsome property. 
He is a member of the U. S. Grant Post, 
Avoca, Iowa. 

He was married in Clinton County, Iowa, 
to Catherine A. McAllister, daughter of Peter 
and Jane McAllister, and to them have been 
born nine children: Frank H., Nora A., 
Maggie R., Hugh Edmund, Charles T., 
Joseph B., Jesse N., Daniel P. and Harry A. 

■*o*- fi^'' * S i i 3 * ^ < * ♦<>« 



p\ENRy H. PETERSON, a prominent 
farmer of Knox Township, is troin an 
old American family of English de- 
scent, who were soldiers in the Revolutionary 
war. William Peterson, his grandfather. 



OP POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



559 



was a pioneer in tiie State of Maine; the 
family originated in Nova Scotia. JVlr. Peter- 
eon was a soldier in tlie war of tlie devolu- 
tion, after which he settled near Portland. 
He was the father of eight children: Cor- 
nelius, William, Abraham, John, Joseph, 
Charles, Lucella, Samuel and one whose name 
is forgotten. The father was a farmer all his 
life and died in Maine. William Peterson, 
the father of our subject, was born in that 
State, and served as a private in the war of 
1812. He was married to Martha Mjrick, 
daughter Andrew Myrick, a native of Maine, 
and an old Revolutionary soldier. To Mr. 
and Mrs. Peterson were born fourteen chil- 
dren, viz.; Patience, Ann, Lydia, Fannie, 
Rosanna, William, John, Samuel, Charles 
and Henry H., the remainder dying in in- 
fancy. The father was a farmer, but pre- 
viously a sailor, and for forty years sailed 
from Portland to points all over the world. 
When an old man he settled down on his 
farm, and lived to the age of seventy three 
years, dying in Indiana at the residence of 
one of his relatives. When fifty-six years of 
age he moved with his family to New York 
State and settled in Rochester, where he re- 
mained two years, and then went to Athens, 
Ohio, settling on a farm. While on the trip 
by schooner from Buffalo to Cleveland, Ohio, 
a great storm came up, and the crew refused 
duty, and Mr. Peterson, being a sailor, 
offered his services and secured the rigging, 
and thus saved the vessel. The family re- 
mained in Athens County, Ohio, about seven 
years, where Mrs. Peterson died at the age of 
sixty-three years. 

Henry H. Peterson, the subject of this 
sketch, was born on his father's farm near 
Portland, Maine, August 18, 1826, and was 
but five years of age when he went with his 
father to Rochester, New York, in 1831. 
He learned farm work in Ohio, and, like 



President Garfield, became a canal-boat 
driver on the Ohio and Erie canals. He 
then learned the tanner and currier's trade, 
which he followed about five years in Ohio 
and Indiana. In 1845 he came to Iowa and 
engaged in prairie-breaking in Warren Coun- 
ty, and in 1855 he settled in Knox Town- 
ship, Pottawattamie County, where he was 
among the early pioneers. Joseph Headly 
came the year previous, and Washington 
Le.win, who was the first actual settler, came 
three years before the Petersons. His daugh- 
ter was born the same night of his arrival, 
which was the first white child born in Knox 
Township. Jonathan Hall, Amos Wright, 
William Henderson, Halan Griflith, John 
Crutsinger, Thomas Davis and Ira Baker 
were all in the township previous to Mr. 
Peterson. Our subject settled at Lewin 
Grove on 120 acres of wild land, where he 
remained eleven years. He then sold this 
and bought his present farm of 265 acres. 
He is a true pioneer of this township, having 
helped to bring it to its present fertile con- 
dition, and was for four years Township 
Sui)ervisor, and was also School Director four 
years. 

He was married July 4, 1852, to Miss 
Fannie Wood, daughter of Carson and Mary 
(Taylor) Wood. The father went from North 
Carolina and Kentucky to Lawrence, Indiana,, 
and then moved to Montgomery County, 
same State. His father, John Woods, was a 
soldier in the war of the Revolution. Mr. 
Woods came to Des Moines, Iowa, about 
1842, before the Government made the Des 
Moines purchase from the Indians, settling 
in Wapello County, where he lived seven 
years. He next moved to Green County, 
and then started to go to Kansas, but was 
taken sick and died in Missouri. Mr. and 
Mrs. Wood were members of the Free- 
Will Baptist Church, and were the par- 



560 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY 



nets of twelve children, viz.: Pleasant, 
Fannie, Nancy, John, Barzella T., Mary, 
Lucinda, Almeda, Thomas J., James M., 
Carson and William. Mr. and Mrs. Peter- 
eon are the parents of six children who lived 
to maturity, namely: Fannie J., William C, 
Charles M., Mary C, Almeda A. and Min- 
nie. Faniiie J. married Wintield Scott, a 
farmer of Knox Township, and they have tive 
children: Avah M., Harry J., Arthur L., 
Grover C. and Ada. Charles M. married 
Gertie Adams, and tliey have one child, 
Harry L. Mary has heen a successful 
teacher. The name Peterson was originally 
spelled Patterson, but after the Revolution- 
ary war the members of tlie family petitioned 
the Goverment, and it was changed to Peter- 
son. 

Wiien Mrs. Peterson's grandmother, Fan- 
nie Johnson, was three years old, during the 
Revolution, the family were on their way to 
a fort when they were overtaken by a party 
of Tories, wlio, desiring to impress Mr. John- 
son into their service, took little Fannie upon 
a horse behind a ridor, in order to compel 
her father by filial ties to follow. In this 
manner they rode three days, sending liim on 
ahead to the house of an old farmer, with 
the intent to murder him; but the intended 
victim escaped and reached the fort in safety. 

— «■» I'l x « S i ' S * S" ' " 



lAPTAlN GEORGE F. C. SMART, 
one of the old soldier farmers of James 
Township, is the son of Caleb Smart, 
who was born in 1802 in New Hampshire. 
He was married in tiiat State to Clarissa B. 
Smith, and tiiey were the parents of live chil- 
dren: George, Helen, Morill, Mayette and 
Hiram. In 1835 the father moved to Michi- 
gan and settled on a farm in Kalamazoo 



County, where he was one of the pioneer set- 
tlers. He died in 1840 at the early age oi 
thirty-eight years. 

George F. C. Smart, our subject, was born 
in New Hampshire, July 18, 1883, and was 
but two years of age when his family moved 
to Michigan, and only seven years old when 
his father died. In the spring of 1852, at 
the age of twenty years, he went to Califor- 
nia, by way of New York city and tlie Isth- 
mus, and was engaged in gold-mining in the 
Indian diggings and Sonoma, and was also 
in the city of Sacramento, engaged in truck 
marketing. In 1857 he returned to Kane 
County, Illinois, where he engaged in 
fanning, and next he went to Mercer 
County, Pennsylvania, and engaged in rail- 
road work and also worked for the express 
companies. In August, 1862, he enlisted, 
when General Lee was invading Pennsyl- 
vania, in Company G, One Hundred and 
Forty-fifth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, 
as a private; wasoppointed Orderly Sergeant, 
then promoted as Second Lieutenant, then 
First Lieutenant, and then Captain, for 
meritorious services and gallant conduct. 
His first battle was Antietam, and he was 
then in the battles of Fredericksburg, Chan- 
cellorsville and the Wilderness. He was cap- 
tured, and after twenty days paroled. He 
was at Libby Prison and was on duty at 
Annapolis, Maryland, until exchanged. Cap- 
tain Smart was detailed to distribute paroled 
prisoners to different points, and then went 
into winter quarters with his regiment on the 
Rapidan River, where be received his pro- 
motion as Captain. He was in all the battles 
from Chancellorsville to Petersburg. He 
was again taken prisoner, and was taken to 
Macon, Georgia, Charleston, and Columbus, 
South Carolina, where he remained impris- 
oned until nearly the close of the war. He 
then returned to Pennsylvania and was hon- 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



561 



orablj discharged at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, 
ill 1865. 

In that year lie was married to Lorretta 
McFarren, daughter of Josiah and Martha 
McFarren. Mrs. Smart had two brothers, 
Qiiincy and Julius, the tbrnier serving in the 
same regiment as her husband. To (3aptain 
and Mrs. Smart were born four children: 
Edward, Francis, Walter, and one who died 
in infancy. After marriage Captain Smart 
went to Hannibal, Missouri, where he was 
engaged in the livery business. When the 
Black Hill mining excitement broke out 
Captain Smart went there, and thence to 
Colorado, and returned to Pennsylvania after 
an absence of nine months. In 1878 he came 
to Pottawattamie County, Iowa, and settled 
on a farm in James Township. He is a 
member of the G. A, R, No. 358, William 
Layton Post, Oakland, Iowa; and politically 
he is a Kepublican. 

The Captain has taken an interest in good 
schools in his community, and has been 
elected School Director. He has had a varied 
experience in life, and stands deservedly high 
as an honorable and strightforward citizen. 
When the country needed men he responded, 
was a good soldier, an efficient officer, and 
faithfully did his part, and enddnre imprison- 
mont with patience, and to such men we owe 
the preservation of this government. 



►>t^ 



fH. McDonald, one of the enterpris- 
ing self-made men of Pottawattamie 
" County, Iowa, resides in section 14, 
Wright Township. He was born in Steuben 
County, New York, May 2, 1852, son of 
William and Savilla (Rising) McDonald, the 
history of whom will be fonnd on another 
page of this work. His mother died when 
he was only five years old. He was a robust 



lad of fourteen when his father moved to 
Bureau County, Illinois, where he grew to 
manhood on a farm, and was educated in the 
public schools. In 1875 he came to Iowa 
and located in Adams County, remaining 
there two years. At the expiration of that 
time he took up his abode in Pottawattamie 
County, and has since made this place his 
home. In March, 1881, he purchased his 
present farm of 160 acres, which was then 
wild prairie land, lly judicious management 
and much labor he has made it one of the 
best in the community. The first season he 
broke the soil, and in 1882 he built a house, 
14x24 feet, one and a half stories, with a 
oue-story addition, 12 x 24 feet. He planted 
an orchard of two acres and a grove, which 
are now in a flourishing condition; built 
stables, cribs, eighty feet of sheds, and a 
granary, 14x20 feet. He has 150 feet of 
tight board fence which is six feet high. 
One hundred acres are being cultivated and 
the rest of the farm is devoted to stock 
purposes. At this writing Mr. McDonald 
has thirty head of cattle and 100 hogs. Two 
of the former are' registered thorough-bred 
Shorthorns. He also has some draft horses 
of a high grade. A modern three-horse- 
power wind-mill raises the water for house- 
hold use, and forces water tlu-ough pipes to 
the feed-lots. Mr. McDonald has an attach- 
ment by which he can make use of this 
power to grind grain for stock purposes. 
Everything on the premises is arranged with 
reference to convenience, all showing the 
enterprise of the owner. 

July 3, 1877, Mr. McDonald married 
Martha E. Tie, a lady of intelligence and re- 
finement, who has been a true helpmate to 
her worthy husband. She was born in Ra- 
cine County, Wisconsin, daughter of Joseph 
and Sarah (Spriggs) Tie, now prominent and 
wealthy citizens of Wright Township, Pot- 



502 



BIOGRAPHICAL BISTORT 



tawattamie County. They were both born 
and reared in England. Mr. Tie is the 
present Township Trustee. Mr. and Mrs. 
McDonald have five children: Jay Carroll, 
John II., Kay B., Ira Eltner and Lilly May. 
Their first-born, Willie, died at the age of 
three months. Politically Mr. McDonald is 
independent, casting his vote for whom he 
considers the best man for the office. 



f[AMES O. FRIZZELL, section 22, Center 
! Township, is one of the intelligent, en- 
terprising and successful citizens of this 
part of Pottawattamie County. He came 
here in 18S2, and has since made this place 
his home. 

He was born in Bureau County, Illinois, 
March 23, 1853, the son of Michael and 
Charlotte (Dean) Frizzell, the former a native 
of Massachusetts and the latter of Connecti- 
cut. Mrs. Frizzell died in Bureau County, 
June 8, 1881, at tiie age of sixty-seven years. 
Mr. Frizzell died at Firth, Nebraska, April 
23, 1887. The father was a farmer and a 
carpenter, and was among the early settlers 
on prairie land in Bureau County. In poli- 
tics he was a Republican. Both he and his 
wife were consistent members of the Chris- 
tiaTi Church and were active workers in the 
same. Mr. Frizzell was twice married. By 
his first wife he had two chililren, one of 
whom, A. L., now resides in this county. J. 
O. is the youngest child living of the three 
sons and four daughters born to him by his 
second marriage. 

Our subject was reared on his father's 
farm, and received his education in the public 
schools of his native county. Arriving at the 
age of manhood, he was married, in Bureau 
County, July 17, 1877, to Miss Emma Win- 
tors, a native of that place and a lady of 



intelligence and refinement. She is adauarh- 
ter of James and Catherine (Sheller) Winters, 
both of Pennsylvania. They came to Illinois 
at an early day, and were among the first set- 
tlers of Bureau County. They still reside 
there, near Arlington. 

In 1882 Mr. Frizzell came to this county, 
and bought 160 acres of land of C. C. Merri- 
man, who had improved the farm to some 
extent and had put up a small building on 
the place. Mr. Frizzell now owns 320 acres 
of land as good as Center Township affords. 
He has a comfortable home, suitable out- 
buildings and other farm improvements, and 
is engaged in general farming and stock-rais- 
ing. He intends making a specialty of 
thorough-bred Percheron horses, at present 
having two horses and two colts of that kind. 

Mr. and Mrs. Frizzell have three children: 
D. Leroy, Ethel May and James Garfield. 
Their third boi'u, Alzina Pearl, died at the 
age of ten months. 

In politics Mr. Frizzell is a Republican, 
and is the present Trustee of Center Town- 
ship He and his wife are both membsrs of 
the Methodist Church. 

— ^.. l - i .. ; . ^ . - ^ — 



kAIJL BEEZLEY has been a resident of 
this county since 1879. He was born 
in Shelby County, Ohio, March 24, 
1839, the son of John and Elizabeth (Ells- 
worth) Beezley. His mother was a distant 
relative of Colonel Ellsworth, who was killed 
in Virginia. Mr. and Mrs. Beezley reared a 
family of nine children, Paul being the 
youngest. Captain William Beezley, a 
prominent citizen of Macedonia, a sketch of 
whom appears in this work, is their first born. 
The subject of this sketch grew to man- 
hood on his father's farm in Ohio, and re- 
ceived a common-school education. March 



OF P02TAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



563 



28, 1858, he was married, in his native 
county, to Miss Eleanor Lewis, a native of 
New Jersey, daugliter of Samuel and Cather- 
ine Lewis, also of New Jersey. The fruit of 
this union was two children: Elizabeth A., 
who died at the age of three years, and Will- 
iam, who is married, has one child and resides 
in Council Bluffs. The wife and mother, 
Eleanor Beezley, died May 10, 1866, in 
Slielby County, Ohio. 

October 12, 1861, is the date of Mr. 
Beezley's enlistment in Company F, Twen- 
tieth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and he served 
until July 15, 1865. His regiment was in 
thirty-two battles, in the most of which he 
participated. Among them are the battles of 
Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Corinth, Pea Ridge, 
Black Kiver Bridge, Jackson, Champion 
Hill, and in the engaa'ements around Vicks- 
burg until its surrender to General Grant, 
July 4, 1863. He was in a number of other 
important engagements; was with Sherman 
on his memorable march from Atlanta to 
the sea; and, finally, was with those who 
participated in the grand review at Washing- 
ton. He was honorably discharged at Louis- 
ville, Kentucky, after which he returned to 
his home in Shelby County, Ohio. 

Mr. Beezley was married, September 28, 
1867, at that place, to Miss Jerusha Ann 
Simms, a native of Miami County, Ohio, 
daughter of C. K. Simms and Mary, his 
wife, both natives of New England. By his 
second marriage Mr. Beezley had five chil- 
dren, viz.: John, a resident of Pottawattamie 
County; Minnie, at home: Othello, also of 
this county; Mattie, a resident of Missouri; 
and Jesse, who died at the age of five years. 
Mrs. Beezley died August 30, 1878. No- 
vember 24, 1881, Mr. Beezley wedded his 
present wife, nee Miss Sophronia P^iekl, a lady 
of intelligence and refinement, who was born 
and reared in Pottawattamie County, daugh- 



ter of John and Sarah A. Field, of Wheel's 
Grove. By her he has three children: 
liudy R., Vernon L. and Melissie Valentine. 

Mr. Beezley made his home in Slielby 
County until 1868, when he moved to Logan 
County, Illinois. In 1876 he removed from 
there to Mills County, Iowa, and settled near 
Emerson. In 1879 he came to this county, 
and for two years lived near Macedonia. 
Then he came to his present farm, and has 
since made his home here. He owns eighty 
acres of well improved land, but his farming 
operations are not limited to this, as he also 
cultivates other lands. He keeps a large 
number of cattle and is very successful with 
his stock. Jordan Creek flows through his 
farm and affords a constant supply of water 
for stock purposes. 

In his political views Mr. Beezley is a 
Republican. He is a member of William 
Layton Post at Oakland, and is also asso- 
ciated with the Masonic fraternity, having 
been made a Mason in Miami County, Ohio. 
He afterward joined at Emerson, and is now a 
member of Ruby Lodge. Mrs. Beezley is 
a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 



fOHN CLARK, occupying 300 acres of 
land on section 18, Garner Township 
(No. 75, range 43), is one of the well- 
known influential pioneers of the county, 
coming here in May, 1853. He was born at 
Ansty, Leicestershire, England, October 29, 
1821, the second son of James and Rachel 
(Goodman) Clark, natives of the same shire. 
The parents were married in the house in 
which he (the father) was iiorii, and there 
they resided all their days. Tlie dwelling 
was built by Mr. Clark, the grandfather of 
the subject of this sketch. 

As he grew up, Mr. Clark, our subject, 



564 



BIOGRAPHICAL HI STOUT 



became a mechanic and also learned the shoe- 
maker's trade, which he followed for many 
years. He was married in the city of Leices- 
ter, England, July 7, 1845, to Rachel Smart, 
who was born in that city, April 2, 1827, 
a daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth (Baylis) 
Smart. Her parents lived tliere at the 
time of the above marriage, but eventually, 
with most of their children, moved to Bar- 
rowden, Rutlandshire, and thence to Baltons- 
burg, Somersetshire, where Mr. Smart en- 
gaged in fancy dyeing, and resided until 
death. A number of years afterward Mrs. 
Smart, with all her children excepting one, 
emigrated to the United States, settling in 
Utah, and three weeks afterward Mrs. Smart 
died, as a result of the fatigue of the journey. 

In January, 1851, Mr. Clark, with his 
wife and two children, sailed from Liverpool 
to Mew Orleans, arriving there after a nine 
weeks' voyage. In two or three weeks he, 
witii his family, went up to St. Louis, but 
returned to New Orleans to pass the follow- 
ing winter. In the spring of 1852 he went 
a^ain to St. Louis and began work at his 
trade. In the spring of 1853 he moved with 
his family to Keokuk, and then across the 
State of Iowa, by ox team, having to ford 
many rivers and other streams, sometimes 
carrying his family, one at a time, upon his 
back across the streams. Coming to Potta- 
wattamie County, he engaged in shoemaking 
in Council Bluffs. In 1867 he bought his 
present farm, which had been in cultivation 
some time, but had no permanent improve- 
ments; there were only the log cabin and a 
rail fence. Here Mr. Clark has judiciously 
expended a vast amount of labor and money, 
with the result of making a fine residence 
and a splendid farm. The dwelling, built in 
Janui.ry, 1874, cost $2,000. 

Mr. Clark has served as Justice of the 
Peace for several terras, with credit to him- 



self and satisfaction to the public. He is a 
Democrat, although formerly a Republican, 
voting for Lincoln for his first term. He 
has had seven children, of whom five are 
living, namely: Alam; Joseph, who was born 
in England, is married, has one child, and 
lives near his father; Rachel Elizabeth, wife 
of S. A. Winchester, living on section 18, 
Garner Township, and has four children: she 
also was born in England; John Thomas, 
who was born in St. Louis, Missouri, lives in 
Mills County, near Henderson, Iowa, is mar- 
ried and has one child, a son; Henrietta, wife 
of William Wright, lives in Boomer Town- 
ship and has one son and three daughters; 
Henry James, who is married and lives near 
his father, on section 18. Mr. and Mrs. 
Clark have lost two children by death: their 
third child, a babe, died in New Orleans when 
live days old; and Hezekiah Baylis, the 
youngest, died when three years of age. Mr. 
and Mrs. Clark made a visit to their native 
country in December, 1881, returning the 
following May, being only thirteen days on 
the way from Liverpool to Council Bluffs. 






3^ 



gf HEODORE GUITTAR, United States 
Deputy Collector of Internal Revenue, 
of Council Bluffs, Iowa, was born in 
St. Louis, Missouri, December 20, 1842. 
He attended the common sciiools of that city 
until twelve years of age, when, in 1855, his 
parents removed to Council Bluffs, Iowa, and 
consequently Mr. Guittar is one of the early 
settlers of this place. He is of French de- 
scent, his ancestors having come from that 
country to Canada, settling near Qnebec. 
His grandfather, Vansaw Guittar, was born 
in France, but subsequently came to Canada 
and encraged in farming. He was married in 
the lattercountry,and soon afterward I'emoveJ 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



565 



to St. Louis, where ail his children, four sons 
and one daughter, were born. One son, 
Francis, the father of onr subject, when 
twelve years of age engaged on a boat for the 
American Fur Company a short time, and 
afterward became an agent for the same com- 
pany, remaining in their employ until 1840. 
In that year he engaged in the same business 
on his own account as an Indian trader. In 
1852 he opened a store of general merchan- 
dise at Council Bluifs, continuing the same 
until 1878, when he retired, and still resides 
in Council Bluffs at the ripe old age of 
eighty-one years. He was in this city as 
early as 1825, when it was an Indian camp- 
ing ground; it afterwards became an Indian 
trading post. He traveled from St. Louis to 
the mouth of the Yellowstone in keel-boats. 
Mr. Guittar was married in St. Louis, Mis- 
souri, in 1841, to Miss Eugenia Bono, who 
was born July 8, 1824, and is still living. 
They have three sons: Theodore, Francis, Jr., 
and Frederick. Francis and Frederick are 
engaged in farming, and reside in St. Louis 
County, Missouri, near St. Louis. 

Theodore, our subject, attended school and 
also clerked in his father's store until A'lgust 
11, 1862, when he enlisted in the Second 
Iowa Battery, Light Artillery; though not 
twenty years old and remained in the service 
until the close of the war. He was in the 
siege of Vicksbnrg, Nashville, Tennessee; 
Tupelo, Tennessee; Jackson, Mississippi; and 
was in both battle and siege of Raymond, 
Hurricane Creek, Old Town Creek, O.xford, 
Black River Bridge, and others. At the close 
of the war Mr. Guittar returned to Council 
Bluffs, and remained as clerk in his father's 
store until 1870. He then purchased a farm 
two miles east of this city, where he engaged 
in farming and fruit-raising. He remained 
on this farm live years, and then settled in 
Council Bluffs. In January, 1875, he was 



appointed Deputy Sheriff, served two years, 
and was then elected Constable of this city. 
He held this office one term, and was re- 
elected; but after serving half of his second 
term, was elected County Sheriif in 1881, 
and re-elected in 1883. At the expiration of 
his second term, in January, 1886, he engaged 
in the real-estate business, purchasing and 
renting houses of his own. April 1, 1890, 
he was appointed by Lewis Weinstine De- 
puty Collector for the Fourth District of 
Iowa. 

December 20, 1869, Mr. Guittar was uni- 
ted in marriage in this city to Miss Eliza- 
beth Beecraft, a native of England, and the 
daughter of Henry Beecraft, who resides in 
Council Bluffs. Mr. and Mrs. Guittar have 
one daughter, Eugenia I., born December 17, 
1873. Mrs. Guittar is a member of the Bap- 
tist Church, and Mr. Guittar is a member of 
the I. O. O. F., Council Bluffs Lodge, No. 
49, and also of Abe Lincoln Post, No. 29, of 
Iowa, and is a Republican politically. He is 
one of our representative citizen and business 
men, and enjoys the confidence and respect 
of all who know him. 



fRANCIS GUITTAR, a retired mer- 
chant of Council Bluffs, is the oldest 
settler of Pottawattamie County, if not 
the oldest in Western Iowa. He came here in 
1825, as an agent tor the American Fur Com- 
pany, when not quite sixteen years of age. 
He was born in St. Louis, Missouri, Septem- 
ber 25, 1809, the son of Vansaw and Mary 
(Ai-pah) Guittar, who were both born in St. 
Louis, Missouri. The father was a son of 
Paul Guittar, a native of Canada, but of 
French parentage. 

At the age of fifteen years our subject en- 
tered the employ of the American Fur Com- 



566 



BIVORAPHIOAL BISTORT 



pany, and remained in their employ as agent 
until 1850, when he engaged in that business 
for himself. He also had a general store in 
Council Bluffs, on tke corner of Broadway 
and Main streets. It was a log house built 
by the Mormons, for which Mr. Giiittar gave 
$250, and afterward sold the same to J udge 
James, of Council Bluffs, and M. Tootle, of 
St. Joseph and othern, and in 1878 retired 
from business. His experience has been 
more than that of many men, and could fur- 
nish material fur an interesting book. In 
company with the Pawnee Indians, he fought 
the Sioux, although he was friendly with the 
latter, and at one time was shot in battle. 

Mr. Guittar has four children living. He 
is a Democrat politically, and is one of the 
old landmarks of this county whom every 
one is glad to meet. 



jLFRED E. KINCAID, a member of 
the hardware firm of Lodge & Kincaid, 
is one of the prominent business men 
of Walnut. He was born at Farmersville, 
Lee County, Ontario, August 29, 1852. His 
father, John Kincaid, was a Scotchman, born 
September 7, 1810, and came to Ontario and 
settled in Brockville. He was a tanner by 
trade atid became a prosperous man. He 
married Lodevia Wilsie, December 18, 1889, 
daughter of Comfort M. Wilsie, a Canadian, 
but of American descent. Mr. and Mrs. 
Xincaid had ten children: Albert A., born 
March 22, 1840, deceased at twelve years of 
age; Esther E., born March 5, 1842; William 
W., March 2, 1845; Nancy C, June 29, 
1852; Charles H., June 5, 1855, deceased; 
Eva C, April 2, 1858; Helen M., September 
14, 1860; Addie J., September 2, 1864. Mr. 
Kincaid lived to the age of seventy-six years, 
and died in February, 1888. He was a man 



who had the respect of his fellow citizens, 
was Reeve for several years, a prominent 
Mason, and a soldier in the patriot war on 
the side of the government. He was a man 
of strong constitution and sterling character 
and well known for his integrity. He was 
at one time a prominent and influential man. 
Alfred E. Kincaid, our subject, is from 
sturdy Scotch and American stock, possessing 
an independent character, which stands him 
in good stead, as his father met with finan- 
cial reverses, and he at the age of thirteen 
began to learn the tinner's trade at Farmers- 
ville, Ontario, working at it two years. Then 
he went to West Winchester, Ontario, and 
worked for two years, and in the spring of 
1871 went to Chicago and worked at his 
trade there. October 10, same year, the 
most disastrous conflagration that the world 
has ever seen broke out and Mr. Kincaid saw 
the great spectacle, — the burning of Chicago. 
Directly after the fire Mr. Kincaid came to 
Atlantic, Iowa, and worked there for J. C. 
Yetzer, and after a short time came to Anita, 
Iowa, where he remained nine years; and 
while there he went to Michigan and married 
Miss Lillie V. Snell, daughter of Thomas 
and Mary (Skinner) Snell. They were Michi- 
gan people, of American ancestry. To Mr. 
and Mrs. Kincaid have been born five chil- 
dren: Gertrude B., Grace C, Carrie A., 
Lillie J. and one who died an infant. 

After marriage Mr. Kincaid resided at 
Kalamazoo, Michigan, two years, and in 1883 
came to Walnut, Iowa, forming a partnership 
with Oscar F. Lodge, and has continued in 
this business. Socially Mr. Kincaid is a 
meini)erof Moriah Lodge, No. 327, I. O.O.F., 
at Walnut, in which order he has filled all the 
offices: he is now treasurer of this lodge. 
In politics he is a Republican. He has the con- 
fidence of his fellow townsmen, and has been 
a member of the Council for one full term. 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



567 



and has recently been re-elected. He owns 
real estate in Walnut and a good home, and is 
a man well known fur his honorable methods 
of dealino; and substantial character. 







!ILL1AM SIEDENTOPF, a promi- 
nent real-estate dealer of Council 
BlnSs, was born in Hanover, Ger- 
many, in 1846, and came direct to this city 
in 186.5, where he has since resided. He 
came by stage-coach, prior to the advent of 
the railroad. He has witnessed the " ups 
and downs" of the city of his adoption dur- 
ing the last quarter of a century, and has 
been closely identified with every move for 
its prosperity. His unlimited faith in the 
future of Council Bluffs and Pottawattamie 
County, is best evinced by his large holdings 
of real estate, and he is also one of the largest 
tax-payers in the county. Up to 1879 he 
was actively identified with the banking 
busiu'iss of this city, and is now a director 
of the First National Bank. A term of three 
years as School Director and four \'ears as 
Alderman, comprise his service in official 
life. While a member of the School Board, 
Mr. Siedentopf was a firm advocate of the 
introduction of phonetic spelling and the re- 
organization of the high school, and strongly 
supported Professors Alexander Gow and W. 
H. Hatch, overcoming vigorous opposition 
in and out of the board. As a member of 
the City Council, the city finances received 
his careful study and attention, and to this 
day his counsel is frequently sought on that 
(piestion. During his term of office (1882- 
'86), commenciiig with the operation of the 
present charter, the various improvements of 
paving, grading and sewering were inaugu- 
rated, and a new era in the prosperity of Coun- 
cil Bluffs may well bo dated from that period. 

41 




In 1870 Mr. Siedentopf and Miss Mary 
Burhop, also of this city, were united in mar- 
riage, and of their three children, two sur- 
vive: William F., aged nineteen, and Ella, 
fourteen. For several years past Mr. Sied- 
entopf has devoted almost his whole time to 
his large real-estate interests. 

-— l*^s-|— - 

ILLIAM BEYEE, a substantial 
farmer near Walnut, Iowa, was born , 
in Schleswig, Germany, in 1851. 
Ills father, Madir'on Beyer, was a farmer and 
land-owner. He was married to Annie Ram- 
burg, and to them were born five children; 
Hans, William, John, Julian and Charley. 
Julin was the only son, besides our subject, 
who came to America; he lived on a farm 
north of Walnut. Tlie father is still living 
in Germany, and both he and his wife are 
members of the German Church. He was a 
sailor and captain when a young man. 

William our subject, became a sailor when 
he was sixteen years of age, but he fol- 
lowed the sea only five years. He came to 
America in 1872, settling in Scott County, 
where he lived two years. In 1874 he came 
to Pottawattamie County, where he pur- 
chased 160 acres of land in company with 
his brother Julien. By hard work Mr. Beyer 
has added to his land until he now owns 
nearly 200 acres, all of which is in a good 
state of cultivation. 

In 1876 he married Caroline Coffman, 
dauo-hter of Charles Coffman, and to them 
have been born five children: John, deceased 
in infancy; Charles, also deceased in infancy; 
William, August and Amanda. Both Mr. 
and Mrs. Beyer are members of the Lutheran 
Church. Mr. Beyer has held the office of 
Road Supervisor, is a thorough farmer, and 
an honest and upright man. He is doing his 



568 



BIVORAPHIGAL HISTORY 



share to build up the great State of Iowa, to 
which the German element has been an honor 
and a substantial aid. 

■■I ii?.]i iT.'yif. M . 

;^fi|^M^ E. HA RLE, proprietor and mana- 
WWmx. ger of the Livery, Sale, Breaking 
^^^^ and Training Stable, 17 and 19 
North Second street. Council Bluffs, estab- 
lished in 1887, carries a stock of good horses, 
carriages, etc., devoting the most of his atten- 
tion to the breaking and training of horses, 
especially track horses, and has to his credit 
that he has broken, trained and driven two 
of the fastest pacinoj horses ever bred and 
raised in Pottawattamie County, namely: 
Mattie Harle and Warren Daily. 

He was born at Mt. Vernon, Kno.x County, 
Ohio, June 10, 1848, the son of Trammill 
and Elizabeth (Willson) Harle, natives of 
Virginia, and possibly of Irish and Scotch 
ancestry. On coming to Council Bluffs, in 
1869, he earned his first money, with which 
he purchased two colts, and continued to do 
whatever he could find the first year; then 
followed farming thres years and then en- 
gaged in the horse business, which he has 
ever since followed, excepting three years 
spent in Colorado, mining and prospecting. 
In 1872 he commenced in the livery business 
at his present stand; and then moved to 
Fierce street, where he operated eight years; 
and next for over a year he was proprietor of 
the Ogdeu Broadway, one of the leading liv- 
ery stables west of Chicago, and finally back 
to the place he now occupies. 

Mr. Harle is a Republican in his political 
principles. 

He married Miss Elizabeth Harle, who 
also was born in Knox County, Ohio, but 
reared in Council Bluffs. They have two 
children: Gracie and Mattie. Mr. Harle's 



father was a contractor for building while in 
Ohio, i)ut in this county he was engaged in 
dairying and stock-raising. He died in De- 
cember, 1885, at the age of seventy-nine 
years and eleven months; his wife died in 
Ohio, the mother of M. E. Harle. 



;.- s " s - di- 



EORGE W. HAMILTON, one of the 
enterprising and well-known citizens of 
Washington Township, and an ex- 
soldier of the late war, was born in Fulton 
County, Illinois, February 6, 1846, a son of 
John and Barbara Hamilton, the former a 
native of Ohio, and the latter of Pennsyl- 
vania, the daughter of Jacob Rist. The 
parents resided for a time in Wisconsin, in 
which State the father died when George was 
a babe, leaving a widow and one child, our 
subject. The mother died when George was 
twelve years old, and he was reared by his 
grandfather, Jacob Rist, on a farm in Fulton 
County, Illinois. 

During the great Rebellion, at the time of 
Lincoln's call for 600,000 more men, our sub- 
ject enlisted, August 9, 1862, at Princeville, 
Peoria County, Illinois, in the Eighty-sixth 
Illinois Infantry, Volunteer Company K, 
under Colonel Irons, who went out with the 
regiment, but after his death Colonel David 
McKee took command for a time. He re- 
signed and then Colonel Farnstock had com- 
mand; the Captain of the company was John 
French. George W. was out about three 
years, and was first under fire at Perryville, 
Kentucky, and later at Stone River, Chicka- 
mauga. Missionary Ridge and at the two 
battles of Buzzard's Roost. He was in the 
great charge at Kesaca. where he was wounded 
June 30, 1864, in the head. His skull was 
cracked and shattered in several places, and 
the officials thought lie was mortally wounded. 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



569 



He was confined in the tield hospital one 
week; was then removed to Chattanooga Hos- 
pital, wliere he was confined for another 
week; was then removed to Nashville for 
one week, and then to Louisville, Kentucky. 
He was at that city and Springfield until the 
second of November, when he was removed 
to Qiiincy, Illinois, wiiere he was confined 
until April 21, 1865. He was then taken to 
New York city for a sliort time; was next 
taken toMorehead, North Carolina, where lie 
remained three daya; and finally removed to 
Alexander, Virginia, where he remained un- 
til his discharge, June 27, 1865, and he then 
returned to Fulton County Illinois, where he 
resided one year. Then he went to McDon- 
ough County, Illinois, where he remained 
but a short time, an f then went to Hender- 
son County, where he lived fifteen years, en- 
gaged in farming. He came to Pottawatta- 
mie County in 1882, and settled on the sec- 
tion where he now resides. Mr. Hamilton 
now owns 160 acres of good land all in one 
bodv. 

He was married in Fulton County, Illi- 
nois, in 1866, to Mary Overman, a daughter 
of Charles and Evelitie (Montgomery) Over- 
man. By this marriage tiiere were four chil- 
dren, of whom only one is now living — Anna 
Mrs. Hamilton died in July, 1884, and Mr. 
Hamilton was married again September 28, 
1888, to Mrs. Mary Taylor, a widow, whose first 
husband was a Mr.Hecker. She was a daughter 
of James A. Taylor, one of the well-known 
early pioneers of Pottawatamie County. Mrs. 
Hamilton was reared and educated in this 
neighborhood. By hei- first marriage she 
had five children: James, Ettie, Lily, Pleas- 
ant and Charley. Mr. Hamilton is an inde- 
pendent politically, and is a member of the 
G. A. R., Robert Provard Post, No. 414, in 
whicli he is a charter member. He is one of 
the well-known representative citizens of this 



township. Mrs. Hamilton is a member of 
the Evangelical Church. 



R. J. M. WYLAND, the only physi- 
cian and druggist of Minden, was born 
in Harlan, Iowa, February 24, 1858, 
the son of Isaac P. Wyland, who was a pio- 
neer of this State, having settled at New- 
town, near Avoca, in 1860. He was born in 
Elkhart County, Indiana, August 26, 1832, 
in the town of Wyland, which was named in 
honor of his father, Jonatiiaii Wyland, who 
was born in 1797, in Bedford County, Penn- 
sylvania, moved first to Greene County, Ohio, 
and then to Indiana. He came to America 
when a young man, settling in Elkhart 
County, where he built a grist-tnill and 
woolen factory, and also a dam across the 
Elkhart River, and was in short the founder 
of Wyland. He was married to Miss Cath- 
erine Plum, by whom he had two sons: 
Jonathan and Washington. This wife died 
and he was again married in Ohio, to a Miss 
Elizabeth Vanarsdoll, and by this marriage 
there were eleven children, viz.: Catherine, 
Rachel, William, Isaac, Jasper, David, Jef- 
ferson, Elizabeth, Mary Barbara, Christian 
and Lawrence, all of whom lived to tnaturity. 
Jasper died in the service of his country' in 
the late war, in an Iowa regiment; Jonathan 
died at his home, at the age of fifty-eigiit 
years, of pneumonia, contracted by exposure. 
The father was a stanch Democrat politically, 
and religiously was a German Baptist or 
Dunkard. The Dunkards were among the 
most thrifty and peccable people who sought 
a home in America from the oppression of 
older countries. 

Isaac P. Wyland, a son of the above and 
the father of our subject, was born in 
Wyland, Indiana, received a common-school 



570 



BIOaRAPHICAL BI8T0RT 



education, and was brought up a Dunkard, 
but afterward changed his religion to the 
" Christian " belief. He was a miller by 
trade, and was married in Elkhart, Indiana, 
to Julia A. Miltenberger, of Germati de- 
scent, and daughter of Henry Miltenberger, 
who came from Pennsylvania to Elkhart 
County. Mr. and Mrs. Wyland have had six 
children: William W., Omar P., Jonathan 
M., Seth L., Mary H. and Asa A. The 
father moved to Iowa in the spring of 1856, 
settling in Shelby County, near Harlan, 
which was then a wilderness. In 1860 he 
settled in Newton, Pottawattamie County, 
where he built a grist-mill, and one and a 
half years later settled near his old farm east 
of Harlan, where he lived until 1884. In 
that year he went to Dakota, settling on a 
farm in Hand County, where he still resides. 
He is a Democrat in his political opinions, 
and has served as Sheriff of Shelby County, 
in 1862, and Postmaster of Jackson Town- 
ship, Shelby County. He has always been a 
hard-working, industrious, honorable and 
substantial citizen, and will be remembered 
by the old settlers of Shelby County. 

Dr. J. M. Wyland, his son and the subject 
of this sketch, received a good education at 
the high school of Harlan, and also studied 
medicine at Iowa City, where he graduated 
in 1884. His preceptor was Dr. E. A. Cobb, 
of Harlan, with whom he remained three 
years. Leaving this able instructor in the 
spring of 1884, the Doctor came to Miiiden, 
where he immediately bought the drug store 
of Kervill & Schaff, and has since had a 
large trade as well as a good practice 
Socially he is a Mason, and also a member of 
the Knights of Pythias. In his political 
opinions he is a Democrat, and has also taken 
an active interest in the schools of his county, 
being a member of the School Board. He 
has the confidence of all the people, and was 



recently elected a member of the Town Coun- 
cil. 

In the spring of 1886 Mr. Wyland was 
married to Amelia Schumaker, daughter of 
Henry Schumaker, a native of Germany, but 
now of Moline, Illinois. He is the father of 
two children: Henry and Amelia. The Doc- 
tor's brother, Asa 0., is also a physician, and 
is now engaged in practice at Underwood, 
this county. Dr. Wyland is a man of high 
character, and his success as a physician at- 
tests his skill and knowledge of medicine. 
He is yet a young man, and the succeeding 
years should add honor and dignity to a life 
well begun. 



A. CUE, section 3, Waveland Township, 
Pottawattamie County, is an old set- 
^ tier and popular citizen of this neigh- 
borhood, having been identified with its best 
interests for the past thirty years. He was 
born in Muscatine County, Iowa, March 4, 

1852, son of Samuel Coe, who for many 
years was a prominent citizen of Montgom- 
ery County, Iowa. He settled therein April, 

1853, and twenty years later, in 1873, re- 
moved to Jewell County, Kansas, where he 
still resides and, at this writing, is seventy- 
eight years of age. He was born in Brown 
County, Ohio, the son of a Revolutionary 
soldier, John Coe, also a native of Ohio, of 
Irish ancestry. Samuel Coe was married in 
Indiana to Huth Becknell, who was born in 
that State, near Albany. Her father, Will- 
iam Becknell, was born in Ohio and was 
of German origin. Some time after mar- 
riage Mr. and Mrs. Coe removed to Mus- 
catine County, Iowa, and settled near 
Davenport. In the fall of 1852 they went 
to Lewis, Cass County, and soon afterward 
moved to Montgomery County, where as 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



571 



above stated Mr. Coe lived many years. His 
wife died when her son, D. A., the subject of 
this sketch, was fifteen years old. The father 
is a Democrat and has served in most of the 
township offices where he has lived. He is a 
believer in, universal salvation. The tive 
children born to this worthy conple are: D. 
A., William, a resident of Lancaster, Jewell 
County, Nebraska; James B., who lives in 
Waveland Township, Pottawattamie County; 
S. E., also of Waveland Township; and El- 
vira Elizabeth, wife of William Wilds, a 
conductor on the railroad, lives in Stuart, 
Guthrie County, Iowa. 

The subject of our sketch was reared in 
Montgomery Conuty, and the first school he 
ever entered was in a log cabin with slab 
seats in Waveland Township. He lived at 
home until nineteen years old, when he en- 
gaged in the hotel business at Avoca, remain- 
ing thus employed for three years. Then he 
spent one year in Jewell County, Kansas, 
after which he returned to Iowa and worked 
as an overseer on a farm for John Jones, near 
Avoca. His next enterprise was to rent land 
south of Griswold, in Cass County, Iowa, 
which he cultivated four years. In 1880 he 
bought 120 acres of land in section 23, 
Wavelcnd Township, Pottawattamie County, 
forty acres of which were broken. He built 
a house on the land, and two years later sold 
the property. Then he bought 100 acres of 
land in section 4, all of which had been 
plowed. He put up a house and other build- 
ings on this place and after remaining there 
live years sold it. Mr. Coe bought his pres- 
ent farm of Thomas McCuUa. It consists of 
125 acres, and had been improved by James 
Pierce, who owned it before Mr. McCuUa. 
On this farm is a good frame house, 14 x 22 
feet, with an L, 12 x 14 feet. It is 
pleasantly situated and is surrounded by 
a srove and orchard of one acre. Other 



improvements on the place are a barn, 
sheds, yards, feed lots and a wind-mill. Mr. 
Coe's attention is divided between stock- 
raising and cultivating the soil. 

He was married, May 16, 1873, at Avoca, 
Iowa, to Flora A. Winsby, a native of Nova 
Scotia and a daughter of Robert C. Winsby, 
who was born in Nova Scotia of English an- 
cestry. Her mother, nee Ruby A. Griffin, 
was also a native of Nova Scotia. Mr. 
Winsby is now a resident of Avoca. Mr. 
and Mrs. Coe have seven children, viz.: Rob- 
ert Guy, Mark P., Clarence G, Clara E., El- 
mer A., Eddie E. and Roy A. Mr. Coe is 
one of the leading Democrats of this neigh- 
borhood. For the past six years he has been 
a Justice of the Peace. He is in the full 
vigor of manhood, is genial and affable, and 
is regarded as one of the most popular citi- 
zens of Waveland Township. Mrs. Coe is a 
member of the Christian Church. 



C. STRONG has been a resident of 
Pottawattamie County since 1864 and 
* is one of the well-to-do farmers and 
worthy citizens of Center Township. 

He was born in Ohio, October 13, 1837. 
His father, James M. Strong, was born in 
New England, and was a babe when his par- 
ents moved to Ohio. In that State he grew 
to manhood, and was married, in Meigs 
County, to Miss Melissa Barker, who was 
born in 1816. When their son C. S., the 
subject of this sketch, was nine years old 
they came to Iowa and settled in Jefferson 
County, coming via the Ohio and Mississippi 
rivers to Keokuk, and from there by teams 
to Jefferson County. There the son attended 
school in a log cabin and worked on a farm, 
remaining with his father until he reached 
his majority. At the age of twenty-one he 



BWGRAPUICAL HISTORY 



was united in marriage with Lucy Clover, 
a lady of iatellicreNce who has proved lierselt' 
a lielpinate to her husband tlius far ou life's 
ourney. She was born near Deertield, Ohio, 
and was ten years old when she came to Jef- 
lersoti County, Ljwa, with her parents, Jaiues 
and Emily (Sniillen) Clover. 

In 1864, as already stated at the beginning 
of this sketch, Mr. Strong came to Pottawat- 
tamie County. His parents, who came here 
at the same time, lived on a farm until 1889, 
when they moved to Oakland, where they 
are passing their declining days in peace and 
Comfort. The father is now seventy-eight 
years of age. Mr. Strong was among the 
pioneers of this county, the land on which he 
settled being wild and unimproved. He 
now owns a fine farm of 260 acres; has com- 
fortable and substantial buildings and good 
fences, broad pastures and well cultivated 
fields and two groves. He also has a fine 
orchard from which, in 1889, he gathered 
1,200 buhsels of fruit. He raises annually 
large numbers of cattle and hogs. 

Mr. and Mrs. Strong have five children, 
namely: Alice Converse, who for years has 
been a successful teacher in California, and 
is now in Oakland, this county, and has one 
son, Thomas, who married Addie Butler, 
a daughter of William B. Butler, of this 
township, and has one child; William Fred, 
a student at Simpson's College, Indianola, 
Iowa; James Clover and Charlie Cook, at 
home. They lost two children by death: 
Florence Belle, February 17, 1883, at the 
age of twenty-one years and fifteen days; 
and Mary Catherine, at the age of six 
months. Florence Belle was a general 
favorite with her associates, and was known 
far and wide for her Christian virtues, her 
amiable qualities and her cheerful and affec- 
tionate disposition. She was gifted with 
musical talent, and rendered valuable serv- 



ices to the choir of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church, of which she was a consistent mem- 
ber. She was an affectionate daughter and 
sister, and her uiUimely death cast a gloom 
not only over the home circle but also over all 
those who knew her during hej brief but 
useful life. 

Mr. Strong and his wife are members of 
the Methodist Episcopal Church, Hancock 
Circuit, and their son, William, is also a 
zealous worker in the cause of religion. Po- 
litically Mr. Strong is a Republican. He has 
served the public in several township offices. 

llAPtLES S. ROBINSON is one of the 
prominent and influential citizens of 
Center Township, Pottawattamie Coun- 
ty, Iowa. He is one of the brave pioneers 
who came here in 1853 when everything was 
new and wild, and is justly deserving of 
honorable mention in work of this character. 
A history of his life will be found of interest 
to many. 

Mr. Robinson was born in Fountain Coun- 
ty, .Indiana, March 2, 1828. His father and 
grandfather, Joel and Jeremiah Robinson, 
were natives of North Carolina. Joel Robin- 
son was reared in his native State, and there 
married Jane Daily, who was born in North 
Carolina, the daughter of Charles Daily, who 
was of Irish extraction and also a native of 
that State. He and his wife went to Indiana 
in 1825, where they lived for many years. 
The following children were born to them: 
John now a resident of Perryville, Indiana; 
Marion, in Davis County, Iowa; Erastus, 
Appanoose, Iowa; Sabra Ann, wife of Thomas 
Foster, Appanoose County; and Charles S., 
the subject of this sketch. His youth was 
spent on his fathers farm in Indiana, and his 
education was obtained in the typical log 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



573 



school-liouse of the period, wliicli was fitted 
up with slab seats. Mr. and Mrs. Robinson 
rennoved to Appanoose County, Iowa, in 
1851, wliere tliey lived until death. The 
father was born in 1797, and died in 1877. 
He was formerly a Democrat but later in life 
cast his vote and intlnence with the Re- 
publican party. Both he and his wife were 
members of the Christian Church. She died 
at the age of eighty-four years. 

When their son, Charles S., was twenty- 
one years old he left his native State, came to 
Iowa, and settled in Appanoose County, 
where he was engaged in farming for three 
years. In 1853 he came to Pottawattamie 
County, as already stated at the beginning of 
this article, and lirst settled in Council Bluffs. 
There he teamed and farmed for a time, after 
which, in 1855, he moved to Wheel's Grove, 
where he spent one season. In 1856 he 
located on his present farm, being one of the 
first settlers in the neighborhood. There 
were a few families about Big Grove; but 
nortii, cast and south of him stretched the 
wild prairie. It was ten miles to the first 
house east on Walnut Creek. The situation 
was enough to discourage a man not possessed 
with pluck and courage, but Mr. Robinson 
had in his make-up both of these elements 
combined with energy and perseverance: and 
the inconveniences of the new country only 
served as a stimulus to help develop the wild 
land that lie before him, and built for him- 
self and family a home. His first winter was 
passed in a shanty covered with sod, but be- 
fore the frosts of another winter came they 
were j-nngly living in anew log house, where 
he and his good wife dispensed hospitality 
with a liberal hand to all those who sought 
shelter in their humble home. Stranger and 
friend were entertained in true pioneer style. 
On this farm of 248 acres Mr. Robinson has 
lived for thirty-four years. The log house, 



however, has given jplace to a substantial and 
modern frame one, which is surrounded with 
shade trees and an orchard of two or three 
acres. The farm has other icood buildings, 
is well fenced, and is devoted to general farm - 
ing and stock-raising. 

Mr. Robinson was married, November 25, 
1849, to Miss Mary D. Rogers, a lady pos- 
sessed of all the virtues and accomplishments 
that make a pioneer successful. She was 
born in Pickaway County, Ohio, a daughter 
of Clement and Rachel (White) Rogers, both 
natives of Delaware. When Mrs. Robinson 
was a girl her parents moved to Indiana, 
where they spent the residue of their lives. 
They were members of the Methodist 
Church, and were honored and respected citi- 
zens. Of their family of three children, two 
sons are deceased, Mrs. Robinson being the 
only survivor. Mr. and Mrs. Robinson have 
had ten children, as follows: William, a res- 
ident of Wisconsin; Frank is married, has 
one child, and lives in Belknap Township, 
Pottawattamie County; Anna has been a suc- 
cessful teacher in California for seven years; 
Susan, wife of John Means, of Rice County, 
Kansas; Charles Freeland, Ira Joel, Sydney 
Grant — all at home; S. Jessie, a popular 
teacher; and Fred Elmer, at home. Their 
second child died at the age of nine months. 
All of them were born in Pottawattamie 
County, exce|)t William, who was born in 
Wapello County, Iowa. Mr. Robinson has 
given his children the advantages of a good 
education, and fitted them for honorable posi- 
tions in life. The daughters have all been 
teachers. 

Politically Mr. Robinson is a Republican. 
He has served in all the township offices. 
Two terms he was Justice of the Peace. He 
is a member of the I. O. O. F. lodo-e, of Oak- 
land, No. 442. His wife is a member of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church, of Oakland. 



r)74 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY 



Mr. Robinson is sixty-two years old, yet lie 
bears his age lightly. He is a man well in- 
formed on all general topics, and is broad 
and progressive in his views. He is frank 
and cordial in his manner, and is honorable 
in all his business dealings. 

let »| V » ^ t | ^ ». j |» »o* . 



tANIEL A. BURCKHALTER, one of 
the older soldier fanners of Pottawatta- 
mie County, was born in Boone Coun- 
ty, Indiana, September 22, 1840. His great- 
grandfather, Adam Burckhalter, was of Ger- 
man descent. His son, Abraham, the grand- 
father of our subject, was born in South Caro- 
lina, and at an early day moved to Ohio on 
pack horses, and again moved to Union 
County, Indiana, where he lived several years. 
He next went to Boone County, where he died, 
on his farm, at the age of eighty years. He 
was a member of the Baptist Church, an 
honorable and upright citizen, and a man re- 
spected by all. His wife survived until 
1888, dying at the advanced age of 104 years 
and two days. He was the father of ten 
children, viz.: Carson, Fannie, Margaret, 
Rebecca, Jerry, Sarah, Joseph, Thomas, 
James S., and one who died young. James 
S., a son of the above and the father of our 
subject, was born in Union County, Indiana, 
March 22, 1818, and was reared to farm life. 
He was married to Leah Belles, daughter of 
John W. and Mary (Huff) Belles. The father 
was a native of New Jersey, and moved to 
Hamilton County, Ohio, where he worked at 
his trade of carpenter. He was the son of 
Adam Belles, who was a native of Germany. 
John Belles moved to Boone County, Indiana, 
in 1863, and built a mill on Prairie Creek, 
but died two years afterward, at the age of 
sixty-three. He was an industrious and 
honorable man, and was the father of ten 



children: Annie, Elisha, Isaac, Leah, Will- 
iam, Jacob and Peter. To Mr. and Mrs. 
James S. Burckhalter were born eight chil- 
dren: Eliza J., Daniel A., Cynthia A., John 
M., Thomas W., Abigail C. and Laura A. 
After marriage his father lived on a farm in 
Boone County for seventeen years, and then 
moved to Marion County, Iowa, in 1854, 
where he lived until 1862, and where he was 
one of the early settlers. He enlisted in 
Company H, Fortieth Iowa Regiment Vol- 
unteer Infantry, but was taken sick and died 
one year afterward, from chronic diarrhea. 
He died on the steamboat at St. Louis. He 
was a good, substantial farmer, and although 
over forty-five years of age his patriotism 
would not allow him to remain at home, and 
he left his family and a comfortable home to 
lose his life for his country. His brother, 
Carson Burckhalter, was also in the same 
regiment, and was sixty years of age when he 
enlisted, and like his brother was a well-to- 
do farmer, but could not remain idle when 
his country needed him. James Burckhalter 
and his wife were devout members of the 
Christian Church. Politically he was a Re- 
publican, and socially a Master Mason. He 
was a man of high character, true and stead- 
fast, a kind father and loving husband, and a 
patriot who did not hesitate to risk his life 
for his country, which is all that any one 
can do. 

Daniel A. Burckhalter, the subject of this 
sketch, enlisted in Company K, Third Iowa 
Cavalry, Colonel Bussey, at the early age of 
twenty -one years. He was in several skir- 
mishes, served in Missouri and Arkansas, and 
was in the siege of Yicksburg. The service 
in Missouri was principally against General 
Price and the bushwhackers, which was very 
dangerous, as the troops were very often 
fired upon from the bush. He was in a hard 
fight at Saline River, after which he was sent 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



575 



to Fine Bluff with the ambulance corps, and 
was captured by the Confederates under Cap 
tain Webb, but escaped within one hour. He 
served three years, and was honorably dis- 
char<j;ed at Keokuk, Iowa, and returned 
home. 

In 1879 he moved to Pottawattamie Coun- 
ty and settled on his present farm, which 
now consists of 160 acres of fine land. He 
also lias 160 acres of land in Dakota, and 120 
acres in Cass County, Iowa. He is a hard 
working and a straightforward citizen, and 
stands high among the people. He is a 
member of the G. A. R., Abbott Post, No. 
201, of which he has been Chaplain. He is 
a member of the Christian Church, and has 
held the office of deacon. 

Mr. Burckhalter was married in 1865, to 
Edna Bell, daughter of Siuipson and Mary 
(Foote) Bell. The father was born in Ver- 
mont, and moved from Ashtabula County, 
Ohio, to Marion County, Iowa, where he be- 
came a prominent farmer. He is now living 
in Montgomery, Iowa. He was the father of 
four children. Mr. and Mrs. Burckhalter had 
five children, namely: Charles, Sherman, who 
moved to Monroe Cemetery, Iowa, and died 
at the Black Hills, Custer County, Dakota, 
at the age of nineteen; Mary M., Cora L., 
Lucy A. and Carrie J. The mother died in 
Jasper County, Iowa, and Mr. Burckhalter 
was again married January 25, 1891, to 
Lucie Dennis, of Essex, Page County, this 
State. 

■^'«g- 2M; . g ..^ 

V. PLANK, a successful farmer of 
Pottawattamie County, was born in 
'" LewisCounty, New York, November 
28, 1823, a son of Henry Plank, a native of 
Mohawk Yalley, and a soldier in the war of 
1812. He was a son of Josiali Plank, a 
Revolutionary soldier. Our subject's mother 




was Margaret C. (Vaningen) Plank, a native 
of New York, and the daughter of Joseph 
Vaningen, a native of Holland. The parents 
lived in New York until their death. The 
father was a farmer all his life, and in his 
reliujious relations was a member of the Pres- 
byterian Church. 

M. V. Plank was reared on a farm in Lewis 
County until his eighteenth year, when he 
served an apprenticeship at the carpenter and 
joiner's trade and as a stair-builder for three 
years. In 1857 he came to Lyons, Clinton 
County, Iowa, where he was engaged at his 
trade two years. He then moved to lola, 
Allen County, Kansas, but on account of the 
famine that year and also of the breaking out 
of the war, he went to Whiteside County, 
Illinois, near Morrison; in 1866 he returned 
to Clinton County, Iowa; in 1867 he removed 
to Delaware County, and in 1872 he went to 
Sioux City, where he made his home until 
1875. That city was then a small village, 
and in 1872 he was elected a Master Me- 
chanic at Fort Buford, which position he 
tilled with credit. In 1875 he came to his 
present farm of eighty acres in Belknap 
Township. At that time his nearest neigh- 
bor north was about seven miles distant, and 
south four miles, and the whole country was 
wild prairie; now it is a nice farming coun- 
try. Besides his farming, Mr. Plank is also 
engaged in raising horses, of which he has 
some very high grades. 

He was married October 18, 1846, in 
Lewis County, New York, to Miss H. A. 
Witherbee, who was born in Otsego County, 
New York, and was reared and educated at 
Watertown, Jefl'erson County. She was a 
successful and popular teacher before her 
marriage, and while in Kansas held the po- 
sition of Principal in a high school. She 
was the daughter of David and Eliza (St. 
Clair) Witherbee, the former a native of 



57G 



BIOGBAPHTCAL HISTORY 



Manchester, Vermont, and the latter of West- 
minster, same State, and a daughter of 
General Arthur St. Clair, of Revolutionary 
fame. The mother was a member of the 
Universalist Church, and the father of the 
Episcopal. They lived in New York until 
their death. Mr. and Mrs. Plank have six 
children: Zelia Eliza, wife of Uavid Yanalstine, 
of Belknap Township; W. J., a carpenter 
and contractor, of Cora Valley, Oregon; 
Hattie, wife of George h. Boals, of Dako- 
ta County, Nebraska; Ida Belle and Ada N., 
twins, the fbrmer the wife of J. A. Fletcher, 
of Forrest ville, Colorado, and the latter the 
wife of Marion Barton, of Valley Township, 
Pottawattamie Counry; lona L., wife of B. 
S. Leader, of Belknap Township. They lost 
a babe, William L., when seventeen months 
old, in New York. Politically Mr. Plank is 
a Kepiiblican, and religiously an Adventist. 
Mrs. Plank is an ordained minister of the 
Adventist Church, and has preached at Sioux 
City, Yankton and Omaha. She is a faith- 
ful and zealous worker in this county for 
her Master, and has performed the marriage 
ceremony of all her chiUren but one. The 
children are all well married and have left 
their parental home, and Mr. and Mrs. Plank 
now feel very lonely, but they are reconciled 
to their lot. 



II^I^ATHAN SMITH COLLINS, section 35, 
Waveland Township, Pottawattamie 
County, Iowa, is one of the well-known 
and successful citizens of the community. 
He has resided here since 1869. Mr. Collins 
was born in Washington County, Vermont, 
October 25, 1858, son of Alfred and Cordelia 
(Smith) Collins, the former a native of Clar- 
endon, Vermont, and the latter of Addison, 
same State. His paternal grandfather was 



Nathan Collins, and his maternal grandpar 
ents were Amos and Barbara Smith. Alfred 
Collins lived in his native State until 1869, 
when he came to Pottawattamie ('ounty, 
Iowa, being one of the early settlers in this 
neighborhood. Here he passed the remainder 
of bis life. He was twice married. By his 
first wife he had six children, five of whom 
are living, viz.: Mary A. Wall, of Pilot 
Grove, Montgomery County, Iowa; Stukely 
Alden, of Omaha, Nebraska; Edith Cordelia 
DeVoss, of Arkansas; Gertrude E. Simpson, 
of Denver, Colorado, and Nathan Smith 
Collins. The last named was only two 
months old when his mother died. His 
father afterward wedded Harriet A. Wick- 
ware, and by her had two children, only one 
of whom is living. Mrs. Collins and her 
daughter, Eliza Bessie, reside at Elliot, Mont- 
gomery County, Iowa. Mr. Collins died 
October 28, 1878. He was a farmer all his 
life, and his political relations were with the 
Republican party. For four or five years he 
served as Justice of the Peace. He was a 
member of the Advent Church. 

The subject of our sketch was the youngest 
son of his father's family, and was eleven 
years old when his pai'ents came to this 
county. Here he grew to manhood and was 
educated in the district schools. After finish- 
ing his education he engaged in teaching for 
a short time. At the death of his father, al- 
though only twenty years of age, Mr. Collins 
assumed the management of the home place, 
where he has since resided. The farm con- 
sists of 122 acres of rich bottom land, all 
under cultivation. Among the imjirovements 
on this farm are a frame house, which is sur- 
rounded by shade and ornamental trees, a 
good barn, cribs, wind-mill, stock-yards, feed- 
lots, orchard and grove. 

Mr. Collins was married, Februai-y 28, 
1883, in Montgomery County, Iowa, to Emma 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



577 



Hulbert, who was born and reared in Iowa. 
Her parents, Orlando and Charlotte (Bliss) 
Hulbert, both natives of Vermont, are now 
residents of Wayne County, Nebraska. Her 
fatlier is a Ilepu])lican and a farmer. Her 
mother is a member of the Baptist Church. 
Mr. and Mrs. Collins have three children: 
Mary Emma, Valma Belle and Frank Hiiber. 
Like liis father, Mr. Collins is a Republican. 
He and his wife are both members of the 
Christian Church. He is numbered, socially, 
financially and politically, among the repre- 
sentative citizens of Waveland Township. 



^HARLES S. PRICE, proprietor of the 
Pleasant Ridge stock-farm, Macedonia 
Township, was born in Pennsylvania, in 
1850, a son of Martin and Melinda (Will- 
iams Price, Virginians. He was three years 
of age when his parents settled in Fultou 
County, Illinois, and was seven years of age 
when his mother died. A short time after- 
ward he had to begin to support himself, and 
was engaged in farm work until grown. In 
1870 he came to Pottawattamie County and 
continued in his calling, working by the 
tnonth and saving up money, until in 1877 
he was able to buy some land. At that time 
all around him was wild prairie; but he has 
labored upon his place until he has made of 
it a fine farm, with good residence, etc. The 
place comprises 120 acres, and is very rich. 
Mr. Price is a pioneer in the introduction 
of Percheron horses in that part of the coun- 
ty, and he has spent much time and money 
to obtain the best specimens to be found. 
One of the best horses in Western Iowa is 
his Metayer, foaled in 1884 and imported in 
1886 by P. Hopley & Co., of Lewis, Iowa; 
recorded number 6,026; weight 1,800 pounds. 
He took the first premium as a three-year- 



old at the Nebraska State Fair at Omaha in 
1888, in competition with many others. 
Another is Saba, number 12,913, foaled 
March, 1887, in France, and imported by 
Hopley & Co. Gray Nellie is a Percheron 
mare which drew first premium at Omaha at 
four different fairs On exhibiting his horses 
at Malvern, Mr. Price took six first premiums, 
one second and one diploma. His herds of 
thoroughbred and high-grade horses are sec- 
ond to none in the county. 

Mr. Price is a Republican in his politics, 
and is liberal both in spirit and in practically 
aiding in the advancement of the interests of 
his community. 

He was married in 1875, to Miss Marion, 
a daughter of James Perks, an old settler of 
Macedonia Township, and their children are: 
Arthur Leon, James Martin, Edith May and 
Hoy. 



I^ENNETH McKENZIE, an intelligent 
and well-to-do farmer of Waveland 
Township, came to Pottawattamie 
County, Iowa, in 1874. It is eminently 
fitting that an outline of his life should be 
given in this work; in fact, its omission 
would make the history incomplete. 

Like many of Iowa's successful men, Mr. 
McKenzie is a native of Scotland. He was 
born in December, 1836, son of Roderick and 
Ann (McLeod) McKenzie, both natives of 
that country in which they passed their lives. 
At the age of thirty-three Mr. McKenzie 
married May Kenedy, also a native of Scot- 
land, born of Scotch parents, Donald and 
Ann (McLennan) Kenedy. In 1869 he and 
his wife bade farewell to native land and 
sailed from Glasgow to New York. They 
continued their way westward and settled in 
Lapeer County, Michigan, where Mr. McKen- 



578 



BIOGBAFEIGAL HISTORT 



zie was employed at whatever he could do 
that was most profitable. For a time he did 
railroad work and was afterward engaged in 
lumber woods. In 1874 lie came to Potta- 
wattamie County and bought 160 acres of 
wild prairie land in Waveland Township, 
paying for it good old Scotch money that he 
had earned by the sweat of his brow. Here 
he has since lived, worked and prospered, and 
in many ways lias been aided by his worthy 
help-mate. He is now the owner of 440 
acres of rich, well-improved land, one of the 
best farms in the township. He has a fine 
home, built in 1884, at a cost of $1,000, and 
is beautifully situated on a natural building 
site. Mr. MeKenzie is engaged in stock- 
raising and general agricultural pursuits. 
He has a grove and orchard, all necessary 
farm buildings and fences, all the result of 
the thrifty Scotchman's well directed efforts. 
Mr. and Mrs. MeKenzie have four chil- 
dren: Anna, Christena, Donald and Rodena 
M. In his political views Mr. MeKenzie is 
a Republican. He was reared a Presby- 
terian. Financially he is regarded as one of 
the solid men of the township. He is honest 
and upright in all things, and his word is as 
good as his bond. His postofBce is Grriswold, 
Cass County, Iowa. 



in * • (»j 



H. BOLTON, section 30, Grove Town- 
ship, Pottawattamie County, Iowa, is 
'* one of the representative citizens of 
his community. He was born in Giles 
County, Virginia, March 7, 1832. His 
father, George Bolton, was a native of the 
same county, and was a son of Henry Bolton. 
The latter was born in Germany, and when a 
youth was kidnapped and brought to Amer- 
ica. This occurred before the Revolutionary 
war. After his arrival here he made his 



escape, joined the colonial forces and fought 
under General Washington in the struggle 
for independence. After the war he settled 
in Virginia, where he married and lived until 
his death occurred. George Bolton married 
Margaret Duncan, also a native of Virginia, 
and to them were born seven children, five 
of whom are now livinsj, viz.: Elizabeth 
Southern, who resides in Oregon; Eliza J. 
Rice, also in Oregon; C. H., the subject of 
this sketch; Nancy M. Smith, of Delaware 
County, Iowa; and Christena Wilkinson, of 
Mills County, same State. When Mr. C. H. 
Bolton was ten years of age his father and 
family removed from Virginia to Cedar 
County, Iowa, making the journey in an old- 
fashioned Virginia wagon. Iowa was then 
a Territory, and Mr. Bolton's family were 
among the early settlers of Cedar County. 
He was a farmer all his life, a Jackson Dem- 
ocrat, a Protestant Methodist, and a man of 
integrity and moral worth. His death oc- 
cuiTed in Cedar County a few years after he 
settled in this State. His wife, an earnest 
Christian, and a member of the Protestant 
Methodist Church, lived to about the age of 
eighty years, and died at the home of her son 
in Grove Township, this county. 

The son of poor but industrious Christian 
parents, C. H. Bolton was reared on a farm 
and in early youth taught those lessons of 
diligence and good morals which have been 
important factors in his after life, and have 
helped him on to success. He first attended 
school in Virginia, and after moving West 
his studies were continued in the primitive 
log school-house which the pioneers had 
erected. To these rudiments of an education 
thus obtained Mr. Bolton has added a practi- 
cal experience which can only be gained by 
personal contact with business and the world. 
When he was twenty-one years of age he 
wedded Miss Louisa Bolton, a distant rela 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



579 



tive of his, who was born in Indiana, a 
daughter of William and Sarah Bolton. Onr 
subject lived in Cedar County until 1873, 
when he came to his present location, coming 
via the C. R. R. I. Railroad to Walnut, and 
from there to Grove Township in wagons. 
He bought VZQ acres of land. Two years 
later he bought the eighty acres where he 
now lives, and which is near his lirst pur- 
chase. Tiie latter property has been im- 
proved by Sam U. Hopkius, who sold it to 
Mr. Bolton. The 120 acres corners on the 
southeast of it, making in all a fine farm of 
200 acres. He has a comfortable house, a 
good barn and all necessary improvements 
and buildings for the care of stock, etc. 

Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. 
Bolton, two of whom are deceas-ed. The liv- 
ing are Lewis, who resides in Oregon; George 
and Mary, at home; and Cora, wife of Jesse 
Pedit, of Waveland Township. Martin Sher- 
man died at the age of eleven years, and 
Oliva at the age of three years. Mrs. Bolton 
died September 16, 1886, and her loss was 
deeply felt by her husband, her children and 
her many friends. She was greatly beloved 
by all who knew her, and as a Christian 
woman her life is worthy of emulation. 
She was a member of the Protestant Meth- 
odist Church, as is also her husband. In 
politics Mr. Bolton is a Republican. 



►4w^ 



fAMES LIVINGSTON, one of the sub- 
stantial farmers of Valley Township, is 
descended from an old American family 
of Scotch descent. His great-grandfather came 
from Scotland and settled in Washington 
County, Pennsylvania, and afterward moved 
to Mercer County, same State. William Liv- 
ingston, his son and the grandfather of uur 
subject, was born in Peniisj'lvania, and was 



married to Margaret Mathews. They were 
the parents of seven children: Mary, Mar- 
garet, James, David, Hugh, Marshall and 
William. The father was a farmer near 
Wilmington, Pennsylvania, and lived to 
the age of eighty-six years; he was a mem- 
ber of the United Presbyterian Church. 
Hugh Livingston, the father of our subject, 
was born in Pennsylvania in 1811, and was a 
cabinet-maker by trade, which business he 
followed in his native State until 1853. He 
was married, in Mercer County, to Elizabeth 
Smith, daughter of Richard and Phoebe 
(Woodhouse) Smith. The father was born 
in Stonebridgc, England, and was the father 
of ten children. To Mr. and Mrs. Living- 
ston were also born ten children, viz.: Mary, 
Phoebe, Margaret, Elizabeth, Zilpah, James, 
Milton, Charles, Dewitt C. and Wm. W. The 
father followed his trade in Mercer County, 
Pennsylvania, until 1850, when he removed 
to Rock Island, Illinois, and remained three 
years. In 1853 he moved to Scott County, 
Iowa, where he was among the early pioneers. 
He remained there about three years, and in 
1856 returned to Rock Island, Illinois, and 
bought a farm, remaining three years. He 
sold this place, and in 1876 came to Potta- 
wattamie County, settling in James Town- 
ship, where he died in 1885. He and his 
wife were both members of the Presbyterian 
Church. 

James Livingston, the subject of this 
sketch, was born in Mercer County, Penn- 
sylvania, May 27, 1839, and was reared to 
the life of a farmer. August 13, 1862, at 
the age of twenty-three, he enlisted in Com- 
pany C, Second Iowa Volunteer Cavalry, and 
was in the battles of Cuffeeville, Mississippi, 
Salinsburg, Colliersville, Tupelo, in the de- 
struction of the railroad at Oxford, Missis- 
sippi, on the Grier?on raid through Missis- 
sippi, and at the battle of Nashville, Ten- 



580 



BIOGRAPHICAL HI8T0RT 



nessee. He first served eicrhteen months, and 
then re-enlisted in the same companj and 
regiment, and served as a veteran for twenty 
montlis, making altogether thirty-eight 
months, and was neither wounded nor in the 
hospital. He was mustered out at Daven- 
port, Iowa, October 4, 1865, and was honor- 
ably discliarged at Selma, Alabama. 

After the war Mr. Livingston settled on a 
farm in Rock Island County, Illinois, where 
he lived one year, when he came to Scott 
County, Iowa, where he lived until March, 
1868. In that year he came to Pottawatta- 
mie County and settled on his present farm 
of eighty acres of wild land. He has since 
converted this into a tine, fertile farm, to 
which he has added until he now owns 133 
acres. He has taken an active interest in 
the cause of education, and was instrumen- 
tal in the building of the tirst school-house 
in this part of the township, and was also 
School Director. He has tilled this oftice 
many times since, and is now a member of 
the U. S. Grant Post, No. 123, Avoca, Iowa. 
Mr. Livingston stands deservedly high in 
his county as an honorable and upright citi- 
zen, and as a man of sterling wortli. 

He was married in Scott County, Iowa, to 
Emily Dulin, daughter of James and Almira 
(Danforth) Dulin. Tlie father was born in 
Virginia, in 1812, and was a farmer by occu- 
pation. His father, John Dulin, an Irish- 
man by birth, was a soldier in the war of 
1812, and died in Virginia. Mr. Dulin went 
to Ohio when a young man, and in 1843 set- 
tled in Scott County, Iowa, where he was one 
of the early pioneers. He was a substantial 
farmer, and lived to the age of seventy-one 
years. His wife was born in 1812, and died 
at the age of seventy-three years. They were 
the parents of nine children: Thomas, Eush- 
rod, James, Alfred, Eleazer, Emily, Clara, 
Elizabeth and John. Mrs. Dulin was a mem- 



ber of the Christian Church. Mr. Dulin was 
a hard-working man, and well known to all 
the old settlers. To Mr. and Mrs. Living- 
ston have been born six children: Hugh, 
James, Joseph, Bessie, Emma M. and Katie. 
James was married to Clara McMasters, and 
they have one child — Hugii. He is now a 
butcher at Hancock. 

^ ' 3 i ' S ' l *' ' " 



HOMAS DOOL, a substantial farmer 
of Valley Township, is the son of 
Robert Dool, who was born in County 
Antrim, Ireland, and was of sterlintr Scotch- 
Irish descent. He was the son of Henry 
Dool, who came from Scotland and settled 
on a farm in Ireland, and was the father of 
tive children: John, Henry, Robert and 
Martha. Robert came to America when a 
young married man, in 1817; his name was 
spelled Doole. He was married to Margaret 
Spears, a native of County Antrim, Ireland, 
and they were parents of eight children: 
William S., Henry and Hannah (twins), 
Roseau, Margaret, Mary, John and Thomas. 
The tirst three were born in Ireland, and 
Roseau was born on the ocean in an English 
ship sailing under American colors for safety 
in French waters; so il is said that she did 
not know her nationality. The remainder of 
the children were born in America. John" 
Spears also came to America in 1821, bring- 
ing his wife, nee May Hannah, and four 
children: Robert, May, Hannah, Margaret. 
The father came to Ohio, where he was 
among the early pioneers of Guernsey Coun- 
ty, and where he lived until 1831. He was 
a member of tiie old Seceder Presbyterian 
Church, and was an honorable man. Mr. 
Dool landed in Philadelphia, and went di- 
rectly to Ohio, settling in Harrison County, 
where he was a pioneer. He lived only to 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE C0UHT7. 



581 



the age of thirty-- nine years, dying of canal 
fever in 1829. He was a member of the 
Presbyterian Church, and a man who loved 
his family, which tempted him to risk life 
and health in the strucrgle with the wilder- 
ness in order to better their condition. 
Mrs. Dool was left with a family of small 
children, to whom she taught industry and 
honesty, which is always learned at the 
mother's knee. In 1859 she came to Illinois 
with her son John, where she died at the age 
of ninety years. She was born in 1792 and 
died in 1882. She was a lady of strong 
character and hardy constitution, and strove 
to teach her children, all of whom became 
good citizens; one son, William S., a Presby- 
terian minister, followed that profession in 
Ohio and Illinois for many years. 

Thomas Dool, our subject, was boi-n on his 
father's farm in Harrison County, Ohio, July 
26, 1828, and, like many of our famous men, 
had little chance to attend school, and after 
eleven years of age did not attend school at 
all He learned the carpenter's trade, which 
he followed for eleven years. In March, 
1862, he went to Mercer County, Illinois, 
where he remained eleven years. In 1873 
he came to Pottawattamie County, settling 
on his present farm of eighty acres, but 
which he has since improved and converted 
into a fine farm of 160 acres, on which is a 
new and commodious residence and many 
other improvements. He is respected by his 
fellow citizens, and takes an active interest 
in the cause of education, having served as 
Justice of the Peace and as School Director. 
He has made his property by hard labor, and 
is truly a self-made man 

Mr. Dool was married in Harrison County, 
Ohio, to Mary Bell, daughter of John and 
Margaret (Clifford) Bell. The father was an 
Irishman by birth, and came to America in 
1841, settling on a farm in Harrison County. 



He was the father of ten children, viz. : Mary, 
Benjamin, Esther, Samuel (deceased in his 
second year), John, George, Edward, James, 
Margaret A. and Jane. Benjamin was a 
soldier in the civil war, enlisting at the be- 
ginning, and was in several battles. He died 
in June, 1862, from typhoid fever. The 
father removed to his farm in Mercer Coun- 
ty, Illinois, in 1864, where he is still living. 
To Mr. and Mrs. Dool have been born four 
children: Henry E. (deceased at the age of 
twenty-six); William J., who was born in 
1859; Margaret J. and Mary E. Both Mr. 
and Mrs. Dool are members of the Presby- 
terian Church, in which Mr. Dool has been 
an elder for many years. He assisted in or- 
ganizing the Knox Presbyterian Church, and 
with Robert Martin was elected elder. 



TEPHEN THOMAS DUNN, Je., a 
farmer of Crescent Township, was born 
in Dubuque, Iowa, August 24, 1849, 
the son of Stephen and Mary Dunn, of Irish 
ancestry. The senior Dunn was born Decem- 
ber 26, 1819, in Dublin, Ireland, where he 
was reared to manhood. About the acre of 
twenty-one years he emigrated to America, 
landing at New York, where he served his 
apprenticeship as tailor. About two years 
after arriving in this country he married a 
French lady, who was born November 23, 
1826, and died in 1865. They had three sons 
and one daughter, namely: William and 
Mary, deceased; John, now residing at Coun- 
cil Bluffs; and Stephen Thomas, the subject 
of this sketch. In 1857 the father came to 
Council Bluff's, where he married again, made 
his residence and followed his trade tu within 
a few years of his death, which occurred De- 
cember 26, 1888. Purchasing a t'ariri eight 
miles north of Council Bluffs, he spent the 



5H2 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



remainder of liis days there. The children 
by his second wife were two daughters: Allie 
and Winifred, both now deceased. 

His son, the subject of tiiis sketch, was 
reared to farm life, married in 1874 and pur- 
chased eighty acres of land on section 34, 
where he now lives. There he began life 
anew and made the many improvements es- 
sential to a complete and comfortable home. 
He now has a tine imported Clydesdale stall- 
ion five years old, weighing 1,700 pounds 
and being seventeen hands high, which he 
keeps in Council Bluffs in the season. 

He was married in March, 1874, to a lady 
who was born in Wisconsin, April 28, 1857, 
and since then has occupied his present farm. 
He is a steadfast and enthusiastic Democrat, 
Las been Road Supervisor for the past Hve 
jears, is a member of the Mutual Protective 
Association of Crescent City, and he and his 
wife are devont members of the Catholic 
Church and exemplary citizens. They have 
had two daughters and five sons, namely: 
Joseph Earl, born March 1, 1875; Mary 
Winifred, October 2, 1877, died August 24, 
1878; Ellen, born September 15, 1879; Al- 
bert Francis, .lanuary 15, 1882; John, Au- 
gust 10, 1886; Stephen Tliomas, Jr., January 
24, 1888; and Andrew, March 10, 1890. 



"^•^^-^ 



fOSEPH A. BUNNELL, a substantial 
farmer of Pottawattamie County, own- 
ing one of the largest farms in Kuo.x 
Township, is of English descent. His grand- 
father Barlow was a soldier in the Revolu- 
tionary war, and was a traveling salesman 
throuich the West. He bought land atid mill 
property, and established his brother Abner 
on a tract of land at Maumee City, Indiana, 
at a very early day. Charles Bunnell, the 
father of our subject, was born in Ontario 



County, New York, near Rochester, and was 
married in that county to Margaret M. Bar- 
low, a well educated lady, and the daughter 
of an old Revolutionary soldier, who were 
pioneer settlers in the old colonies of Massa- 
chusetts and New York. Mrs. Bunnell 
taught her husband to read and write, 
and he became a well-informed man. 
They were the parents of twelve children, 
seven sons and five daughters: Charles B., 
Alby, deceased at forty years of age; Joseph 
A., William T., Byron L., George, deceased 
at two years; Susanah M., Josephine M., 
Mary, Sarah, and the first and last born died 
in infancy, The father settled on a farm in 
Portage County, Ohio, where he was among 
the pioneer settlers. He resided there about 
twelve years, then moved to Winnebago 
County, Illinois, remaining seven years; in 
1851 he came to Clinton County, Iowa, and 
settled on wild land, where he lived until he 
came to Shelby Couiity. His wife and son 
Byron died, and after two years he went to 
the State of Washington, where he still lives, 
at the age of eighty-five years. He is a mem- 
ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in 
which he was for many years a deacon, class- 
and leader, trustee, and has always made the 
Methodist ministers at home in his residence. 
His wife was a devout church member since 
twelve years of age, and she was a woman of 
high character, and instilled the lessons of 
integrity and honesty into the minds of her 
children, and she is still remembered with 
affection. 

Politically Mr. Bunnell is an old-time 
Whig and Republican, and has always been 
a hard-working and upright man. He had 
two Sons in the civil war: Byron L. and 
Joseph A. The former was in the Twenty- 
sixth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and was in 
Sherman's first and second battles of Vicks- 
i)urg, and also in the severe battle at Arkan- 





^^^^^ 




OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



583 



sas Post, where he was badly shot in the 
hand, and was in the hospital at Memphis. 
He afterward returned to his regiment and 
drove an ambulance from Chattanooga to At- 
lanta, and was with Sherman on his march 
to the sea. He was also on the return march 
to Washington and was present at the grand 
review. He was engaged three days in heavy 
skirmishincr at the battle of the Clouds at 
Lookout Mountain. 

Joseph A. Bunnell, our subject, was born 
January 10, 1836, in Portage County, Ohio, 
and received a common-school education. In 
1852, at the age of sixteen years, he came to 
Clinton County, Iowa, where he worked on 
his father's farm, and then came to Shelby 
County with his uncle, Truman R. Barlow, a 
blind man, but of excellent education. Mr. 
Bunnell took up wild land before it was in 
market, on March 9, 1853, which he has 
since improved. October 14, 1868, he en- 
listed in Company M, Ninth Regiment Vol- 
unteer Infantry, and was in the battle with 
Shell)y'8 force near Duvali's Bluff. His reg- 
iment was guarding the Memphis & Little 
Kock Railroad, and was in very dangerous 
service, and was engaged in many skirmishes. 
Mr. Bunnell escaped without wounds, and 
served to the close of the war, and was hon- 
orably discharged at Davenport, Iowa, in 
February, 1866. After the war he settled on 
his farm in Shelby County, which he after- 
ward sold and bought his present farm, then 
consisti'.g of 120 acres of wild land, for 
which he paid $1,800. By energy and per- 
severance he has added to this until he now 
owns 600 acres of the finest bottom land in 
Pottawattamie County, and also 280 acres in 
Adams County, this State. In his political 
views he is a strict Republican. He is a 
member of U. S. Grant Post, No. 128, Avoca, 
Iowa. He has held the office of School Di- 
rector and Trustee for litteen years, and has 

42 



also been Secretary, Supervisor and Assessor. 
Mr. Bunnell was married in 1856 to Sarah 
J. Headlee, a sister of Joseph Headlee, whose 
sketch appears in this volume To Mr. and 
Mrs. Bunnell have been born nine children: 
Amanda J., George E., Annis D., Walter E., 
Albert E., Charles S., Ola G., Emma V. and 
one who died in infancy. 



"^■ g - S '- S ' g- 



fM. BARSTOW is one of the leading 
physicians and surgeons of the city. He 
<» was born in Fidton County, Illinois, 
September 10, 1854, son of Samuel and 
Eleanor (Coulson) Barstow. The latter is of 
English descent, and a native of Illinois. 
Samuel Barstow was born in Muskingum 
County, Ohio. He and his wife came to 
Mills County. Iowa, October, 1855, and set- 
tled on a farm twenty miles south of Council 
Bluffs, and in 1871 came to Pottawattamie 
County, Iowa, purchasing their present farm, 
six miles south of Council Bluffs, where they 
still reside. Tliey had three sons and two 
daughters, all living: James M., our subject; 
Rozeltha, wife of Joseph Stoker, farmer, of 
Mills County, Iowa; Alice J., wife of Ed- 
ward Mclntyre, farmer, of Harrison County, 
Iowa; Miss Ena H., teacher in Bloomer 
School, Council Bluffs; Guy E. resides with 
his brother. Dr. Barstow. 

Dr. Barstow was but a year old when his 
parents came to Mills County, Iowa. He 
first attended a subscription school in a slab 
house in Mills, afterward the district and 
public schools. He also attended the Belle- 
vue High School, of Bellevue, Nebraska, two 
terms; then taught during the summers, and 
attended school during the winters; also at- 
tended college at the Methodist Seminary at 
Glenwood, Mills County. He then taught 
four years and accumulated money sufficient 



584 



BIOGRAPHICAL niSTORY 



to take his first course of lectures at the Keo- 
kuk College of Physicians and Surgeons. He 
continued to earn the money during vacations 
to pay for his tuition and expenses at the 
college, from which he graduated in March, 
1880. While a student at the Medical Col- 
lege he was a very hard worker, pursuing 
not only the regular course of studies, but 
also taking private instruction from eminent 
members ot the faculty in diseases of the eye 
and ear, and also in obstetrics. After his 
graduation he immediately began the prac- 
tice of medicine in Council Bluffs, but, being 
very ambitious of taking a high place in his 
profession, he took the first opportunity of 
going to I3ellevue Medical College, New 
York city, where he had the advantage of the 
instruction, both theoretical and practical, of 
the most eminent physicians and surgeons 
of the day, and also the immense advantages 
of hospital practice. He graduated from 
this college in March, 1884, having taken 
special instructions in practice, surgery, ob- 
stetrics, and diseases ot women and children, 
aside from the regular course of lectures and 
hospital processes. After his graduation at 
Eellevue he again resumed his practice at 
Conucil BlnflFs, where he has been rapidly and 
steadily working his way into the front rank 
of the profession in Council Bluffs, which 
city numbers among the profession the ablest 
physicians and surgeons in western Iowa. 

Dr. Barstow is a member of the Presby- 
terian Church; is one of the staff of the Pot- 
tawattamie County Asylum for tlie Insane, 
both visiting and consulting; also of St. Ber- 
nard's Hospital. He enjoys the confidence 
and respect of all who know him. The Doc- 
tor has been very successful in his practice, 
and by reason of his kindly manners and 
painstaking care he is well liked by his 
patients. Both he and his wife are popular 
socially. Dr. Barsttiw behjngs to the State 



Medical Society, is a member of the Medical 
Society of the Missouri Valley, and also of 
the Council Bluffs Medical Society, and has 
been president of this latter society. He is 
in vigorous, robust health, capable of a great 
deal of hard work and study; honest, frank 
and manly in his character and demeanor, 
imbued with a generous ambition, and 
possessed of the advantages of a strong 
mind and thorough, practical education and 
training. 

He was united in marriage to Miss Carrie 
M. Shepard, October 29, 1884. She was 
born in Ohio, and is a daughter of Nathaniel 
and Ruth (Foutz) Shepard. Dr. and Mrs. 
Barstow have one child — Ruth. 



ILLIAM G. TITTSWORTH.— Tne 
l)iographical historian in recording 
the lives and records of a large num- 
ber of men, has presented for his delineation 
a great variety of character and many inci- 
dwts of interest and value. His pen depicts 
the adventures and vicissitudes of tiie hardy 
pioneer. Tiiose men are born, not made, as 
not every man or woman has the steiling 
qualities and attributes to be a pioneer, and 
not every nation can produce them. The 
hunter and adventurer in new countries also 
claims his share of attention, as he pushed 
his way through the trackless forests, fords 
the great rivers, and climbs the lofty moun- 
tains. The youthful soldier filled with pa- 
triotism, is also a prominent figure. The 
untiring and hardy seeker after mineral 
wealth in our mountain ranges, and the ad- 
venturous ranch men, the forerunner of the 
more plodding farmer, all combined con- 
tribute their various characteristics to form 
the complete picture which the biographical 
writer has presented to his view. Remark- 




OF PoTl'AWAiTAMlE GoUNTT. 



585 



able as it may appear, all the above occupa- 
tions and traits of character are blended in 
the adventurous career of the subject of this 
sketch. 

He was born and reared on onr southern 
borders, and pas.<ed his youthful days among 
a people noted for their teinpestnons charac- 
ter, and through the turbulence of frontier 
life. He received no education, and in his 
boyhood, surrounded with the perils of a 
rude and bloody border warfare, grasped the 
musket of the soldier almost before his slen- 
der form was capable of enduring the fatigues 
of bearing arms. He became a soldier in our 
great civil war, and inarched with that daring 
leader, Sherman, in the greatest campaign in 
history, —the famous march to the sea. 
Laying down his arms only when peace was 
declared, the youthful soldier, confronted 
with the problem of making his own way in 
life, became a sailor, adventurer, hunter and 
trapper in the then unsettled and trackless 
wilds of Wyoming, and finally became a suc- 
cessful ranchman. He passed through an 
experience with reckless characters, which 
would have ruined a large majority of young 
men. His innate strength of character 
brought him safely through to become a 
kind father, loving husband and a prominent 
American citizen. 

William G. Tittsworth was born April 9, 
1847, in Franklin County, Arkansas, and on 
account of having been left an orphan by 
the death of his father, William D. Titts- 
worth, when a mere child, he received no ed- 
ucation. This defect he has partially sup- 
plied by self-instruction and a habit of 
reading and that practical experience gained 
by close observation of human nature which 
a life of adventure and travel gives, and 
when combined with a manly force of char- 
acter is frequently of more value to its pos- 
sessor than a liberal education. Young 



William left Arkansas at the early age of five 
years, and the family settled on a farm in 
Taney County, Missouri. There were six 
children in the family, namely: A. D., Will- 
iam D., William G., Mary, Mareessa and 
Annie. The mother mai-ried again in that 
State to James Cievenger, of Taney County, 
Missouri, and a farmer by occupation. 
Yoiing William, not being satisfied at home, 
went to live with his grandmother, May, who 
resided on a farm in the same county, and 
here he spent much of his time until he 
came to Iowa, just prior to the breaking out 
of the great civil war. Here he was enea^ed 
in herding cattle for I. C. Cooper, of Des 
Moines. He returned to Missouri after a 
short time, when the great civil war burst 
upon the country. Missouri, being one of 
the border States, was soon a scene of great 
domestic violence, the people being divided 
in their opinions; some were strong in favor 
of the Union and the old flag, and others, in- 
fluenced by their close relationship to the 
Southern people, were the most bitter seces- 
sionists. Therefore neighborhood was di- 
vided against neighborhood, family against 
family, and partisan war.'are raged in all its 
violence. 

Our subject was but a boy of fourteen 
years when he was surrounded with all the 
excitement of this state of afl'airs. Armed 
bands, called "guerrillas," took the field, and, 
clothing their real object, which was murder 
and plunder under the guise of loyalty to 
the South, swept like a remorseless scourge 
upon the defenseless people. One of these 
bands raided the neighborhood where his 
mother lived, and committed many acts of 
violence in the peaceful valley. Visiting his 
mother's house they searched for arms and 
plunder, and with bluster and threats over- 
awed the trembling inmates. William D. 
Tittsworth, the elder brother of our subject. 



586 



BIOGRAPHICAL UlSTORY 



then a boy of about sixteen years of age, was 
at a neighbor's place on Bear Creelv, four and 
a half miles away. The raiders found him, 
and being aware that liis step-father liad 
voted for Missouri to remain in the Union, 
and that the family were imbued with Union 
sentiments, remorselessly shot iiim down 
Alf. Boler, a noted bushwhacktr, did the 
shooting, about July 1, 1861; but, although 
severely wounded, Mr. Tittsworth escaped to 
the bushes, witii which that country was 
thickly covered. He reached a vacant log 
cabin in the woods, and was cared for by 
sympathizing neighbors. Another young 
man, by the name of Davis, who also was 
wounded, shared the cabin with him. Davis 
was shot under circumstances which well il- 
lustrates the bitterness of tlie struggle in 
Missouri. A man named Manning, the father- 
in-law of Davis, was one of the leaders of 
the bushwhackers. Davis, as well as his 
father, was a Union man, but had taken no 
part in the conflict, fearing tlie raids of the 
bushwhackers. They, like many of their 
neighbors, had made a practice of sleeping 
in the bush at night for safety. Manning 
was aware of this, and told them to come 
home and sleep on the porch, and he would 
see that they were protected. Davis, believ- 
ing his father-in-law would do him no harm, 
consented, and one night, in company with 
his father, slept on the porch. Manning 
•treacherously collected some of his men, sur- 
rounded the house, and took them both pris- 
oners. In company with a man named 
Kelley, a blacksmith who had been previously 
captured, they were taken along a bridle path 
toward a mill, and were told they were to be 
shot. Kelley was blindfolded, and Davis 
and his father thought it was simply done to 
frighten them. Soon, however, they heard 
the report of tire arms, and heard Kelley 
fall. Then with a glance at each other they 



broke away and ran for the timber. The 
elder Davis fell dead on the way, and the 
younger, with a hasty glance at his father, 
reached the timber, not, however, without 
being wounded by three shots, and falling 
suddenly behind a log escaped to a cabin 
in the woods, and finally recovered. Boler. 
a noted guerrilla, was their leader in this 
part of the country, and killed many peojjle 
with his own hands. He was finally himself 
killed by Union soldiers and beheaded, a id 
the gory trophy carried on a pole to Ozark, 
Missouri. 

Through such scenes as these Young Titts- 
worth passed, at an age when he should have 
been gaining an education for a future hon- 
orable and useful life; but, seizing a rifle he 
mounted a horse, which his mother gave him, 
and joined the Home Griiai-ds, May 2, 1861, 
when so young as to be hardly able to carry 
arms. He served under Captain Jesse Gal- 
laway, who was shot down at the threshold 
of his own door with his child in his arms, 
which was also killed by the same bullet! 
He was just leaving his home for the field, 
and had just picked up the little child to 
kiss it goodby, when the relentless guerrilla 
tired upon liim from the dark. 

The commanding oflicers of the company 
of Home Guards in which young William 
served was: First Lieutenant, F. M. Gideon; 
Second Lieutenant, James Oliver. They 
fought a skirmish with the bushwhackers at 
Forsyth, the county-seat of Taney County, 
and were repulsed. Soon afterward General 
Sweeney came upon the scene with a regi- 
ment of Jayhawkers from Kansas, with two 
pieces of artillery, and attacked the bush- 
whackers at Forsyth, and with a few shots 
from the artillery dispersed them. Young 
William was present at l)oth engagements. 
Missouri was thehouieand hot-bedof thisclass 
l)oth l)efore and after the war. Their hatred. 



OP POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



587 



enmity and superstition were mingled with a 
chaos of ifovernmetTtal ideas, — ^^a ninss of con- 
flicting political notions, which at last took 
shape in arras. Tlieir riding from daylight 
till dark, from midnight till noonday, and on 
into midnight again, shooting right and left 
at pnblic and private enemies, the guerrilla 
bands plundered the dead, taunted the dying 
and murdered opposition wherever it rose 
up. Stopping only to demand meals and 
horse feed, they often rode until nature's 
check, fatigue, compelled them to halt. They 
were brave, cunning and merciless, picked 
from the most desperate characters which 
that era developed and revealed. These grim 
partisans were well calculated to till a land 
with dread. Perhaps never has there been 
gathered under one flag a band so uniformly 
evil and pitiless, accustomed to no restriction 
and little order, their laws were few and 
brief, and they recognized no crime but cow- 
ardice, no virtue but courage. With them 
life was too worthless to be spared or con- 
sidered. The tiger, crouching by the spring 
where his prey must come to drink, is not 
more patient, more tireless in his lonely 
vigil, and through days and nights these 
stealthy watchers have lain beside a house, a 
road, a shadowy pass and waited like the 
tiger for their prey. They knew it would 
come and they waited. They never missed 
their mark. This is all that is necessary to 
describe these fearless warriors, with whom 
our young subject was, as a boy, called upon 
to do battle. 

In 1863 he enlisted in Company B, 
Eighteenth Missouri Volunteer Infantry, and 
served to the close of the war. He was in 
the Army of the Tennessee, and took part in 
the battles of Atlanta, Resaea, Dallas, Snake 
Creek Gap, and many others. He was with 
Sherman on that famous march in history, 
where the Uniori arms and flag was borne 



through the heart of the enemy's country to 
llie sea. He was also on the return march 
to Washington, and was present at the great 
military pageant, the grand review, where 
Abraham Lincoln, the savior of his country, 
and Ulysses S. Grant, its able general, viewed 
the mighty triumphant northern hosts who 
had suppressed the greatest rebellion in the 
annals of history, connected the Union of 
the States, and gave the priceless boon of 
liberty to 4,000,000 human beings. Young 
William was honorably discharged at St. 
Louis, Missouri, and while still a young man 
came out of the arena of military life to the 
great struggle of providing for himself a 
home and fortune. He was a good soldier, 
and was always I'eady for duty. He received 
no wounds, was never in a hospital, and was 
never sick except from a severe sunstroke 
from which he suffered at times. He was 
well known to all in the regimen^ as "Little 
Tittsworth." 

Mr. Tittsworth came to the State of Iowa 
and went to Michigan and Chicago, where, 
meeting an old acquaintance, he became a 
cook on a vessel on Lake Michigan, his friend 
teaching him at odd times the mysteries of 
the culinary art. In 1868, probably with the 
advice of that eminent philosopher, Horace 
Greeley, he went to the then almost unknown 
wilds of the Territory of Wyoming, and be- 
came a trapper and hunter, selling the pro- 
ducts of his skill to the builders of the Union ■ 
Pacitic Railroad, which was at that time 
pushing its lines to the far West. He con- 
tinued in this vocation until 1871, when he 
became a rancher, raising horses and cattle 
in Sweetwater County, Wyoming, combining 
the business with that of drover. He be- 
came a noted cow-boy and expert trailer. 
At one time he visited Wyoming to show 
parties the celebrated Golconda "diamond" 
field, which a man named Arnold was sup- 



588 



BWGRAPUICAL III8T0RT 



posed to liave discovered. After tracing the 
trail acroi^s the desert, he tbiind that the dia- 
mond tield had already heeii staked out l)y 
Arnold, and that numbers of other people 
had already gathered at the place. Experts 
soon found the field had been "salted" with 
diamonds, emeralds and rubies, and that Ar- 
nold, who had fleeced Eastern capitalists of 
large sums of money, had already fled from 
the country. He was not in the employ of 
any one when he visited the diamond mines, 
but went on information gained from citizens 
of Laramie. Mr. Tittsworth went all through 
the excitement of early life in Wyoming, 
wlien the gamblers almost ran the country, 
and many men were sliot down in cold blood. 
In his experience he visited a wide range of 
territory in that State, Utah aTid Washington 
Territory, killing a great many bear, deer, 
elk, mountain sheep, etc. He was present at 
the opening of the Henpeak mine in Colo- 
rado, when 200 warriors of the Ute tribe, 
who had just murdered the Van Dyke party, 
ordered the Henpeak miners to leave the 
country. The celebrated scout, Jim Baker, 
an old companion of Kit Carson and Jim 
Bridger, was with the miners. He had in 
early days married several different Indian 
squaws, and was the father of many half- 
breed Indian children. It is said lie could 
count upon his fingers as many as from 
twenty to thirty. His son William, a half- 
l)reed, then about thirty years of age, was 
then with him. Jim Baker was a very fear- 
less and powerful frontiersman, and had 
killed many Indians. He met the warlike 
party of Utes in council, and boldly told 
their chief that he had been to Washington 
and seen the great White Father, who had 
given him that country to Bear River, and 
that they must leave. The chief replied that 
the whites had killed their bufl'alo and mined 
their gold, and he demanded that they leave. 



Baker seized the chief and roughly jerked 
him oft' his horse, telling him he would kill 
him, and Baker stepped into his camp and 
seized his rifle, ordering the Indians to 
leave or he would open fire, and the fight 
would begin at once. The sagacity of the 
Indians convinced them that discretion was 
the better part of valor, and they departed; 
and Baker sent three men, one of wiiom was 
our subject, to see that they crossed the Bear 
River. 

Among the various experiences of Mr. 
Tittsworth when a young man struggling to 
gain a position in life, is liis career as a cir- 
cus man. For one season he was with Yankee 
Robinson's circus in Illinois and Iowa, his 
business beina; to describe for a side-show 
the relies left from the burning of Barnum's 
famous museum in New York. Thus he ob- 
tained a wide knowledge of human nature, 
which has been of great value to him. 

The summer ranch of Tittsworth was in 
Salt Wells Basin, and he wintered his cattle 
at Brown's Park, Colorado and Utah, which 
is a deep depression in the ground, the sides 
rising from 4,000 to 7,000 feet. At the foot 
of the park begins the grand canon of the 
Green River, at the gate of La Dore, the walls 
of which rise 2,000 feet perpendicular. July 
24, 1872, he married Jane Law, daughter of 
George Law, a Scotchman, who was born in 
Fifeshire, Scotland, in 1812, and who was 
married in that country to Elizabeth Phillips. 
Mr. Law was a coal-miner in that country, 
and in 1869 came with his family to America, 
settling in Cache Valley, Utah. To Mr. Law 
were born ten children: John, William, 
Jemima, Margaret, Alice, George, Jane, Eliz- 
abeth, Mary and James. The father died in 
1882, at the age of seventy years Both he 
and his wife were members of the Church of 
Latter- Day Saints. Pie was appointed Presi- 
dent of the Crofthead branch of that church. 



OP POTT AW ATT AM IB COUNTY. 



589 



which office he filled honorably for thirteen 
years. Wq, was an honorable and upright 
citizen, and was res[)ecte<i by all who knew 
him. Mr. Tittsworth was greatly assisted 
while on the ranch in Wyoming by his faith- 
ful wife. The ranch was very isolated, being 
at least thirty-five miles from the railroad and 
fifteen miles from the nearest neighbor; and 
when Mr. Tittsworth was away on his trading 
expeditions, and as a guide to droves crossing 
the desert near his ranch, she was often all 
alone for three weeks at a time, save for her 
little daughter Florence. She knew the use 
of fire arms, and bravely endured the lone- 
some days and nights. She could shoot well, 
and could kill with a rifle wild ducks and 
sage hens. At one time, when her husband 
was away, a party of the Ute Indians visited 
her. They tried to frighten her, and got 
their guns ready. They asked for bread, 
which she gave them, and they finally went 
away. Mrs. Tittsworth helped to make the 
property in Wyoming, and was a helpmate 
indeed to her husband. She was born at 
Crofthead, Scotland, March 29, 1857, was 
thirteen years of age wlieii she came to Amer- 
ici with her family in 1870. She married 
Mr. Tittsworth July 24, 1872, and imme- 
diately became the mistress of a ranch. She 
is a splendid example of a type that we will 
soon see but little of in America. She has 
instilled into the minds and hearts of her 
children those principles of modesty and 
honesty which the true mother can alone im- 
part. It has been said by an eminent writer 
that " no boy can be dishonest who had an 
honest mother." 

After marriage Mr. Tittsworth lived on his 
ranch for nine years, or until the fall of 1880, 
when he moved to Pottawattamie County, 
Iowa, and settled on his present farm, con- 
sisting of 315 acres of fine farm land, which 
is pleasantly situated within one and a fourth 



miles of Avoca. Mr. and Mrs. Tittsworth, 
having the welfare of their children deeply at 
heart, and desirous that they should possess 
a good education, made considerable financial 
sacrifice in order to give them the benefits of 
our excellent educational system. He is a 
member of the G. A. R., U. S. Grant Post, 
of Avoca, Iowa, and also is a Mason, of the 
order of Knights Templar. He is a practical 
farmer, stock-raiser, and a member of the 
firm of Greenhalgh &Co., of Marshall Coun- 
ty, South Dakota, where they own 800 acres 
of land, and are extensively engaged in horse- 
breeding and farming. 

Mr. Tittsworth is certainly a self-made 
man, having accumulated all his property by 
his own unaided efforts, and he stands de- 
servedly high in this community as an honor- 
able citizen. The family have a pleasant and 
cultivated home situated on a beautifully 
wooded eminence, and containing all things 
needful for luxury and comfort. 

Although we liave quite fully delineated 
the character of our subject, and related some 
of his more remarkable adventures, yet the 
biographer cannot leave him without a pass- 
ing tribute of justice to the sterling straits of 
character, doubtless inherited from a worthy 
ancestry, which enabled him in early life to 
withstand the unusual temptations which 
surrounded his youth, and which in his more 
mature manhood strengthened his heart and 
nerved his arm to battle cheerfully with all 
the vicissitudes of life, that he might make a 
comfortable home for his wife and children, 
and win an honored and unsullied name for 
iiimself; that he might also bequeath to 
them that greatest of all blessings — a spotless 
character. To the most remote descendants, 
the reverend names of father and mother, the 
real founders of the family in this country, 
should be handed down with reverence and 
regard. To Mr. and Mrs. Tittsworth were 



590 



BIOGRAPBICAL HISTORT 



born live children, namely: Florence Eliza- 
beth, born June 30, 1875; David, horn 
January 15, 1877, deceased; WilliaTn D., 
born November 24, 1879; John C, born 
August 23, 1882, and Bertha F>., born March 
81, 1885. 



jNDREW ANDERSON, of sections 24 
and 25, Macedonia Township, is one of 
the. enteiprising and successful citizens 
of this county, and one of the first of his 
countrymen to settle in the eastern part of 
the county. He, like many of Iowa's suc- 
cessful and enterprising citizens, is a native 
of Sweden, born January 15, 1844, the son of 
Andrew and Bianda Anderson. Andrew 
was reared in his native country until twenty- 
two years of age. He attended school until 
fifteen years of age, receiving a good educa- 
tion. He was two years in the Swedish 
army. At the end of that time he worked at 
farm work, which avocation he followed un- 
til he came to America. In 1869 he sailed 
from Gnttenburg, Sweden, to Hull, Eng- 
land, and from there overland to Liver- 
pool, and then by steamer and sail vessel to 
New York. He then went to Chicago, Illi- 
nois, where he remained a short time, and 
then went to Junction City, Kansas, where 
he stayed but two days, as the grasshoppers 
were too plentiful in that region. He then 
went to Council Bluffs, where he obtained 
work on the Rock Island Rail road, which was 
then being built into that place. Here he 
worked during the fall and winter, and in 
1870 he went on a farm in Mills County, 
where he resided four years, and for two or 
three years worked in different places. The 
first land he bought was forty acres in sec- 
tion 36, Macedonia Township, which he 
bought on speculation and sold. He then 




bought another eighty acres on section 14, 
which he again sold. He bought eighty 
acres of land where he nuw lives in 1878-'79, 
and has since added to it until he now has 
149 acres, well improved. 

Mr. Anderson was married, in September, 
1874, to Miss Sarah Shank, a native of Parke 
County, Indiana, and a daughter of James 
and Alzina Shank. They have four sons: 
Archie Monroe, Olin Oscar, Evert C. and 
Aredie A. Politically Mr. Anderson in 
1889 supported the Democratic ticket. He 
is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian 
Church of Macedonia, as is also his wife. 



ILLIAM McDonald was born in 
Addison Township, Steuben County, 
New York, March 10, 1822, the son 
of Elihii McDonald, a native of Scotland, and 
Margaret (Helmer) McDonald, who was born 
in New York State. Early in life he was 
left an orphan, his father having died when 
he was a babe and his mother when he was 
only three years old. He was reared by a 
man named Rollin Saunders, to whom he was 
given by his relatives. Mr. Saunders owned 
a farm and kept a hotel and bar. When not 
employed at work on the rocky and stumpy 
land, young McDonald sold whisky at the 
bar for three cents a drink. At those tiTnes 
almost every one took his dram, and it was 
not infrequent that ministers of the Gospel 
came to the bar, drank their whisky and there 
discussed questions of church doctrine and 
affairs of State. Brought up with these sur- 
roundings, Mr. McDonald received but a 
limited education. He, however, made up 
for its lack by the knowledge gained in the 
school of experience. 

At the age of twenty-three years our sub- 
ject was united in marriage with Savilla Kis- 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



591 



ing. She was horn in Oswego County, New 
York, daughter of Henry and Clarissa (Noble) 
Rising. By this marriage seven children 
were born, namely: Eveline Mosely; Emma, 
a resident of Wright Township, Pottawatta 
niie County, Iowa; Martha Sherbnrn; Mary, 
wife of O. O. Hotchkiss, of Wright Town- 
sliip; John, also of Wright Township; Hattie 
Middangh and Willie, of Washington. The 
mother of these children died in Steuben 
County, New York, December 14, 1855. 
Two years later, December 31, 1857, Mr. 
McDonald wedded Miss Mary E. Aldrich, 
also a native of Steuben County, New York. 
Her parents, Warner M. and Fidelia (Eddy) 
Aldrich, were natives of Rhode Island. They 
trace their ancestry back to the Aldriches 
who came to America in the far-famed May- 
flower. 

Mr. McDonald remained in New York un- 
til 1866, when he moved to Bureau County, 
Illinois. From there, in 1877, he came to 
Pottawattamie County, Iowa, and settled in 
Wright Township. In 1883 ke bought his 
present eighty -acre farm in section 13, same 
township. This land at the time of purchase 
was wild and unimproved. As the result of 
his well directed efforts it now assumes a 
different appearance. On a natural building 
site he erected a good frame house, 24 x 26 
feet, a story and a half, from which an excel- 
lent view of the farm and surrounding coun- 
try is obtained. His other farm buildings 
and improvements all attest the thrift and 
enterprise of the owner. 

By his present wife Mr. McDonald has 
had Ave children, four of whom are living: 
Beers L., at home; Charles W., who is in 
railroad employ in Mississippi; Carl E., a 
resident of Wright Township; and Julia 
Elma, wife of E. R. Pierson. Their son, 
Jay, died at the age of eighteen months. 
Mr. McDonald is a meml>er of the Methodist 



Episcopal Church. Politically he is a Re- 
publican. He is nearly seventy years old, 
weighs 275 pounds, is cordial and jovial in 
his disposition, and seems to make the most 
of this life. He is honored and esteemed by 
all who know him. 




B. CARLEY, section 14, Silver Creek 
L Township, is another one of the enter- 
prising and well known citizens, who 
is worthy of mention in this work. He came 
here in February, 1882, and has since been 
identified with the best interests of this com- 
munity. He was born near Plymouth, Ohio, 
November 4, 1855. His father, Albert A. 
Carley, a native of Vermont, was a son of 
James Carley, who was of English ancestry. 
Albert A. Carley, one of the brave soldiers of 
the late war, served as Captain of the Seventy- 
third Indiana Regiment, and, after four years' 
service died, February 22, 1865. He had 
been captured and confined as a prisoner in 
the Anderson ville and Libby prisons for 
eighteen months, and died while trying to 
escape. He was married, in Sandusky, Ohio, 
to Miss Rosanna Brown. She died, leaving 
three children, when the subject of this 
sketch was four years old. 

Mr. Carley, having been left an orphan 
before he was ten years of age, was reared by 
Harry Kimball, his great uncle, of Indiana. 
He was educated in the common schools, and 
lived on a farm in Porter County, Indiana, 
until he reached his majority. At that time 
he came to Mills County, Iowa. In 1882, as 
already stated at the beginning of this arti- 
cle, he came to Pottawattamie County, and 
bought wild land upon which he now resides. 
He erected a good frame house on a desirable 
building site, planted a grove and orchard of 
three acres, built a barn 30 x 40 x 14 feet, put 



593 



BIOORAPHIOAL BISTORT 



up a wind-mill, and made many other im- 
provements. 

October 23, 1881, in Mills County, Iowa, 
Mr. Carley was married to Miss Olive A. 
Smith, who was born in La Porte County, 
Indiana, daughter of James F. ami Sarah J. 
Smith, a sketch of whom appears on another 
page of this book. Mr. and Mrs. Carley have 
five children, viz.: James Harry, Fred S., 
Arthur L., Carrie J. and Flora C. Mr. Car- 
ley is a leading Democrat in Silver Creek 
Township. He is the present Justice of the 
Peace, and dispenses justice in an impartial 
manner to all who are called before his court. 
Although but a young man he has gained a 
position of responsibility among his fellow- 
citizens. 



•°*~**.' 



■4Mf« 



* M ' 10, *. 



Ilg^ C. LELAND, of section 27, Garner 
Township, has been a resident of Iowa 
I * since 1873. He was born in York- 
shire, England, June 10, 1844, the son of B. 
F. and Lydia (Dickens) Leland, both natives 
of Nashville, Tennessee. H. C. was a child 
of three years when his parents came to 
the United States, and settled at Ottawa, 
LaSalle County, Illinois, where they remained 
one year. They then removed to Lowell, 
Dodge County, Wisconsin, where they re- 
mained until our subject was sixteen years 
of age. The father was a farmer by occupa- 
tion and H. C. Leland was therefore reared 
on a farm. At the time of the civil war he 
enlisted in the Eleventh Infantry, Wisconsin 
Volunteers, under Colonel Charles Harris 
and Captain James Long. He was under 
fire at Cotton Plant, Arkansas, and the bat- 
tles of Grand Gulf and Port Gibson; in the 
latter battle he was shot through the lungs, 
and was confined in the field hospital two 
weeks; was then removed to the Government 



hospital, and then to the general hospital at 
Madison, Wisconsin. He served three years 
and one month. 

After recovering sufficient for labor he re- 
turned to New York, where he was employed 
as engineer in a mill, and also as railroad 
fireman and engineer. He afterward located 
in Chicago, in the stockyards, where he was 
engaged as engineer in a packing house, and 
later was promoted to foreman, remaining 
five years. In 1873 he came to Hamburg, 
Iowa, and August 3, 1881, he went to Omaha, 
Nebraska, and later to Pottawattamie Coun- 
ty, Iowa. Politically Mr. Leland is a Re- 
publican; he is a member of the Masonic 
order, Jerusalem Lodge, No. 253. at Ham- 
burg, Iowa. He was married in Chicago, 
Illinois, in April, 1872, to Miss Jennie 
Bonney, a native of Chelsea, Massachusetts. 



LBERT HORNER, one of the intelli- 
gent and enterprising citizens of Wash- 
ington Township, came to this county 
in 1885, where he has since resided. He 
came to this county from Mills County, Iowa, 
where he had resided for several years. He 
was born in Texas, April 4, 1850, a son of 
Henry and Malinda (Waldruff) Horner, the 
former a native of Ohio, and of German an- 
cestry, and the latter a daughter of William 
and Margaret Waldruff, who were of Pennsyl- 
vania Dutch descent. Henry Horner and 
wife were married in LaPorte County, In- 
diana, and afterward removed to Texas, 
where their son Albert was born. They re- 
sided in that State three years, and then 
returned to La Porte County, Indiana. The 
father was a farmer; and politically was a 
Democrat. The parents reared eight chil- 
dren, of whom Albert was the third of three 
sons and five daughters. One of the daujrh- 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE VOUNTT. 



593 



ters, Aletliia, wife of William Chapman, 
resides in Silver Creek Township. 

Albert Horner was reared on a farm in 
LaPorte County, Indiana, where he resided 
until 1875, when he removed to Union 
County, Iowa, remaining three years. He 
then went to Bureau County, Illinois, and 
resided there one year. He then came to 
Mills County, Iowa, where he remained until 
he came to this county. In 1884 lie bought 
his present farm of Ed Gustison, which he 
has since improved. Wlien he purchased 
his place it was covered with brush, which he 
has since cleared away. The farm consists of 
eighty acres, on which is some natural tim- 
ber. Mr. Horner was married in Council 
Bluffs, to Mrs. Nancy J. Chipps, who was a 
widow, and the daughter of Francis Camp- 
bell, a native of Pennsylvania and a son of 
Francis Campbell, Sr. One of her brothers, 
D. D. Campbell, resides in Mills County, 
Iowa. The mother of Mrs. Horner was 
Elizabeth (Hughart) Campbell, a native of 
Virginia, and a daughter of David Hughart. 
Francis Campbell, Jr., and his wife had ten 
children, live of whom are living. Mr. 
Horner is politically a Democrat, having been 
reared to that belief. He is a man yet in the 
prime of life, frank and cordial in his manner 
and address. He is a man who has traveled 
extensively, and is well informed on general 
topics. 



~-«^*+^^-~ 

fOHN V. GORRELL, one of the intelli- 
gent and successful citizens of Wash- 
ington Township, came to this county 
in 1877 from Pettis County, Missouri, and 
settled on his present farm in 1881. He was 
born in Pettis County, Missouri, February 
17, 1848, the son of Joseph Gorrell, who was 
born in Bei'keley County, West Virginia, and 



was a son of William Gorrell, a native of 
Ireland. William Gorrell grew to manhood 
and was married in his native country. He 
afterward came to America, first settling in 
Virginia, but later removed to Missouri, 
where he died, in Pettis County. In religion 
he was a believer in the Church of Christ. 
The wife of Joseph Gorrell and the mother 
of our subject was Priscilla (Bine) Gorrell. 
She was a native of Virginia, and died when 
J. V. was four months old. Joseph Gorrell 
now resides in Saline County, Missouri; he 
is a farmer by occupation; a Democrat politi- 
cally; and in religion he is a member of the 
Christian Church. 

John V. was reared on a farm in Pettis 
County until 1877, when he came to Potta- 
wattamie County, first settling in Keg Creek 
Township, where he resided one year, and 
then removed to Washington Township. He 
resided here one year and in tlie northern 
part of Washington Township two years. In 
1881 he purchased his present farm of 120 
acres, at ten dollars and a half per acre, and 
here he has since resided and made his home. 
His residence, which was erected in 1890, 
cost $1,045. 

Mr. Gorrell was married in Pettis County, 
October 18, 1876, to Alice Hamilton, a woman 
of intelligenceand education, and a daughter of 
Thornton Hamilton, who was born and reared 
in Kentucky, was of English ancestry, a miller 
by vocation and politically a Republican. He 
died in 1863. The mother of Mrs. Gorrell was 
Amanda (Blythe) Hamilton, who was a native 
of Kentucky and a daughter of John Blythe, 
a native of Kentucky. She now lives in 
Woodbui-y County, Iowa, at the age of sixty 
years. Mrs. Gorrell was reared and edu- 
cated in Kentucky, and came to Missouri in 
1874. Mr. and Mrs. Gorrell have five chil 
dren, viz.: Lillie, Percilla, Avis, James, Allen 
and Charlie. They lost one by death, Albert 



594 



BIOORAPHIGAL BISTORT 



Walter, their first born, who died at the age 
of five years, from the effects of falling into 
a boiler of hot water. Mr. Gorrell politically 
is a Democrat, and in religion was reared a 
" Campbeliite." Although they are not 
members of any chnrch, they are believers 
in Christianity aad tiie Golden Rule. They 
are interested in the canse of education, and 
are numbered among the intelligent people 
of the neighborhood. 



I^OUISA STODAKD LELAND, of 
MfH Garner Township, section 27, has been 
^1^ a resident of Pottawattamie County since 
1878. She was born in Joliet, Will County, 
Illinois, the daughter of George and Eva 
(Atzle) Witty, the former a native of Saxony, 
Germany, on the Rhine. Our subject grew 
to womanhood in Joliet, where she received 
lier education. She was engaged for some 
time in selling boots and shoes in Chicago 
and Joliet. She has a farm of 117 acres of 
well improved land, situated three miles east 
of Council Bluffs, which is devoted largely 
to small fruits and a vineyard, and on which 
is a tine residence, which cost $4,000. 

She was married in Joliet, Illinois, when 
twenty years of age, to Major Stodard, a 
native of Joliet. He was a soldier, having 
served in the late war. He died in Joliet in 
1880, leaving one child, named Magdeline. 
Mrs. Stodard was again married in 1884, to 
Mr. Leland. 



[AVID BLAIN is one of the progressive 
and popular citizens of Waveland Town- 
ship, Pottawattamie County, Iowa. He 
came to this township on the thirteenth of 
March, 1874, and has since made this place 



his iiome. Mr. Blain was born in Ayrshire, 
Scotland, September 15, 1848, son of James 
and Moreland (Aitkin) Blain, natives of that 
place. His mother died in Waveland Town- 
ship Marcii 11, 1885, at the age of seventv- 
live years. He was one of five children — 
four sons and one daughter — born to his 
parents. 

Mr. Blain was reared on a farm and edu- 
cated in the common schools of Scotland. In 
1870, bidding farewell to home and the 
heather hills of his native land, he sailed from 
Glasgow for America, landing at New York. 
From there he came direct to Iowa City, 
Iowa, where he had an uncle. March 2, 
1874, he was married, in Johnson County, 
Iowa, the lady of his choice being Miss Mary 
Hamilton, an amiable and intelligent lady, a 
native of Ayrshire, and his old school-mate. 
She came to this country with her parents, 
Robert and Mary (Martin) Hamilton, in 1870. 
Her mother died in New Vork State and her 
father in Waveland Township, Pottawattamie 
County. A few days after their marriage 
Mr. and Mrs. Blain came to their present 
location in Western Iowa. He bought sixty- 
seven acres of wild prairie land, upon which 
they at once took up their abode. At that 
time the country was very thinly settled and 
scarcely a house could be seen between their 
place and Walnut. Mr. Blain is an indus- 
trious man and a good business manager. 
As the result of his own well directed efforts 
he is to-day a wealthy man. He now owns 
214 acres of improved land, there being two 
good dwellings on the same. His farm is 
also supplied with other buildings and is 
well fenced. His land is bounded on two 
sides by highways, his residence being mid- 
way between the two roads. His groves, 
orchards, well tilled fields, and pastures dotted 
over with stock — all give evidence of pros- 
perity. 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



595 



Mr. and Mrs. Blain liave nine children, as 
follows: James, Edmonson, David, Joseph, 
Moreland, Marj, Robert, Nelly Bly and 
Susan. Their lirst born, Moreland, is de- 
ceased. Politically Mr. Blain is a Republi- 
can, but is independent in many of his views. 

H. CHANEY, a representative citizen 
of Washington Township, and an ex- 

^® soldier of the late war, was born in 
Montgomery County, Missouri, October 12, 
1845, a son of Samuel Chanej'. who was of 
Irish ancestry. The mother of our subject 
was Ellen (Parmer) Chaney. a native of Ger- 
many. Our subject was but eight years old 
when his father died in Montgomery County, 
Missouri, and his widow and six children 
moved to Scott County, Iowa. The mother 
died when C. H. was but ten years of age, 
and he was then reared on a farm in Scott 
County, by Jeri-y Hubbard. During the late 
war he enlisted, May 1, 1864, in the Forty- 
fourth Iowa Infantry, Company I, Volunteers, 
and was out some four months. His regi- 
ment was stationed mostly at Memphis, 
Tennessee. After his discharge he enlisted 
in the Eighth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, 
Company C, and was under fire at Spanish 
Fort, and was honorably discharged at Mo- 
bile, Alabama. He then returned to Scott 
County Iowa, where he resided until 1868, 
when iie came to Western Iowa, first settling 
in Mills County. He remained in that 
county until 1883, when he came to Potta- 
wattamie County and bought his present 
farm, which consisted of forty acres. It was 
partly broken, though there were no im- 
provements of any kind on it; but it is now 
under a good state of cultivation and im- 
provement. 

Mr. Chaney was married in Bartlett, Fre- 



mont County, Iowa, in March, 1872, to Miss 
Helen Aitken, who was born in Pennsylva- 
nia, the daughter of David Aitken, of Fre- 
mont County. Mr. and Mrs. Chaney have 
four children: Walter Newton, Maggie Belle, 
Word and William Henry. Politically Mr. 
Chaney is a Republican, and he and his wife 
are both members of the Evangelical Church, 
and both are workers in the Sabbath-school. 

-_»^ „'P . ; ,. ;.? .- 




E. MAXWELL was born in Jeffer- 
son County, Iowa, Hecember 16, 
1854. His father, John Maxwell, 
was born in Indiana, and his mother, nee 
Catherine Clover, in Pennsylvania. They 
were married in Jefferson County, Iowa. 
Grandfather Benjamin Maxwell was a soldier 
in the Revolutionary war. When the sub- 
ject of this sketch was about ten years of age 
his parents moved to Lucas County, Iowa, 
and located northeast of Chariton, where they 
lived for some time. They are now residents 
of Chariton. The father has been engaged in 
farming all his life. They have reared a 
family of six sons, viz.: Albert, who resides 
in Washington; W. E., the subject of this 
sketch; I. M., Sumner County, Nebraska; 
T. H. and E. J. (twins), the former a resident 
of Creston, Iowa, and the latter of Chariton; 
and C. G., also at Creston, engaged in the 
mercantile business with his brother, T. H. 
W. E. passed his youth at tarm work, and 
received his education in the public schools 
of Lucas County. He was married at Coun- 
cil Blutfs, Iowa, September 5, 1878, to Miss 
S. J. Timberman, a native of Pottawattamie 
County. She received her education in her 
native county and also in Harrison County, 
Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Maxwell have three 
children: Amy Pearl, Gaylen Cloyd and Ivy 
Emma. 



59G 



BIOORAPHWAL HISTORY 



Mr. Maxwell came to Pottawattamie 
County in March, 1876. For three years he 
rented land. In 1879 he purchased eighty 
acres of wild land, which he improved and 
sold in 1888. Then he bought his present 
farm of John Colwell. This land was first 
improved by Morford & Burggess. It com- 
prises eighty acres, and is under a good state 
of cultivation. A good frame iiouse has been 
erected, which is situated on a natural build- 
ing site, surrounded by a grove and orchard 
of an acre and a half. Everything about the 
house and farm shows tlie enterprise and 
prosperity of the owner. 

Politically Mr. Maxwell i8 a Republican. 
He is a worthy member of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church. He is a man yet in the 
prime of life, is frank and cordial in his 
manner, and is regarded as one of the repre- 
sentative citizens of Center Township. 

'" "^ * 3"i ' S" ' " 



fAMES RAINBOW, section 24, Silver 
Creek Township, is a well known and 
representative citizen of this community. 
He came here in 1875, and has since made 
Pottawattamie County his home. Mr. Rain- 
bow was born near York, Yorkshire, Eng- 
land, March 16, 1826. His parents, Jonah 
and Sarah Rainbow, were natives of York- 
shire. James was reared on a farm, but at 
an early age he engaged as porter and clerk 
in a hotel, which occupation he followed sev- 
eral years. He worked at some of the 
fashionable watering resorts on the coast, 
where he saw much high life amongthe titled 
aristocrats of England. At the age of twen- 
ty-four years he came to America, and was 
employed for a tiuie in a hotel at Rochester, 
New York. Later, he went to Lyons and 
Avon Springs, Western New York. In 
Western New York he was engaged in hotel 



work, and spent some time in a nursery. 
While there he took active interest in horti- 
culture, and the knowledge thus gained 
proved of much value to him in after life. 
In 1856 he came to Iowa City, then the 
capital of Iowa, where he engaged in the 
livery business. Next he turned his atten- 
tion to the nursery business again, and later 
was employed by W. B. Daniels, a prominent 
merchant. In 1867 he moved to Iowa Coun- 
ty, and at Genoa Bluff again entered the 
nursery business. In 1875, as stated at the 
beginning of this sketch, he came to Potta- 
wattamie County. Previous to this time, in 
1856, he had entered 120 acres of Govern- 
ment land here, and to this he added eighty 
acres more, which he acquired by purchase, 
making 200 acres in one body. During the 
fifteen years of his residence here Mr. Rain- 
bow has improved his farm, and now has one 
of the best in the neighborhood. It is 
well adapted for both grain and stock, and 
his orchard of four acres ranks with the best 
in the county. Mr. Rainbow takes an active 
interest in the horticultural affairs of Potta- 
wattamie County. He has done much to 
promote the fruit interests of his section, and 
no one is considered a better judge of fruits 
than James Rainbow. He has a good frame 
house, situated on a natural building site. 
All the out-buildings, wind-mill and fences 
and everything about the premises indicate 
thrift and prosperity. 

Mr. Rainbow was married, at Honey Falls, 
New York, to Eliza Goody, a native of Eng- 
land, and a daughter of Jatnes and Sarah 
Goody. They have seven children, viz.: 
James J., formerly a successful teacher, now 
a resident of northern Iowa, where lie is en- 
gaged in the dairy business; Sarah, Robert, 
Louisa, William, Lizzie and John. 

Politically Mr. Rainbow is a Repul)lican. 
He has served on both petit and grand 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



597 



juries frequently, and has been elected to 
several township offices, the duties of which 
he performed with credit to himself and for 
the bests interests of the public. He is a 
member of the Episcopal Church. Mr. 
Eaiiibow has been honored in many ways by 
his friends and party. He was a delegate to 
the Farmers' Alliance State Convention, 
October, 1890, and was one of the honored 
citizens who went to Denver, Colorado, at 
the time of the Farmers' Congress. He 
was one of the most liberal donators to the 
decorations of Council Blufls, in September, 
1890, when the Farmers' Congress met there. 
He is a gentleman well informed on all 
general topics, and is broad and progressive 
in his views. He is honored and esteemed 
by all who know him. 



►>^ 



fACOB I. REED, a prominent farmer of 
Pottawattamie County, first came to 
Council Bluffs in 18i4. when the town 
contained only log houses. His great-grand- 
father, Jacob Reed, came from Scotland, and 
settled in South Carolina long before the 
Revolutionary war. His son, Jacob Reed, 
the grandfather of our subject, was born iti 
that State, and was a captain in the war of 
the Revolution, and received a land warrant. 
He was married in his native State to Mary 
Smith, and to them were born nine children: 
Enos, Rebecca, Wilburn, Harper, Francis, 
Jackson, Joseph, Mary and Ozie. After 
these children had reached maturity Mr. 
Reed moved to Rush County, Indiana, ai)()ut 
1817, and settled on a farm near Rushville. 
In 1842 he moved to Mercer County, Illinois, 
where he died in 1853, at about eighty years 
of age. He was a member of the Methodist 
Episcopal Churcli, and was a devoted Chris- 
tian. He was also an educated man, and 



taught school until he was seventy-four years 
of age, having taught in one building for 
five years. Enos Reed, the father of ovir 
subject, was born in South Carolina, and was 
twenty-three years of age when his father 
moved to Indiana with his large family. He 
was married in Rush County, that State, to 
Elizabeth Rishling, daughter of Fredrick 
and Catharine (Bousenian) Rishling. The 
father was of German descent, and was an 
old settler of Rush County. He was the 
father of six children, viz.: Fredrick, Cath- 
erine, Elizabeth, George, William and Sam- 
uel. After marriage Mr. Reed settled on a 
farm in Rush County, and w-as the father of 
nine children, namely: Emily, George, Ja- 
cob. Edner, Mary, Enos, Marion, Emeline and 
Elizabeth. The father was County Judge of 
his county for several years. He removed to 
Illinois and settled on a farm, where he spent 
the remainder of his life. He was a devout 
member of the Baptist Church, and held 
several church offices. Atone time he had a 
handsome property, but hist it all in the cat- 
tle business. He lived to the age of fifty, 
four years, dying in Mercer County, Illinois. 

His son, Jacob I., the subject of this 
sketch, was born November 26, 1830, in 
Rushville, Indiana, and was but eleven years 
of age when his parents removed to Illinois. 
He remained on a farm in Mercer County 
until 1861, when he came to Pottawattamie 
County, Iowa. He lived two years south of 
Oakland, and then came to the northeast cor- 
ner of what was then Big Grove, where he 
remained nineteen years. In 1882 he settled 
on his present farm of 200 acres. 

He was married in Mercer County, in 
1851, to Hannah J. Sherer, daughter of Rob- 
ert Sherer. He was the father of three chil- 
dren: Eunice, Margaret and Hannah J. To 
Mr. and Mrs. Reed were born ten children, 
namely: Adaline, May S., Margaret, Robert, 



51/8 



BIOGRAPUWAL HISTORY 



George, John, Albert, Irvin, Harry and Jennie 
M. The mother was a member of the Presby- 
terian Church in Illinois, hut joined the 
Methodist Church in Iowa. She died in 
March, 1890, at the age of tiltj-eight years, 
and was a faithful and devoted wife and 
mother. She was a helpmate to her husband, 
having labored with him to build up a liome 
in the wilderness of Iowa. Robert Reed, 
their eldest son, died very suddenly in Au- 
gust, 1890, at the age of twenty-eight years. 
This was a sad blow to Mr. Reed, following 
80 closely the death of his wife. Mr. Reed 
is a man of honor and integrity, and has 
done his full share toward building up and 
developing this township. He has taken an 
active interest in the schools, having acted as 
school director and trustee. Socially he is 
an Odd Fellow. 






fACKSON C. BORUFF, of section 23, 
Macedonia Township, was born in Mer- 
cer County, Illinois, May 17, 1845, the 
son of John and Mary (McGreer) Boruff. 
The father, a native of Tennessee, was the 
son of Valentine Borufl', a native of the 
South; the mother was born in Indiana 
near Connersville. The parents were mar- 
ried in Illinois, and reared three children. 
The mother died in 1865, and the father now 
I'esides in Rock Island County, Illinois, and 
is married and has one son. 

Jackson, the second of three boys, was 
reared in Rock Island County, Illinois, and 
passed his youth at farm work. In 1876 he 
came West to Montgomery County, near Red 
Oak, where he bought a farm and resided 
three years. He then bought eighty acres 
of land, and later forty acres, and he now has 
120 acres within one mile of Macedonia. He 



has three wells to supply water for stock ]-iir- 
poses. 

Mr. Boruff was married in Muscatine 
County, Iowa, May 18, 1876, to Miss Han- 
nah Drury, who was born in Rock Island 
County, Illinois, the daughter of James and 
Jane (Randolph) Drury, the former a native 
of Ohio, and the latter of Pennsylvania. 
Mr. and Mrs. Boruif have three children: 
John W., Hattie A. and Claude C. Politi- 
cally Mr. Boruff is a Democrat, but has 
never aspired for public office. He is a 
man yet in the prime of life, honorable in all 
his dealings and is one of the solid men of 
the township. 



►>^ 



4«-*o^ 



■ERN HARD GRESS, a prominent farmer 
of Pottawattamie County, and the pro- 
prietor of the Cottage Home Hotel in 
Walnut, was born in the Grand Dukedom of 
Baden, Germany, June 24, 1851, the son of 
Balthaser S. Gress, a blacksmith of Baden. 
He was married to Magdalena Kanzler, 
and they had four children: Bcrnhard, 
Anna, Frank and Katie. He was engaged 
in the Rebellion, and was under the com- 
mand of Franz Siegel, afterward a distin- 
guished general in our great civil war. In 
18G0 Mr. Gress brought his family, then 
consisting of a wife and two children, to 
America, settling in Iowa City. He engaged 
in farming six miles north of that city, and 
remained until 1878, when he came to Pot- 
tawattamie County, where he still lives, at 
the age of sixty-four years. He has always 
been a hard-working and honest man. 

Bernhard Gress, the subject of this sketch, 
was but eight years old when he came with 
his father^ to America. In his twenty-third 
year he came to Pottawattamie County, and 
began farming in Waveland Township. He 



OP POTTAWATfAitlE COUNTY. 



599 



sold tills farm and bought 240 acres of land 
in Lincoln Township, which he still owns. 
In 1889 he moved to Walnut and bonght 
the old Hinckley residence, which he con 
verted into a hotel, the " Cottage Home,' 
and is now running witli success and general 
satisfaction to tiie public. Mr. Gress has had 
the conSdence of his fellow townsmen, and 
in Lincoln Township was Assessor for eight 
years. His farm is one of the best in this 
part of the county, and has many excellent 
improvements. 

In 1876 he was married to Miss Katie 
Eichhorn, daughter of Adam Eichhorn, of 
Johnson County, and a native of Germany. 
He is now retired, and is living with Mr. 
Gress. Mr. and Mrs. Gress are the parents 
of seven children: Frank, George and Vina. 
Mr. and Mrs. Gress lost four children in 
three weeks, by diphtheria, in the winter of 
1887. 



jLLEN BULLIS has been a resident of 
Wright Township since 1870. He was 
born in Racine County, Wisconsin, 
June 6, 1847, son of Thomas and Elizabeth 
Bullis, natives of England. His parents 
were married in England, and subsequently 
removed to the United States and became 
residents of Racine County, Wisconsin. They 
had a family of seven children, five sons and 
two daughters, Allen being the fifth child. 
He was only eight years old when his father 
died; was brought up on the farm and was 
educated in the public schools. 

January 1, 1864, he enlisted in Company 
E, Nineteenth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, 
and served to the close of the war. He was 
in the battles of Duvall's Bluffs, Cold Harbor 
and Seven Oaks; was honorably discharged at 
Richmond, Virginia; returned to Wisconsin 

42 



and received his final payment at Madison. 
He then engaged in agricultural pursuits, 
and remained in Wisconsin until 1870. In 
that year he came to Iowa and located in 
Wright Township, Pottawattamie County, 
wiiere he had relatives and acquaictances. 
The first land he bought was 160 acres in 

o 

section 4, which he imjiroved and afterward 
sold. Then he purchased eighty acres in 
section 8, and later 120 acres more, now own- 
ing 200 acres of well improved land. He 
has a comfortable house, good stables and 
othei' out-buildings, a grove and orchard, and 
a modern wind pump. Much of his attention 
is being devoted to stock-raising. At this 
writing he is feeding thirty-six head of cattle 
and sixty-five hogs. 

Mr. Bullis was married in 1873, at Lewis, 
Cass County, Iowa, to Miss Mary Harmes, 
who was born in Ohio and is a daughter of 
Jacob and Catherine Harmes, residents of 
Wright Township. Mr. and Mrs. Bullis 
have one son, Freddy J., a youth of fifteen 
years. Mr. Bullis casts his vote and in- 
fluence with the Republican party. He is a 
member of the I. O. O. F., Lewis Lodge, 
No. 140. 



P^MITH G. AG NEW, one of the siib- 
stantial farmers of Layton Township, 
is descended from a prominent old 
American family of Scotch descent. His 
grandfather came from Scotland and settled 
in Pennsylvania, and his father, Gibson 
Agnew, was born on a farm in that State, 
and learned the tanner's trade, which he 
followed several years. When a young man 
he went to Ohio, and was there married 
to Eleanor Smith, and to them have been 
boru twelve children : Eliza, Sarah, Martha, 
Amanda, William, David, Margaret, John, 



600 



bwgkjLphical history. 



Mary, Smith G., George and Irwin. The 
father settled on a farm in Parke County, 
Indiana, where lie ran a distillery, and where 
he remained one-fourth of a century. In 
1852 he settled on a farm in Cedar County, 
Iowa, where he was among the early pioneers. 
lie then moved to Muscatine County, where 
he died in 1877 at the age of eighty-one 
years. He was a member of the Presby- 
terian Church, in which he was an elder. 

His soti, Smith G. Agnew, the subject of 
this sketch, was born October 8, 1848, in 
Parke County, Indiana, and was but four 
years of age when his parents came to Iowa. 
After tlie death of his father, he managed 
the home farm for two years. After mar- 
riage Mr. Agnew came to Pottawattamie 
County and settled on 160 acres of wild land, 
which he had bought a few years before. 
With the help of his wife anJ his own hard 
work he has added to this place until he now 
owns a fine homestead of 240 acres, which is 
pleasantly situated near Walnut. Politi- 
cally Mr. Agnew is a stanch Democrat, and 
also takes an active interest in the cause of 
education and in the good of the schools, 
serving as School Director for three terms. 
He has held the office of Road Supervisor. 

He was married in Clark County, in 1879, 
to Laura Woods, daughter of John and 
Amanda (Walker) Woods, who were the 
parents of live children: Laura, Charles, 
James, Loren and Warren. The fatlier was 
an old settler of Muscatine County, having 
come in 1851. Both lie and his wife were 
members of the Methodist Church, and the 
former is still living. Mr. and Mrs. Airnew 
are the parents of four children: Millie. 
Harry, Loren and Edith. Both Mr. and 
Mrs. Agnew are members of the Presbyterian 
Cliurch. The grandfathers of Mrs. Agnew 
are both living. Valentine Woods, her 
father's father, is now living in Cass County, 



at the age of seventy-nino years. He emi- 
grated from Pennsylvania to Dearborn, In- 
diana, where he lived many years. Rol)ert 
Walker, her mother's father, is living in 
Sacramento, California, at the age of seventy- 
eight years. He came from Switzerland, is 
a carpenter Ijy trade, and a member of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church. 



•" " ' ^ ' S t' S '- j) '""^ — 

EORGE W. POLAND, a substantial 
farmer of Pottawattamie County, was 
born in Maryland, December 8, 1825, 
the son of Peter Poland, also a native of 
Maryland. He was married to Margaret 
Metz, and they were the parents of three chil- 
dren: Jane, Margaret and George W. Mrs. 
Poland died when our subject was but six 
years of age, and the father was again mar- 
ried and went to the Western country, and 
our subject never heard from him again. He 
was brought up by different people, and re- 
ceived but little education, but in early life 
began to work on the farm and in a tan-yard, 
which he continued three years. He re- 
mained in Virginia until 1855, when he came 
to Iowa, settling in Washington County, and 
first working at farm work, and in 1863 lie 
bought a farm in that county, and ten years 
later came to his present place, which then 
consisted of 240 acres of wild land, but 
which he has since converted into a fine, fer- 
tile farm. He sold eighty acres of his land 
and gave his son, Amos, forty acres, so that 
he now owns 120 acres of fine land and ten 
acres of timber. 

Mr. Poland was married, in 1849, in 
Hampshire County, Virginia, to Mary A. 
McShane, daughter of John McShane. She 
was born in Maryland. March 9, 1821, and 
had a similar experience with iier husband, 
her parents having bee.i poor, and she was 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



601 



brought up by strangers. They are tlie par- 
ents of four children, viz.: Elizabeth E., now 
the wife of M. T. Baker, a fanner of Wash- 
ington Connty, Iowa, and they have four 
children: Jacob U., Viola, Cora A. and Elma; 
Amos, a fanner of Knox Township, married 
Mary Stewart, and they liave two children: 
Julia E. and Anna \\.\ Mary J. married 
William Gibbons, a farmer of Woodbury 
County, Iowa, and they have four children: 
Eva B., George E., Amos C. and Cleveland; 
Dennis married Annie Garthwaite, and is 
now a farmer on the old home place, and they 
have three children: George E., Grant and 
Amos C. The gaanddaughter, Julia E., 
married William Meredith, a farmer of Knox 
Township, and they have one child, Jane H. 
Thus Mr. and Mrs. Poland have thirteen 
grandchildren and one great-grandchild. 
They have both been life-long members of 
the Unibed Brethen Church, in which Mr. 
Foland has held the office of Class-leader, 
Trustee and Sunday-school Superintendent 
for many years. In his political views he is 
a Republican, and has been School Director 
and Supervisor of his township. 

Mr. Poland is a self-made man, as his early 
days were clouded with poverty, and in early 
youth he was left to the care of strangers 
with all the vicissitudes of such dependency, 
and by a straightforward course and an honest 
purpose he has steadily risen until he now 
owns a good farm, and has given his children 
a good home. He has always been a religi- 
ous and moral man, and deserves the respect 
of all his descendants for the good example 
he has set them, in which he has been assisted 
by his faithful wife; together they have borne 
the burden, and t igether they will reap the 
reward of the well-doer. Mr. Poland had a 
cancer cured on his nose, which bid fair to 
end his life. The regular doctors failed to 
cure it, and a frietid recommendeil him to a 



farmer who had cured several cancers. Mr. 
Poland called to see him, and used his medi- 
cine, which in time cured him completely. 
He bought the prescription, ani has since 
treated others successfully. 

"^ "^ ' S *' ! * !" "^ 



fOIIN H.WINANS, a substantial farmer 
of Knox To^vn3hip, is from ai old Amer- 
ican family of NevV Jersey, a;il of Eng- 
lish descent. His great-grandfather and 
grandfather were in the Revolutionary war, 
and the latter was a fannsr of New Jersey 
near Elizabeth City. Our subject's father, 
Benjamin Winans, was also a fanner, and 
was married to Hannah Hucrhes, daughter of 
Charles Hughes, of New Jersey. They were 
the parents of six chil irea: Fannie, John H., 
Charles, Mary, George E. and Eliza. In 
1854 the father moved to Scott County, Iowa, 
settlinjj on a farin of wild land, where he 
lived until 1884, when he moved to Chester 
Township, Poweshiek County, where he is 
still living, at the age of eighty-six ye irs. 
Both he and his wife were members of the 
Methodist Church at Rahway, New Jersey, 
for forty-six years. The father is a prosper- 
ous farmer in good circumstances, and has 
always obeyed the Quaker instructions of 
owing no man anything. In his political 
principles he is a Republican. 

John H. Winans, our subject, was born in 
Elizabeth City, Essex County, New Jersey, 
August 15, 1842, and was reared to farm 
life. He was but twelve years of age when 
his father came to Iowa, and he carried from 
New Jersey $1,200 in a leather belt, with 
which his father bought his farm. In 1865 
Mr. Winans moved to Pottawattamie Coun- 
ty, settling in Center Township, and in 1878 
moved to his present farm of 160 acres in 
Knox Township. In his political principles 



602 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY 



he is a Republican; has been a Supervisor of 
his township five years, Constable two years, 
and School Director three years. He has 
been identified with Iowa since his boyiiood, 
and like his father has always stood higli as 
an industrious and honest man and a good 
citizen. 

■ Mr. Winans was married at the age of 
twenty years, in 1862, to Sarah J. Fuller, 
daughter of Ezra and Arloah L. Fuller. Tlie 
father was a farmer of Cuyahoga County, 
Ohio, and settled in Scott County, Iowa, in 
1861, where he was a large landholder, own- 
ing 900 acres of land. He had two sons: 
Jared M. and James, and a brother, Spencer, 
in the civil war, all three of whom died in 
the army. He was the father of twelve chil- 
dren, and died in Center Township, this 
county, where he had moved in 1864:. He 
held the office of Supervisor five years. Con- 
stable two years, and School Director three 
terms. Isaac, the eldest brother of Benjamin 
Winans, was a captain in the war of 1812, 
and was in the battle of Morristown, New 
Jersey. 



(EORGE H. GRAYBILL, of section 
14, Garner Townsliip, was born Decem- 
ber 23, 1846, in Pottawattamie County, 
and was one of the first white children born 
in this county. His father was George W. 
Graybill, a native of Jackson County, Ohio, 
and the son of Michael Graybill, who was 
born in North Carolina; and tiie mother, nee 
Polly Stoker, was born in North (Carolina. 
The parents were married in Indiana, but 
afterward removed to Missouri, and thence to 
Hancock County, Illinois. They were mem- 
bers of the Church of the Latter- Day Saints, 
and followed the Mormon leaders to this 
county, where they were early pioneers. Tlie 



father settled in Pottawattamie County, in 
1846, near Wheeler's Grove, and afterward 
near the place where his son, George, now 
lives. He now jesides at Underwood. The 
mother died when our suliject was tiiirteen 
years of age, leaving nine children. The 
father afterward married a widow who had 
three children. 

George H., our subject, was reared in 
Pottawattamie County, in the pioneer days, 
and passed his youth upon a farm, receiving 
his education in the district schools. He 
now owns 150 acres of valuable bottom land 
situated five miles from tiie city limits of 
Council Bluffs. December 8, 1887, he was 
married to Mrs. Flora Brower, who was born 
in Marion County, Iowa, the daughter df 
Moses and Nancy (Jones) Doty; she has oue 
child, Lucy. Her father was born iu In- 
diana. Mr. and Mrs. Graybill have two chil- 
dren: George and Lee. Politically Mr. 
Graybill is a Republican, and is yet in the 
prime of life, intelligent, frank and cordial 
in his manner and address. 



3|SAAC HOOPES, deceased, late of Silver 
|l Creek Township, Pottawattamie County, 
W was one of the respected and esteemed 
citizens of his community. He came to this 
county in 1876 and resided here until the 
time of his death. He was born in Adams 
County, Pennsylvania, December 29, 1832, 
the son of James Hoopes, a native of Penn- 
sylvania. His mother, Elizabeth (Briuton) 
Hoopes, was born in Chester County, Penn- 
sylvania, near Philadelphia. The Erintons 
were of Welsh ancestry. Isaac Hoopes was 
reared on a farm in Adams County, Pennsyl- 
vania, and learned the trade of blacksmith 
and wagon-maker. His education was ob- 
tained iu the common schools of his native 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



G03 



State. At the age of twenty-one years he 
came West, and worked at his trade in Dela- 
ware County, Iowa. 

It was in Delaware County that he became 
acquainted with Miss Rebecca Farr, a lady of 
intelligence and education, who afterward 
became his wife. She was born in Fayette 
County, Pennsylvania, the daughter of Moses 
and Mary (Hatfield) Farr, both natives of 
Fayette County. Her father was a son of 
John Farr, a Frenchman by birth. He was 
a teacher in his younger days, is a mechanic 
and cabinet-maker Ijy trade, and now, at the 
age of seventy -eight years, is still a resident 
of his native county. His wife was of Ger- 
man ancestry. She died in Fayette County, 
Pennsylvania, in 1884, at the age of seventy 
years. Mrs. Hoopes was educated at her na- 
tive place, and at the age of fifteen years 
began teaching school in Virginia. At sev- 
enteen she came to Iowa and continued her 
profession in Delaware County. At Coles- 
burg, that county, September 24, 1865, she 
was united in marriage to Isaac Hoopes, Rev. 
B. H. Crider performing the ceremony. They 
continued to reside in Delaware County until 
1876, when they removed to Oskaloosa, Ma- 
haska County, Iowa, where Mr. Hoopes 
worked at his trade for a time. He subse- 
quently purchased a farm five and a half 
miles from Oskaloosa, where they lived until 
1876, when they came to Pottawattamie 
County. Here Mr. Hoopes purchased 160 
acres of wild land in Silver Creek Township, 
paying for it $1,750, and here lie spent the 
residue of his life. He was killed on his own 
farm, February 16,1888, by a runaway team. 
He was a believer in Christian Science. Po- 
litically he was a Republican. His widow 
and two children survive him. The names 
of the latter are Willis I. and Orville G. 
Charles R., their lirst-born, died in 1882, at 
the age of fifteen years. 



The Hoopes farm is one of the best in Sil- 
ver Creek Township. The residence is 16 x 
24 feet, with wing 16 x 24 feet, same height, 
one and a half stories, is situated on a natural 
building site, and is surrounded by various 
kinds of trees. The farm is well improved, 
and everything about the premises — the barn, 
sheds, yards, feed-lots, modern wind-pump 
and orchard and grove — all indicate prosper- 
ity. Since her husband's death Mrs. Hoopes 
has managed the farm with the assistance of 
her son, Willis I. She is not only a lady of 
intelligence and refinement, but is endowed 
with good executive ability as a financier. 

"♦♦' | ' 2n; . g - 



fRANK SHINN, attorney at law at Car- 
son, was born in Jacktowu, Adams 
County, Ohio, October 28, 1843, a son 
of Rev. Allen Trimble Shinn, who was a 
nephew of Governor Trimble, and was a 
native of Hillsboro, Highland County, same 
State. The latter was a son of George 
Shinn, of an old Virginia Quaker family. 
Frank's mother's maiden name was Melinda 
Fenton. She was a native of Adams County, 
Ohio, and brought up in Kentucky. Her 
father, John Fenton, was a native of Penn- 
sylvania, and her mother (maiden name 
Sarah Field) was born in Loudoun County, 
Virginia. Rev. A. T. Shinn went to Ken- 
tucky in ministerial work when his son 
Frank was nine years old. Subsequently in 
1856 he was transferred to Marshalltown, 
Iowa, and two years later to Macedonia, this 
county, arriving March 4, 1858. Six months 
afterward he died, leaving a widow and six 
sons. Asa F., the eldest, enlisted in the 
First Nebraska Infantry in 1861, and died of 
typhoid fever at Syracuse, Missouri, thus 
leaving Frank as the eldest at home, to take 
care of his mother and the younger members 



601 



BI'GBAPEICAL BISTORY 



of tlie family. lie therefore remained with 
her until he was twonty-five years of age. 
Jamiaiy 25, 1869, he married Miss Almira 
Schenck, a native of Parke County, Indiana, 
born near Rockville, a daughter of James M. 
Schenck, who was a native of Mechanicsburg, 
Ohio. Her mother, whose name before mar- 
riage was Alzina Fisher, was born at Ripley, 
Brown County, Ohio. Mrs. Shiim was nine 
years of age when her father settled in War- 
ren Connty, Iowa, in 1864. Afterward the 
family removed to Macedonia Township, 
Pottawattamie County. 

Mr. Shinn has improved four different 
farms: two in Mills Connty, one in Mont- 
gomery County, and one on section 10, Grove 
Township, Pottawattamie County. His first 
case at law occurred February 21, 1864, be- 
fore Esquire Groom, in Macedonia Town- 
ship, and it was such as to create consider- 
able notoriety. He received two tons of hay 
as his fee. 

Urged by E[. C. Watkins to study law, he 
complied, having to read of evenings, and at 
length was admitted to the bar, April 16, 
1876. In August, 1877, he moved to Emer- 
son, Mills County, and lived there until 
1883, engaged in the law, and finally came 
to Carson, where he has since made his home 
and has had a good practice, his extensive 
acquaintance in this and adjoining counties 
being of great value to him. As a public 
speaker he is fluent and impressive. He has 
also taken a prominent part in the temper- 
ance movement, working in favor of the pro- 
hibition amendment ever since 1874. In 
May, 1882, he "stumped" western Iowa in 
favor of the prohibition constitutional amend- 
ment. As a candidate for State Senator in 
1887 he ran 117 votes ahead of his ticket. 
He is the wheel-horse of the Republican party 
in western Iowa. He is a member of Coral 
Lodge, No. 430, F. & A. M., at Carson. 



Mr. Shinn has three daughters, namely: 
Liiinie A., Kate L. and Myrtle I. He has 
lost two children by death: James A., at the 
age of ten years, and Addie, at the age of 
fourteen years. 

While residing where Marshalitown now 
is in 1857, Mr. Shinn cut his knte with a 
corn knife, which rendered him a cripple for 
life. 

-^«|-2«f^*-~ 



LEXANDER L. BROWN came to his 
present location in Center Township, 
Pottawattamie Connty, in 1872, and 
was among the first settlers in this neighbor- 
hood. A brief resume of his life is herewith 
given. 

Mr. Brown was born in Muskingum Coun- 
ty, Ohio, May 25, 1827, the son of Benjamin 
Brown, a native of New York. His grand- 
father, Alexander Brown, was born in Scot- 
land. His mother, Nancy (McKee) Brown, 
a native of New Jersey, was a daughter of a 
Protestant Irishman. 

Our subject passed his youth on his fa- 
ther's farm in Muskingum County, and re- 
ceived his education in the public schools. 
He was married April 20, 1848, to Miss 
Elizabeth Catherine Mennefee, a native of 
Virginia. Her father, Charles Mennefee, 
was born in the Old Dominion, in 1782, 
the descendant of an old Virginia family. 
Her mother, nee Mary Madox, a daughter of 
Notley Madox, was also a native of Virginia, 
as was her father. Mr. Brown resided in 
Ohio until 1853, when the whole family re- 
moved to Mercer County, Illinois. There 
the parents spent the residue of their lives. 
The father died at the age of seventy years. 
In politics he was a Whig until the organiza- 
tion of the Republican party, when he joined 
its ranks. A member of the Christian 



OF POTTAWATTAillE COUNTY. 



605 



Chiireh, lie was an active and zealous worker 
in tlie cause of relij^ion. Tlie mother died 
at the age of ninety years. 

Mr. Brown remained in Illinois until 1872, 
when he came to this county and bought his 
present farm, eighty acres, of J. Q. Rollins, 
who had broken the ground. Mr. Brown has 
since put the land under a good state of cul- 
tivation, and has substantial and convenient 
farm buildings. 

lie and his wife are the parents of seven 
children, viz.: Samantha, wife of Horace 
Bull, Rock Island, Illinois, has live children; 
Joanna, wife of Riley Duncan, of Wayne, 
Nebraska, is the mother of two children; 
Charles, a resident of Custer County, Ne- 
braska, is married and has three children; 
Theodore is married and lives in Omaha; 
L. W., at home; Hugh resides in Pottawat- 
tamie County, is married and has two 
children; George A., a successful teacher 
of Center Township, is married and has one 
child. Benjamin, the twin brother of Charles, 
died at the age of four years. 

Politically Mr. Brown is a Republican. 
For many years he has been a member of 
the Baptist Church, and forty years a mem- 
ber of the Masonic fraternity. He is an 
intelligent man of broad and progressive 
views, and is regarded by all as a worthy 
and upright citizen. 

In connection with Mrs. Brown's family 
history it should be farther stated that her 
father died in Mercer County, Illinois, and 
her mother, now at the age of eighty eight 
years makes her home in Mr. Brown's family. 



fAMES F. SMITH, section 12, Silver 
Creek Township, is one of the well known 
and successful men of his community. 
He cime here in 1882 from Mills County, 



Iowa, where lie had resided since 1877. A 
brief sketch of Mr. Smith's life is as follows: 
He was born in La Porte County, Indiana, 
November 5, 1835, a son of James F. Smith, 
Sr. His father was a native of New York 
State, and was a hotel-keeper all his life. He 
built and kept the Checkered Tavern near 
Buffalo, New York, and subsequently re 
moved to Indiana, where he was a popular 
and successful hotel manager, and where, in 
1840, he was killed by a desperado at Hud- 
son, La Porte County. Mr. Smith's mother, 
India (Darby) Smith, was born in New Y'^ork 
State. She died when James F. was two or 
three years old, and he was only live when 
his father's death occurred. Left an orphan 
thus early in life he was reared by relatives 
in La Porte County, Indiana, and in Southern 
Michigan, near Ann Arbor. He was brought 
up on a farm, and his education was obtained 
in the common schools and in the practical 
school of experience. In 1870 he removed 
to Porter County, Indiana, where he resided 
seven years. He then sold the farm he had 
purchased at that place and came West to 
Mills County, Iowa. There he rented a farm 
of his brother-in-law, Josiah Wearing, one 
of the most prominent stock-men of that 
county. In 1882 he came to Pottawattamie 
County, and purchased 160 acres of wild land 
at $12.50 per acre. He afterward bought 
240 acres more. He is now the owner of 240 
acres, having sold eighty acres to one of his 
sons, and the same amount to another. Mr. 
Smith has a good frame house, 22 x 28 feet, 
one and a half stories, and an addition, 20 x 
16 feet, well situated, and surrounded with 
an orchard comprising two acres and a half. 
His granary is 20 x 20 feet, and he also has 
cribs, yards, feed-lots, a wind-mill, and every- 
thing to denote the thrifty and prosperous 
farmer. He is engaged in general farming 
and stock-raisins'. 



606 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY 



At the age of twenty-one years Mr. Smith 
was inarried. in La Porte Connty, Indiana, to 
Sarah Jane Cooper, daughter of John and 
Mary (Walldriiff) Cooper, l)oth natives of 
Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have 
four children, as follows: Olive, wife of E. 
B. Carley, Silver Creek Township; Nevada, 
wife, of G. R. Cook, of the same township; 
and Geoi-ge L. and Frank M., also of Silver 
Creek Township. Politically Mr. Smith is 
a strong and radical Republican. He and 
his wife were formerly connected with the 
Christian Church. Mr. Smith is a man in 
the ]irime of life, is cordial in his manner 
toward his fellow-men, and is honorable in 
all his business dealings. He is numbered 
among the solid men of the township. 



1^ B. JACK, a prominent farmer of Pot- 
Wi tawattamie County, was born in Lick- 
" ing County, Ohio, and is of English 
descent. His great-grandfather came from 
England and settled in Virginia, and his 
grandfather, James Jack, was a soldier in the 
war of 1812. He was a native of Pennsyl- 
vania, and moved to Wheeling, Virginia, in 
1802, and afterward went to Muskingum 
County, Ohio, where he owned a good farm, 
and where he lived until his death, which 
occurred in 1847, at the age of eighty years. 
Both himself and wife were members of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church, and the former 
was an industrious and honorable man. His 
son John Jack, the father of our subject, was 
born November 19, 1797, in Pennsylvania, 
and at the age of five years went with his 
father to Wheeling, Virginia. At the age 
of nineteen years he went to Muskingum 
County, where he was married to a widow 
lady named McDowell, formerly Delilah 
Dean, who had four children by her former 



marriage, viz.: Commodore P., Mary A., 
Emily and Cynthia. Mr. and Mrs. Jack 
were the parents of six children: James, 
Charles, Hugli, John W., Henry B at d De- 
i lilah. After marriage Mr. Jack removed to 
Perry County, and in 1833 to Licking 
County, where he was among the early set- 
tlers. He remained there until 1859, when 
he moved to Jasper County, Iowa, settling 
on a new farm, which, with the assistance 
of his son Henry B., he converted into a 
fine farm. He died in Pottawattamie County, 
in April, 1880, at the age of eighty-two years. 
His wife died July 12, 1887, at the age of 
one hundred years, three months and twelve 
days. They were both members of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church, in which Mr. 
Jack was a steward and class- leader. 

Henry B., the subject of this sketch, was 
born April 14, 1834, in Licking County, 
Ohio. In 1859, at the age of twenty-five 
years, he came to Jasper County, Iowa, with 
his father. August 2, 1862, he enlisted in 
Company C, Twenty-second Iowa Volunteer 
Infantry, and served to the close of the war. 
He was in the battles of Port Gibson, May 1, 
1863; Champion Hill, May 16, 1863; Black 
River Bridge, May 17, 1863; the assault on 
Vicksburg, May 22, 1863, where he was taken 
prisoner, but in fourteen days was paroled 
and exchanged, and in Octolier following re- 
turned to service; was also in the battle of 
Winchester, September 19, 1864. He was 
wounded at Port Gibson and at Winchester, 
and was in the hospital; was also injured by 
a fall in the hatchway of a vessel at St. Louis, 
and was in the hospital three months. He 
has since suflered from disability caused by 
his service in the army, and should have a 
pension. 

After the war, like many of the soldiers 
who risked their lives for their country, he 
returned to bis old home and engaged in 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUHTT. 



607 



farming. After his marriage he settled in 
Jasper County, and in 1873 removed to 
Lincoln Township, Pottawattamie County, 
and in 1889 cams to Valley Township and 
settled on his present farm. He is a mem- 
ber of John A. Dix Post, G. A. R., of Wal- 
nnt, Iowa, and is a stanch Republican. As 
a soldier his record should be preserved and 
handed down to his children as one who did 
not hesitate to offer his life for her de- 
fense, and as one who never flinched when 
■duty called. His children's children should 
tell the story of their grandfatlier's battles 
and sufferings as a soldier in the great war 
which saved the Union. The descendants of 
Mr. Jack on both sides have honorable an- 
cestors, who helped to found the country in 
peace as well as to save it in war. 

He was married in 1870, to Ella E. Kel- 
lotrff, who was born in Litchiield, Hei'kinier 
County, New York, December 21, 1845, and 
received a good education at Madison, Wis- 
consin. She was the daughter of Nathaniel 
and Sarah (Fellows) Kellogg. The father 
was born in Paris, Oneida County, New 
York, and in 1847 settled in Wisconsin, 
where he was among the early settlers. In 
1869 he moved to Missouri. His father was 
a native of Hartford, Connecticut, and was 
in the war of 1812. He descended from 
three brothers who came over in the May- 
flower; one settled in Connecticut, from 
whom Mr. Kellog<i is descended ; one in New 
Hampshire and one in Vermont. The name 
was originally spelled Kellogue. Mr. and 
Mrs. Nathaniel Kellogg were the parents of 
eleven children, viz.: Mary A., Edwin M., 
Almira M., Augustus H., Lucy D., Charles 
H., Jennie A., George D., Ella E., Emma 
A. and Ruth E., all of whom lived to matu- 
rity. The father lived to the age of eighty- 
seven years, dying at the home of one of his 
daugiiters in Fort Scott, Kansas; his wife is 



still living, at the age of eighty-five years. 
Ml-, and Mrs. Jack have had seven children: 
John, deceased at five years; Henry H., Sarah 
D., Lillie E., Charles B., Viola E. and one 
who died in infancy. 



fSAIAH TIM PERM AN is a prominent 
farmer of Center Township, Pottawatta- 
mie County. His great - grandfather. 
Christian TiiTiberman, came from Germany 
before the Revolutionary war, and settled in 
New Jersey. His son, Jacob, was born on a 
farm in that State, was a soldier in the war 
of the Revolution, being in the battles of 
Trenton and Germantown. He was with 
Washington when he crossed the Delaware 
and passed the fearful winter at Valley 
Forge, when the patriots left blood upon the 
snow from their bare feet. He was married 
to Hannah Hogate, a native of America, and 
tiiey had five children: Gideon, Hannah, Betsy 
and Priscilla. The father lived to the age of 
seventy-five years, and died on his farm in 
Gloucester County, New Jersey, twenty miles 
from Philadelphia. He was a patriot who 
did not hesitate to risk his life for his coun- 
try. Christian Tiraberman, the father of our 
subject, was born on his father's farm, and 
received a common-school education. He 
married Elizabeth Duffle, and to them were 
bornthreechildren: John, James and Hannah. 
The mother died, and the father was again 
married in New Jersey, to Sarah Cassiday, 
daughter of James and Sarah (Barber) Cassi- 
day, and to them were born eight children: 
Ruth, Elizabeth, Sarah, Jane, Mary (deceased), 
Ann and Isaiah, and one who died in infancy. 
In 1837 the father moved to Cincinnati, 
Hamilton County, Ohio, and then removed 
to a farm near that city, where he died in 
1866, at the age of eighty years. He was a 



608 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY 



member of the Methodist Church, but later 
in life joined the United Brethern Church, 
in which he took great interest, and was also 
a steward. 

Isaiah Timbennan, onr subject, was born 
October 15, 1829, on a farm in Gloucester 
County, Now Jersey, and was eight years of 
age when he went with his father to Ohio. 
He well remembers the trip by steamer down 
the Ohio, and also remembers the political 
campaign of 1840, called the Log Cabin and 
Hard Cider campaign, in which W. H. Har- 
rison was elected President. He learned 
farming in early life, and at the age of sixteen 
he learned the trade of light-carriage maker. 
In Marrh, 1855, Mr. Timberman went to 
Kansas and took up 160 acres of Govern- 
ment land in Coffey County. This was in the 
midst of Kansas troubles, and on the road 
they were stopped and questioned by the 
Missourians, but allowed to go through. He 
remained in Coffey County until the great 
drouth of 1860, when he left there and came 
to Iowa, settling in Harrison County, where 
he lived two years. Here Mr. Timberman 
lost his left foot and leg, which were cut off 
by a mowing-machine. In 1863 he moved 
to Council Dluft's, and in 1868 came to Val- 
ley Township, which was then Center Town- 
ship. He sold this place and came to his 
present farm of 160 acres in 1874. He has 
been greatly assisted in improving this farm 
by his faithful wife and sons. Mr. Timber- 
man was a soldier in the late civil war for a 
short time, and did service at Fort Lincoln, 
Kansas, under the celebrated chief. General 
"Jim" Lane. He is a typical American 
pioneer, having struggled to make a home 
for himself and family, and well known as an 
honest man, whose word is as good as his 
bond. 

He was married November 25, 1850, in 
Cincinnati, Ohio, to Miss E. M. Cook, daugh- 



ter of Zaccheus and Mary (Murphy) Cook. 
The father was a native of New Jersey, and 
was a wool-carder by trade. He died when 
still a young man, and was the father of five 
children: Athalinda, Oliver, Rachel, Eliza- 
beth and Amy. Mrs. Cook was a member 
of the Methodist Church, and is yet living 
with her eldest daughter, at the age of eighty- 
six years. Mr. and Mrs. Timberman were 
the parents of eleven children, viz.: Oliver 
P., Sarah J., Mary A., Alpha, Amy L. (de- 
ceased), John W., Charles H., James A., 
Edward F. and two who died in infancy. 
Mr. and Mrs. Timberman are members of 
the Methodist Church, and politically Mr. 
Timberman is a Republican. 

Their daughter, Mary A., married Azro 
Boyd, and they have one son, Clarence O. 
She was again married, to Albert Maxwell, 
a carpenter of Seattle, Washington, and by 
this marriage there is one child, Allen K. 
Sarah J. married William Maxwell, a farmer 
of Center Township, and they have three 
children: Amy P., Cloyd G. and Ivy M. 
Alpha married Monroe Maxwell, a farmer of 
Nebraska, and by this marriage there are 
two children: Goldie M. and Silvia J. John 
W. is a farmer of Valley Township, and is 
married to Mallie Morris. Oliver P., a 
fanner of Valley Township, was married to 
Ida Pollock, and they liave one child, Ethel P. 



H*^ 



NDERSON PLUMMER, section 8, 
Grove Township, Pottawattamie County, 
Iowa, is a well-known and enterprising 
citizen. He was born in Hamilton County, 
Ohio, November 1, 1830, the son of Naman 
and Nancy (Conley) Plummer, both natives of 
Ohio. His grandfather, Jerry Plummer, was 
born in Pennsylvania, and his great-grand- 
father Plummer was of English ancestry and 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



609 



fought in the Revolutionary war. His ma- 
ternal grandfather. John Conlej, was born in 
Ireland. The live children born to Nanian 
and Nancy Flumnier were: Minerva, Ander- 
son, Eliza, Jerry and Margaret. The family 
moved from Ohio to Marion County, Indi- 
ana, where the parents spent the remainder 
of their days, the mother dying when the 
subject of this sketch was fourteen years of 
age, and the lather in 1865. Mr. Plumraer 
was a farmer all his life. In politics he was 
a Democrat. He and his wife were both 
members of the Methodist Church, and in 
that faith they reared their children. 

Anderson Plummer was reared on a farm 
and received his education in the primitive 
log school-house of that period. At the age 
of fifteen he entered upon a three years' ap- 
prenticeship to the carpenter's trade, working 
for his board and clotlies. He afterward 
worked for wages two years in Hamilton 
County, Ohio. In 1858 he removed from 
Oliio to Benton County, Iowa, where he 
worked at his trade until 1875. In that 
year he came to Pottawattamie County, and 
located three miles northwest of Avoca, 
where he remained until 1880. Then he 
bought his present farm of John Lederick. 
This farm contains 120 acres, is divided into 
four fields, and is well fenced. A substan- 
tial frame house, surrounded by shade and 
ornamental trees, and suitable out-buildings 
for grain and stock, are among the improve- 
ments on this place. Mr. Plummer has done 
much of the fencing and other improvements 
since his purchase of the farm. 

At the age of twentj-five he was married, 
in Benton County, Iowa, to Miss Mary Con- 
ley, a native of Indiana, and a lady of intel- 
ligence. She is the daughter of Michael and 
Mary Conley. Mr. and Mrs. Plummer have 
had three children: Charlie, who was born in 
October, 1878; Celathiel, who died at the 



age of two and a half years; and Mary, who 
died when she was one year old. 

Mr. Plummer is a man well informed on 
general topics, is frank and cordial in his 
manner, and is regarded as one of the lead- 
ing citizens in the community in which he 
resides. He is a member of the Christian 
Church, and is an earnest Sabbath-school 
worker. Politically he is a Hepublican. 



^ON. JOSEPH R. REED, of Council 
Bluffs, is of Scotch-Irish ancestry, and 
a descendant of those hardy Scotch-Irish 
Presbyterians, so prominent in the early his- 
tory of Pennsylvania and elsewhere in the 
United States. Joseph Reed, the great- 
grandfather of our subject, came to Penn- 
sylvania in an early day, settling in Chance- 
ford, York County. He was a man of more 
than ordinary' ability; was a Colonel in the 
Revolutionary war; a member of the Penn- 
sylvania Legislature, and introduced measures 
for the manumission of the slaves in that 
State, which was adopted about 1793-'94. He 
was a farmer, land-owner and miller. His 
wife was a worthy and resolute woman, and 
during her husband's absence in the army 
she ran the mill and ground flour to ieed the 
army. Both he and his wife were Presby- 
terians, and had a large family, among whom 
was James Reed, the grandfather of our sub- 
ject. The latter removed to Washington 
County, Pennsylvania, where he engaged in 
farming. He married Elizabeth Reed, a dis- 
tant relative of her husband, and they had 
four sons and two daughters. 

One son, William Reed, the father of our 
subject, was a farmer by occu])ation, and was 
married in Washington County, Pennsyl- 
vania, to Miss Roseanna Lyle, the daughter 
of Robert Lyle. The latter was a soldier in 



610 



BIOGRAPnlGAL HISTORY 



tlie Revolutionary war. In 1829 William 
Eeed moved to Ohio, and settled in wliat is 
now Ashland County, near the present village 
of McKay, where he cleared a farm, and 
where hotli he and his wife lived until death. 
They had three sons and three daughters who 
grew to maturity, namely: James O., a farmer 
in his youth, and later a teacher, and died on 
his farm in St. Landry Parish, Louisiana; 
Sarah J., who resides with her brother. Judge 
Reed, in Council Blntfs; Hon. James R., our 
subject; Elizabeth, wife of Rev. D. A. Newell, 
of Wooster, Ohio; William, a merchant at 
Loudonville, Ohio; Rosanna, wife of Jesse R. 
Hissem, also of Loudonville. 

Hon. Joseph R. Reed was born on the old 
homestead in Ashland County, Ohio, March 
12, 1835. He was educated in the common 
schools, and at the Vermillion Institute at 
Hayesville, Ohio. He rennved to Iowa in 
March, 1857, settling at Adel, Dallas Coun- 
ty, where he taught school, and also studied 
law. He was admitted to the bar in 1859, 
and immediately began practice at that place, 
continuing until the outbreak of the late war. 
He enlisted in July, 1861, as First Lieutenant 
in the Second Iowa Battery, and served until 
Jnly, 1865; in 1864 he was promoted Captain 
of the battery. 

At the close of the war Mr. Reed returned 
to Adel, Iowa, where he resumed the practice 
of law. He was elected a State Senator in 
1865, and served in the Eleventh and Twelfth 
General Assemblies, and in the summer of 
1869 removed to this city, where he has since 
resided. September 1, 1872, lie was ap- 
pointed Judge of the District Court, and 
served as such until January, 1884; from 
January, 1884, to March 1, 1889, he served 
as Judge of the Supreme Court, and in No- 
vember, 1888, was elected a member of the 
Fifty-tirst Congress. 

Judge Reed was united in marriage, No- 



vember 1, 1865. at Ashland, Ohio, to Jenette 
Dinsmore, a daughter of James A. Dinsmore, 
of Ashland County. Mrs. Reed died in J uly, 
1887; she was a member of the Presbyterian 
Church. Politically Judge Reed has always 
been a Republican; socially a Mason, and a 
member of Excelsior Lodsje of Council Bluffs. 



,ERY E. BRENEMAN, of section 30 
Macedonia Township, was born in Han- 
cock County, Ohio, December 13, 1845, 
the son of Richard and Sarah (Clark) Brcne- 
man, both born in Mercer County, Pennsyl- 
vania, and reared in Columbiana County, 
Ohio, and of Pennsylvani i Dutch ancestry. 
The parents were married in that county, and 
afterward removed to Hancock County, same 
State, and in the fall of 1854 to Iowa County, 
Iowa, settling ten niile^ south of Marengo. 
They were early settlers in that portion of 
the State. They came to Pottawattamie 
County, Washington Township, Iowa, in 
1881, where the father died in the spring of 
1883, and the mother still resides in Wash- 
ington Township. 

Nery E. Breneraan, our subject, came to 
Iowa in 1879, and bought his land in the 
spring of 1875, which was wild and uncul- 
tivated. He has, since residing upon it, im- 
proved it in a good manner, and his pasture 
and meadow is well adapted to general farm- 
ino- and stock-raising. He was married March 
1, 1882, to Miss Celia Kanke, who was born 
in Adams County, Illinois, the daughter of 
Christian and Anna (Weeks) Kanke, the 
former a native of Germany, and the latter 
of England. Mrs. Breneman was five years 
old when her parents came to Pottawattamie 
County. The parents now reside in Mace- 
donia. Mr. and Mrs. Breneman have two 
children: Howard, born July 31, 1885, and 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE VOUNTT. 



611 



Alma Frances, born August 11, 1888. l^olit- 
ically Mr. Breneinan is a Democrat, but has 
never aspired for political distinction. He is 
a member of the I. O. O. F., Macedonia 
Lodge, No. 421. 



|QGDST KAVEN, the pioneer settler 
and the man who erected the first build- 
ing in Minden, now the residence of 
James Crow, is the real founder of this city, 
having erected most of the buildings, and is 
now one of the substantial business men of 
the town. He was born in Holstein, Ger- 
many, September 14, 1842, the son of Henry 
Kaven, who was the father of three children 
now living: Henry, Dora and August. The 
father was a farmer by occupation, and lived 
to the age of eighty-six years. His wife 
lived to the extreme old age of ninety years. 
Her maiden name was Dora Westfall. 

August Kaven, our subject, after visiting 
the principal cities of Germany, Switzerland 
and France, came to America, in 1866. He 
located in New York city, where he worked 
at his trade of cabinet-maker about nine 
months. He then removed to the city of 
Philadelphia, where he remained four months. 
He next moved to Chicago, and was in that 
city during the great fire, after which he 
worked in rebuilding the city until 1873, 
when he came to Avoca, where he remained 
for a few months, working on the bank 
building. January 22, 1874, he came to 
Minden, having the contract to build the 
residence for Casper Foster, but on account 
of the deep snow he was unable to find the 
stakes marking the lots. He was next en- 
gaged in building the residence now occupied 
by August Dolen, and then the building now 
occupied by John Bloom, which was the first 
business block erected in this city. Since 



that time Mr. Kaven has been one of the 
prominent builders and contractors in Min- 
den and the surrounding country, and has at 
times employed as many as fifteen men. He 
is now holding the office of Township Trustee 
and commissioner, and was also Justice of 
the Peace four years. He is now a member 
of the First Council of Minden. Mr. Kaven 
owns his residence, five lots and the store 
and lot now occupied by John Crow. He is 
a self-made man, having come to America 
with no knowledge of the English language 
and in a strange country made his own 
property. He came from Avoca to Minden 
by wagon, and brought with him food for 
himself and men. Henry Urbahns, a car- 
penter, came about four days after Mr. 
Kaven, bringing his family and one man, 
and all of the people lived in a shanty on the 
lot now occupied by the Minden House. Mr. 
Kaven built the first school-house in this 
city in 1874, and the first church, the Ger- 
man Lutheran, in 1880. He also built the 
Minden House, the Union Hotel, and all the 
places on the road, on which the Minden 
House now stands. 

Socially he is a member of the Knights of 
Pythias, and of the L O. O. F. of Neola. 
Politically he has always been a Republican, 
but is now a believer of the great Democratic 
party. He was married in Frankfort, Hli- 
nois, in 1867, to Miss Margaret K]epp«r,and 
they have eigiit children, namely: Lena, 
Emma, Charles, August, William, Edith, 
Lucy and Minnie. 



■■I "I X » 2 i ' t " 5" ' " 

J. COLEMAN, of section 32, Car- 
son Township, is a well-known and 
' honored citizen of the county, who 
came here in 1881, from Mills County, Iowa. 
He was born September 21, 1839, in Jo 




612 



BIOOBAPHWAL II I STOUT 



Daviess County, Illinois, the son of Joseph 
and Milly (Cozad) Coleman, the former a 
native of New Jersey, and one of the early 
settlers in Jo Daviess County, settling there 
about the time of the Black Hawk war; and 
the latter was a native of Ohio. In 1844 the 
parents removed to Fulton County, Illinois, 
where tliey were among the first settlers in 
that part of the county. They reared five 
children, fonr daughters and one son, W. J. 
being the third child and only sou. The 
father died one year after the removal to Ful- 
ton County, at the age of forty-four years, 
and the mother died in 1884, at the advanced 
age of seventy-two years. 

W. J. Coleman was reared in Fultou 
County until 1870, when he came to Fotta- 
wattamie County, near Macedonia, and from 
liere he returned to Mills County, near Hend- 
son, where he bought a small farm. In 1880 
he returned to this county, and bought his 
present farm of 160 acres. He was married 
February 21, to Miss Cynthia E. Anderson, 
who was born, reared and educated in Fulton 
County, and was a successful teacher before 
her marriage. She was the daughter of Henry 
R. Anderson, a native of Madison County, 
Kentucky, near the old capitol, the son of 
John Anderson, who was the son of an old 
Revolutionary soldier, who, with five uncles 
and fourteen cousins, were killed at the bat- 
tle of Cowpens, which nearly exterminated 
the whole Anderson race. His wife and 
aunts went to the battle field and picked out 
their dead bodies and had them buried. The 
mother of Mrs. Coleman was Anna (Wolfe) 
Anderson, a native of Greene County, Ohio, 
the daucrhter of John Wolfe, the first white 
child born on the James River, and her 
mother was Mary (McColey) Wolfe. They 
had nine children, of whom Mrs. Coleman 
was the eldest of five sons and four daughters. 
They moved to Mills County, where the 



mother died in 1874, at the age of fifty-eight 
years and one month; the father died in 
May, 1885, at the age of sixty-seven years 
and three months. Mr. and Mrs. Coleman 
have one son, Joseph F., who was born in 
Fulton County, Illinois, February 18, 1868, 
and resides at home. Politically Mr. Cole- 
man is a Republican, and he and his wife are 
members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
Pleasant View, of the Macedonia circuit, and 
both are workers in the Sabbath-school, of 
which Mrs. Coleman is a teacher. 






fOSEPH DOWTY, a substantial farmer 
of Valley Township, was born Septem- 
ber 11, 1837. His grandfather, Joseph 
Dowty, was a farmer of Auglaize County, 
Ohio, near the town of St. Mary's, and was 
the father of nine children, namely: Amos, 
Michael, Thomas, Squire, Lavina, Melverda, 
Sarah, Levisa and Elizabeth. The father was 
a pioneer of Auglaize County, having cleared 
his tarm from heavy timber. His son 
Michael, the father of our subject, was born 
in Ohio, and was married in Auglaize County 
to Mary Hay, daughter of James and Lydia 
Hay, who were the parents of five children: 
Joseph, Levi, Jonas, Elizabeth and Mahaia. 
The father moved to Montrose, Lee County, 
Iowa, at the time the Mormons were leaving 
Nauvoo, Illinois, for Salt Lake, and Mr. 
Dowty bought out a claim of a Mormon, 
where he died about one year after reaching 
this State. His family lived on this farm 
about ten years. Mr. Dowty was an upright 
and industrious man, and was respected by 
all who knew him. 

Joseph, a son of the above and the subject 
of this sketch, was reared to farm life, and 
was but ten years of age when his father 
moved to Montrose, Iowa, about 1847. After 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



613 



marriage he settled on a farm in Mills 
County, where he lived until 1876, when he 
moved to his present farm of 160 acres. He 
is a self-made man, having made all his prop- 
erty by his own labor. He was married in 
Mills County, Iowa, May 14, 1865, to Miss 
Mary Miinds, daughter of John and Emily 
(Lafler) Munds. They were the parents of 
six children, who lived to maturity, viz.: 
Mary, James, William, Jane, Lona and John. 
The father came from Ohio, in 1859, and 
settled on a farm in Mills County, where he 
died at the age of sixty years. He was a 
member of the Baptist Church, and was a 
man of integrity and industry. To Mr. and 
Mrs. Dowty have been born one child— John 
Franklin, who was born June 13, 1869, on a 
farm near Hastings, Mills County, Iowa, and 
is now a student of Tabor College. 



JRAM C. HOUGH, a substantial farmer 
of Pottawattamie County, descended 
from a prominent old American family. 
William Hough, a remote ancestor, was one 
of the Pilgrims who fled from England on 
account of religious persecutions in 1620, 
and settled at Plymouth, Massachusetts. 
Samuel Hough was a farmer of Connecticut, 
and emigrated to the Western Reserve, Ash- 
tabula County, Ohio, wliere he was among 
the early pioneers. He settled on a farm 
about two and a half miles from Ashtabula 
Harbor, where he lived for many years. He 
was a soldier in the war of 1812, and was the 
father of four children: William, Silvia and 
Hiram are the only ones remembered. Hiram 
Hough, the father of our subject, was born 
near Litchtield, Connecticut, and was a young 
man when he came with his father to Ohio. 
He was married in Ashtabula County, to a 
widow lady, formerly Nancy Tucker, a daugh- 



ter of Josiah Tucker, who was born near New 
Haven, Connecticut. He came to Ohio to 
visit his daughter, and was drowned at Lock- 
port, New York; he was a tailor by trade. 
Mr. Hough settled on a farm in Ashtabula 
County, and then went to Portage County, 
same State, where he remained about four 
years. In 1840 he went to Illinois, remain- 
ing six years, and then went to Grant County, 
southern Wisconsin, where he died in March, 
1886, at the age of eighty-five years. He 
was a substantial farmer, and a member of 
the Baptist Church; his wife was a life-long 
member of the Baptist Church. 

Hiram C. Hough, the subject of this sketch, 
was born October 5, 1831, on his father's 
farm in Ashtabula County, Ohio, and was 
nine years of age when his father moved to 
southern Illinois. October 21, 1852, he set- 
tled in Grant County, Wisconsin, where he 
remained until 1870. In that year he came 
to Pottawattamie County and settled on his 
present farm, which was then wild land; but, 
assisted by his faithful wife, he has since 
converted it into a fine, fertile farm. In 
his political views Mr. Hough is a stanch 
Republican. He has taken an active interest 
in the cause of education, and has been 
School Director. He is one of the founders 
and pioneers of this township, and as such 
stands deservedly high among the substantial 
citizens. He has 240 acres of fine farming 
land, and is in independent circumstances. 

He was married in Grant County Wis- 
consin, to Elizabeth Matliews, daughter of 
Hugh and Mary Mathews. The father was 
born in Ohio of Irish parentage, and' was a 
comfortable farmer in Grant County. The 
mother was a member of the Methodist Epis- 
copal Church, as is also ths present Mrs. 
Hough. They were the parents of two chil- 
dren: Elizabeth and Thomas. Mr. and Mrs. 
Hough were the parents of five children, all 



U14 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORT 



born in Grant County, namely: Melissa, the 
wife of George Bowers, and both are deceased; 
Charles, a fanner, married Josephine Patti- 
son, and they have two children: Florence 
and Carrie; Myron, who married Lottie 
Hackett, a native of Valley Township; Frank 
and Mary. 



H. VANDRUFF, section 28, Center 
Township, is one of the enterprising 
* and successful citizens of that part of 
Pottawattamie County. He came here in 
1880, and has since made this place his 
home. 

Mr. Vandruff was born in Kock Island 
County, Illinois, August 24, 1850, the son of 
Jacob and Louisa (Everhart) Vandruff. The 
father was a native of Green County, Penn- 
sylvania, <)f Pennsylvania- Dutch ancestry, 
and the mother was born in JSfew Jersey. 
His grandt'atlier, Josliua Vandruff, was one 
of the pioneers of Rock Island County, hav- 
ing settled there in 1828. Two of the Van- 
druifs were in the BlackjHawk war. Tlie par- 
ents of our subject were married in Rock 
Island County. Tiie mother still resides 
tliere, and the father made that place his 
home until 1880 when his death occurred. 
He was a farmer the most of his life, but for 
two or three seasons was a pilot on the Mis- 
sissippi River. He was financially a success- 
ful mati and accumulated a good property. 
His political views were in accordance with 
Democratic principles. He was a member 
of the Methodist Episcopal Church, as also is 
his wife, and in that belief their children 
were brought up. They reared a family of 
five sons and five daughters, all of whom are 
now living, the subject of this sketch being 
the oldest. Four of them are residents of 
Nebraska, one is in CJaliforuia, two are in 



Rock Island, and C. H. and E. E. are located 
in Center Township. 

C. H. was reared on his father's farm, atid 
his education was received in the public 
schools of his native county, his studies be- 
ing completed at the Milan High School. 
In 1880 he bought his present farm of 160 
acres, and has since improved it until it ranks 
among the best farms in the township. It is 
all now under cultivation. His residence 
was erected in 1890, at a cost of $1,500 be- 
sides his own labor. It is situated on a 
natural building site, is built in modern style 
with bay windows and porches, and is sur- 
rounded with evergreens and ornamental 
trees. His barn was built in 1884, at a cost 
of $1,000. It is 28x40, with sixteen-feet 
posts, and has a basement of brick for shel- 
tering stock. There are feed- lots, a modern 
wind-mill, stock scales and other farm build- 
ings and improvements. Everything about 
the premises shows the thrift of the pro- 
prietor. 

Mr. Vandruff was married, September 20, 
1881, to Miss Laura B. Barr, of Mills County, 
Iowa, a lady of culture and refinement. She 
is a dauirhter of John and Martha Barr, and 
was born and educated in Mahaska County, 
Iowa. Her father is now a resident of Chi- 
cago, Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. Vandruff have 
four children: Archie C, Walter F., Anna 
Louisa and Leonard L. Like his father, our 
subject, is independent. 



fOHN SIDES, a real-estate, loan and 
insurance agent, one of the oldest estab- 
lished agencies in the eastern part of 
Pottawattamie County, is one of the repre- 
sentative business men of Carson, who has 
been a resident of this county since the spring 
of 1877. He was born in Dixon County, 




Olir^ 




OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



015 



Indiaua, February 15, 1840, the son of James 
and Elizabeth (Tlioinas) Sides, the former a 
native of Virginia and tiie latter of Tennessee. 
They reared five children, of whom James 
was the second cliild. The mother died in 
Logan County, Illinois, about 1870, and the 
father still resides in that county, engaiijed in 
farming. John Sides was a lad of thirteen 
years when his father settled in Logan Coun- 
ty, and iiere lie grew to manhood, passing 
ills youth upon a farm. He was at school 
when tiie war broke out, and at the time of 
Lincoln's call for 300.000 mire men he en- 
listed, August, 1862, in the One Hundred 
and Sixth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, Com- 
pany F. lie served nearly three years, and 
was first under fire at Trenton, Kentucky, 
and Jackson, Tennessee. He was also in the 
siege of Vicksburg. His regiment went to 
Helena, Arkansas, and then to Little Rock, 
and from there to Duvall's Bluffs. After 
the reeiment left Helena John Sides was de- 
tailed on cavaliy service, serving on General 
West's staff, and served until the close of the 
war. He was honorably discharged at Mound 
City, Illinois, July 24, 1865, and then re- 
turned to Logan County, Illinois. 

He first engaged in the mercantile busi- 
ness, but on account of failing health he 
engaged in farming. In 1877 he came to 
Pottowattamie County and purchased 128 
acres of wild land on section 2, Carson Town- 
ship, situated one and a half miles from 
Carson, and piirt of it adjoins the town of 
Carson. Mr. Sides is an active business man, 
and besides his farm interests he is engaged 
in real-estate, loan and insurance business, 
representing ten standard and reliable com- 
panies. He has been engaged in this busi- 
ness eleven years, and his extensive acquaint- 
ance and his manner of doing the work have 
gained for him the confidence of the people. 
He is interested in Caroon, and October, 

41 



1889, built the two-story brick block, 20x65 
feet, which is the best business house in the 
place. The first story is occupied by stores, 
and the .second is divided into pleasant busi- 
ness rooms; the cost of the building was 
$3,500. 

Mr. Sides was married in Logan County, 
Illinois, September 7, 1866, to Miss Mary 
E. Chappell, a native of Ohio, and a daughter 
of Charles Chappell. They have five chil- 
dren: William, who is a carpenter at Carson; 
L. F., at home; Charles, Enaraa, Orlando C. 
They have lost two by death: Hallie and 
Coone. Politically Mr. Sides is a Republi- 
can, and is a strong advocate of the principles 
of that party. He has occupied many public 
offices, and is a member of the G. A. R., 
Robert Provard Post, of Carson, No. 414. 
Mr. and Mrs. Sides are members of the Pres- 
byterian Church. 



tEONARD EVERETT, a lawyer, and 
one of the large land-owners of west- 
ern Iowa, was born in Gainesville, Ala- 
bama, June 27, 1853. His parents, Hon. 
Horace Everett and Mary L. Everett, made 
their home in Council Bluffs in the year 
1855. A sketch of the life of Hon. Horace 
Everett will be found in this volume. 

On his maternal grandfather's side, Mr. 
Leonard Everett is a direct descendant of the 
Leonards of Taunton, Massachusetts, one of 
the prominent families of the early settle- 
ment of New England, and in the Revolu- 
tionary struggle. His maternal grandmother 
was a daughter of Colonel Benjamin Reeves, 
of Howard County, Missouri. Mr. Everett's 
early studies were in the public schools of 
Council Bluffs. In 1868 and 1869, for one 
year he attended the Cheshire Academy, near 



616 



BIOGRAPUICAL mSTORT 



Kew Haven, Connecticut, where he prepared 
for college. For one year Mr. Everett was 
a student of Dartmouth College, New Hamp- 
shire. For three years he studied at Cornell 
University, Ithaca, New York, and gradu- 
ated in the class of 1873. 

Returning home Mr. Everett read law in 
the ofKce of his father and was admitted to 
the har in 1876. Mr. Everett has made a 
specialty of the study of titles and real-estate 
law. His experience in the management of 
his father's large landed estate has been of 
great practical benefit in his chosen branch 
of the law. Mr. Everett is now recognized 
as one of the leading lawyers in western 
Iowa upon all matters appertaining to land 
or land titles. 

For many years Mr. Everett has taken an 
active interest in farming and the cause of 
the farmers. He has always been a sincere 
and earnest Republican, but has not hesitated 
to oppose and denounce the railroad wing of 
the party. In 1889, without solicitation on 
his part, and while he was absent in Wash- 
ington, Mr. Everett was elected, by a large 
majority-. Alderman from the Fourth Ward. 
Although the only Republican in the Coun- 
cil he was elected President of the Beard of 
Aldermen. Mr. Everett declined a renomi- 
nation. He is now a member of the Board 
of Library Ti'ustees and President of the 
Fairview Cemetery Association. He enjoys 
the confidence and respect of the public, and 
takes a zealous interest in the welfare of the 
community. 

— >..^Sm S . | i..>~ 

^ENRY A. DONER, a farmer residing 
on section 29, Hardin Township, has 
been a resident of this county since 
1876. He was born in Wayne County, Ohio, 
March 6, 1850, a son of Henry A. Doner, 
Sr., and the latter was a son of Jacob Doner. 



of Maryland, and of Swiss ancestry. The 
maiden name of the mother of the subject of 
this sketch was A.manda Johnson. She also 
was a native of Wayne County, Ohio, and 
her father was a native of Pennsylvania. 

The subject of this sketch, the third-born 
in his parents' family of six sons and three 
daughters, was a small boy when they re- 
moved to De Kalb County, Indiana. In a 
short time they returned to Ohio, settling in 
Defiance County, and in 1867 they removed 
to Jasper County, where the father died the 
next year; the mother now lives at Silver 
City, Mills County, this State. Mr. Doner 
was reared a farmer. From 1871 to 1876 he 
was a resident of Bureau County, Illinois; 
and then he came to Pottawattamie County 
and purchased a quarter-section of hind on 
section 36, Hardin Township. Since then he 
has bought more, and now has altogether 439 
acres of valuable land; 279 acres are in one 
body, on section 36, and on sections 29 and 
30, where he resides, he lias 160 acres. This 
is one of the best farms in the county. His 
dwelling, built in 1890, cost $2,500; and his 
barn, built in 1889, cost $1,500. Both are 
fine structures, in modern style. 

In his political views Mr. Doner is a Re- 
publican. He has served on the School 
Board. 



fREDERICK G. HETZEL is one of the 
substantial citizens of Avoca who has 
been identified with the business in- 
terests of the town almost from its beginning. 
He is one of those men who have prospered 
by their own industry and busine. s ability. 
His father, Charles F. Hetzel, was l»orii Au- 
gust 19, 1807, at Heidelberg, Germany, that 
city famed for its great university. The 
grandfather of our subject. Christian Hetzel, 
was a wheelwright in Germany, an honest. 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



617 



industrious man with the material thrift of 
the German race. He was a Protestant in 
religions belief and is yet well remembered 
by tradition in the family. Charles F. Ilet- 
zel, the father of our subject, learned his 
trade of his father in Gerniany, in the 
the thuronahg<jinu:, old -fashioned way. He 
possessed an adventurous disposition, and 
wishing to better his condition emigrated to 
America, landing in New York city in 1828, 
and here be worked at his trade. He mar- 
ried in New York city, Regina Bayha, of 
German parentage. She was born at Stutt- 
gart, Germany. Soon after marriage Mr. 
Hetzel moved to Rome, New York, and en- 
gaged in the fur business. He resided there 
but a short time and then moved to Wiieel- 
ing, West Virginia, where he was proprietor 
of a hotel, and remained there al)0Ut fifteen 
years, and there most of his children were 
born. In May, 1851, Mr. Hetzel moved to 
Davenport, Iowa, and was one of the pioneers 
of Scott County, where he settled on a farm 
of 440 acres, buying his land of Judge James 
Grant, then a prominent lawyer and one of 
the early judges of Iowa, and here he passed 
the remainder of iiis life; his widow is still 
living on the old homestead, surrounded 
by a goodly number of her descendants. Mr. 
Hetzel all through his life had practiced 
those virtues of industry and economy which 
are almost sure to bring their own reward, 
and in his later life he enjoyed the possession 
of a handsome property and the satisfaction 
of handing down to his children a valuable 
homestead. Both himself and wife are mem- 
bers of the German Lutheran Church, and 
in the early pioneer days Mr. Hetzel took an 
active part in aidin/ lii)erally with his time 
and means the church of his fatherland. 
People who knew him well had confidence in 
his judgment, and he was Justice of the 
Peace for some time. Mr. and Mrs. Hetzel 



were the parents of eleven children, all grow 
ing to maturity: Rosina, Charles, John, 
Mary, George, Frederick, Wilhelniina, Fran- 
cis, Anna, Henry and Jennie, — the last three 
born in Iowa and the remainder in Wheel- 
ing, Virginia. Mr. Hetzel lived to the 
honored age of seventy-nine years, and died 
at the old homestead, universally respected 
by his fellow townsmen, and greatly revered 
by his family. He was the founder of a new 
family in America, and his sturdy traits of 
character are yet marked in his descendants. 
Frederick G. Hetzel, his son and the sub- 
ject of this sketch, was born in Wiieeling, 
West Virginia, June 10, 1846. He was but 
tive years of age when his parents came to 
the then new country of Iowa, and is an 
lowan, as he theie received his early educa- 
tion and those impulses whicii have made 
him one of our respected citizens. He re- 
mained on the old homestead nntil he was 
twenty-three years of age, and there became 
accustomed to farm life, and gained a practi- 
cal knowledge of agriculture and that steadi- 
ness of character, sound constitution, firmness 
of mind and love of truth which are best 
gained when young, in those peaceful pur- 
suits followed at home which give the vigor 
of nature to the growing man. His first step 
into the the world of business was at Daven- 
port, Iowa, where he acted as a clerk for 
about two years. He then engaged in the 
dry-goods business, in which he was success- 
ful. After two years he went to Fulton, 
Iowa, and was engaged in the grain business 
for some time, and in 1874 he came to Avoca, 
and was again in the grain trade for a short 
time. He then began the hardware trade, 
which he has since followed successfully, In 
political opinions he has always been a stanch 
Democrat, as was his father before him. He 
has gained the confidence of his party in this 
county by his steadfast course as a conserva^ 



818 



BIUGRAPUIGAL UIHTORT 



tive iiiemher of the city council and four 
years Recorder. He lias been County Com- 
missioner for six years, and President of the 
Board two years, an office which he holds at 
the present writing. He lias an active in- 
terest in the cause of education, and was nine 
years a member of the Board of Education, 
and Secretary of the Board during that time. 
Mr. Hetzel is not a "politician," but he be- 
lieves it the duty of a good citizen to take an 
active interest in all local affairs, and vote 
and act for the best interest of his county 
and town. By this course he enjoys the 
respect and confidence oi his fellow towns- 
men. He is a member of Avoca Lodge, No. 
220, I. O. 0. F., and of Avoca Lodge, No. 
104, K. of P., and has passed through all the 
chairs of both lodges. 

Mr. Hetzel married at Wilton, Iowa, April 
8, 1875, Miss Arabella J. Boyd, daughter of 
James H. and Eliza (Phelps) Boyd. Both 
the families are of old American stock, who 
have been identified with the early history of 
our country, and thus blend with the sturdy 
blood of Germany the characteristics of the 
pioneers and soldiers whose patriotism made 
this land of ours a free and independent 
nation. Mr. and Mrs. Hetzel are the parents 
of five children, namely: Roy B., Clarence 
C, Ollie E., Minnie and Bell. Mrs. Hetzel 
is a member of the Presbyterian Church, 
where the family also attend. Mr. Hetzel is 
a man of quiet tastes and one of those ster- 
ling citizens who are the best element of our 
country. 



PSARRY M. WILSON, of Walnut, is one 
of the prominent young grain-dealers in 
this thriving town. The firm name 
under which he operated is Negley & Wilson. 
Mr. Negley died June 7, 1890, and Mr. Wil- 
son now carries on the business under the 



firm name of Wilson & Toritze. He was 
born on a farm in Fulton County, Illinois, 
July 14, 1865. His grandfather was a prom- 
inent minister of the German Reformed 
Church in New Jersey. Being a man of 
power in his denomination, he was appointed 
to travel and preach the gospel in the wilder- 
ness and build up churches. He traveled in 
Indiana and Illinois, and met with good suc- 
cess. Like the eminent preacher George 
Whitefield, he carried the gospel among the 
hardy pioneers and early settlers. He estab- 
lished and assisted in building seven churches, 
and among the last the German Reformed 
Church at Fairview, Fulton County, Illinois, 
and was pastor of this church for many years, 
retiring on account of old age. 

lie married twice and was the father of 
seven children, five of whom are living: 
Abraham, Harry, John, Julia and Jane. Mr. 
Wilson lived to the great age of ninety-two 
years. He was a man of wide experience in 
life and one who did at an early day a great 
service, not only to his country but also in 
the cause of the Christian religion, which he 
assisted in planting in many pices in the 
wilderness. 

Abraham Wilson, son of the above, and the 
father of the subject of this sketch, was born 
in 1828, in New Jersey, and came West with 
his father in 1835, when but seven years of 
age. His father located near Fairview, and 
there he grew up and learned farming in his 
early life, and was also for a time in the 
mercantile business. 

He married Mary E. Negley, daughter of 
John Negley, a native of Pennsylvania. To 
Mr. and Mrs. Wilson were born eight chil- 
dren: Lolo (deceased), Kate, John (deceased 
in 1886, at twenty-eight years of age). Lulu, 
Maggie, Harry, Cornelius and Mamie. Mr. 
Wilson settled on a farm at Fairview, on 
which he lived for many years and then re- 



OF PUTT AW ATT AM IB COUNTY. 



619 



tired, and is now living, at the age of sixty- 
two years. He lias enjoyed the respect and 
cotifidence of the people of his township and 
county, and held the usual offices. He is an 
upright and industrious man, and has ac- 
cumulated a handsome property. In politics 
he is a Democrat. Socially he is a Mason, 
being a member of the Blue Lodge. 

Harry M. Wilson, son of the above and 
subject of this sketcii, received an excellent 
education, attending for two years the scien- 
tific department of Knox College at Gales- 
burg, Illinois. Iti 1855 he came to Walnut, 
Iowa, and engaged as a clerk for J. T. 
Spaiigler for one year, and then took charge 
of the grain business for W. H. Negley. lu 
July, 1888, he bought a one-half interest 
therein, and the firm has enjoyed a successful 
trade. Socially Mr. Wilson is an Odd Fel- 
low, and has held the office of Secretary. He 
is also a member of the A. O. U. W. In 
politics he is a Republican. 

May 8, 1889, Mr. Wilson married Nettie 
Bailer, daughter of Joseph B. and Julia 
(Dickinson) Bailer. Mr. Bailer is a native 
of Ohio, and is an extensive land-holder in 
this county, and now a resident of Walnut. 
Mr. and Mrs. Wilson have had one son — Earl 
C. Both Mr. and Mrs. Wilson are members 
of the Presbyterian Churcli. Mr. Wilson is 
a young man of excellent moral character and 
good business abilities. He began business 
life young, and is making a success by his 
own efforts. His integrity is unimpeach- 
able, and a long and useful career is before 
him. 



G. UNDERWOOD, of section 19, Keg 
Creek Township, has been a resident 
^* of this county since March 7, 1854. 
He was born in Dumfrieshire, Scotland, 



January 13, 1829, the son of William and 
Mary (Grierson) Underwood; the former was 
a son of James Underwood, a native of Scot- 
land, and the latter was a daughter of William 
and Margaret (Richardson) Grierson. They 
had seven children, three sons and four 
daughters. The father died in 1831, when 
our subject was only two years old, and the 
mother lived in her native place until her 
death, which took place then she was eighty- 
five years of age. 

S. G., the sixth child, attended school un- 
til fourteen years of age, being a schoolmate 
of the late Senator Beck, of Kentucky. He 
then went to sea on a sailing vessel, as cabin 
boy, going first to Gibralter, then to the 
Cape of Good Hope, St. Helena and other 
points on the African Coast. Starting from 
Glasgow he visited almost all parts of the 
globe, including France, Spain, America, 
Quebec, Montreal and St. John's, being on 
the water for three years. In 1846 he came 
from Montreal, where he had been residing, 
to Chicago, Illinois, when it was a small city 
of 85,000 inhabitants. From there he re 
moved to La Porte, Indiana, where he resided 
for five years, engaged in farming, and then 
moved to Kane County, Illinois, near Aurora. 
In the spring of 1852 he rode from Illinois 
on horseback to St. Joseph, Missouri, where 
the company fitted out with ox teams, started 
for Sacramento on May 11, and arrived Sep- 
tember 16, liaviiig been four months on the 
road. Mr. Underwood resided in the vicin 
ity of Sacramento, California, for two years, 
engaged principally in farming. In 1854 he 
returned, by the Isthmus of Panama, to In- 
diana, then to Pottawattamie County, where 
he bought land in Lewis Township, section 
24. He resided there three years, but in 
1856 he removed to Council Blnfi"8, where he 
lived from 1856 to 1873, engaged in selling 
machinery for C. H. McCormick, of Chicago 



620 



moaUAPllWAL IIIkTORT 



He was tlie pioneer iiiacliiiie man in Coun- 
cil BluflV, Hiid lield all trade as far West as 
Salt Lake; north as far as any settleuients 
on the JVIissunii Eivtr, and as far eontli as 
any one could haul it, and also built the first 
house ever ereckd in Curtiss Ramsay's 
addition to Council iJlufls in 1857, west of 
the Court-house on Fifth Avenue. In 1873 
he moved on the land whicli he had purchased 
in 1865, but had never improved, consisting 
of about 1,200 acres in Keg Creek Township, 
and he also owns 350 acres in Hardin and 
Washington townships. He has twoor tiiree 
wind-mills to Ibrce water to liis stock build- 
ings. He fed 190 head of cattle in 1889, 
and lias a fine herd of thoroughbred Here- 
ford cattle, one of the finest herds in Iowa. 

Mr. Underwood was married, March 13, 
1856, to Miss Helen McPhei'son, a native of 
Scotland, and a daughter of Captain John 
McPherson, a pi-ominent citizen of Council 
Bluffs and Belle (Nichol) McPherson, a na- 
tive of Scotland. Mr. and Mrs. Underwood 
have eight children, namely: William, in the 
stock business in South Omaha, Nebraska; 
Nelly, wife of Ed H. Benton, of Council 
Bluffs; Anna, at home; John M., Samuel G., 
Ninie, Herbert and Fay L. Politically Mr. 
Underwood is a Democrat, has served as As- 
sessor of Council Bluffs, and has also been 
County Supervisor six years. For thirty-six 
years he has been an important factor in help- 
ing the county, both in a business way and 
financially. 



:ILLIAM W. BUNKER, Walnut, 
Iowa. Mr. Bunker is of an old 
American family. His grandfather 
came from Wales and settled in Pennsylvania. 
His son, Andrew Bunker, father of William 
W., was born in Pennsylvania and settled on 




a farm in Clarion County, that State. He 
njarried Sarah Howe, of old Pennsylvania- 
Dutch descent. To Mr. and Mi-s. Bunker 
were born thirteen children, named William, 
Melville, Elizabeth, George (deceased), Na- 
than,Tliomas, James, Julia, J oim, Frank, Rob- 
ert, Andrew and Emma. Mr. Bunker lived on 
his farm in Clarion County, Pennsylvania, 
for fifteen years, and in 1857 he removed to 
Muscatine County, Iowa, twelve miles west 
of Davenpi'rt, and lived there until 1863; 
then he went to a farm two miles south, and 
there he still resides. He was born in 1814. 
Mr. and Mrs. Bunker were members of the 
Metliodist Episcopal Church. She died in 
June, 1888, at the age of fifty-six years. 
Mr. Bunker is a man wiio has always been 
honest and industrious. He came to Iowa a 
poor man and made a fine property, consist- 
ing of 240 acres of fine farm land, and is now 
a substantial farmer. He has, since he came 
to Iowa, worked very hard, and is now living, 
at the advanced age of fifty-six years. In 
politics he is a Democrat. 

William W. Bunker, son of the above and 
our subject, was born in 1845, in Clarion 
County, Pennsylvania, and received a com- 
mon-school education. At the age of twelve 
he came to Iowa, and has since been a citizen 
of this State, becoming an adept at farming 
when quite young. At the age of twenty- 
three, in 1869, he married Miss Sarah C. 
Kirk, daughter of Robert and Martha Kirk, 
and they have had five children: Edward H., 
Harry K., Amanda E., Orion M. and Ray- 
mond. After marriage Mr. Bunker settled 

o 

down to farming, in Muscatine County, Iowa, 
and after two years bought his farm and 
lived there for five years, and in 1876 he came 
to Layton Township, this county, and bought 
his present farm, consisting of 163 acres, of 
fine farming land, and is in prosperous cir- 
cumstances. Mrs. Bunker is a member of the 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



621 



Presbyterian Chiircli. Politically Mr. Ban- 
ker is a Democrat. A man wlio has tlie re- 
spect of his fellow citizens, he has held the 
office of Assessor and School Director, has 
taken an active interest in the schools, was 
School Director and Township Clerk of 
Mnscatine County, and is giving his children 
a goo i education. He stands hisli as an 
lionorahle public-spirited citizen, whose word 
is as good as liis bond. Mr. Bunker's 
brothers and sisters are: Eliza J., Matilda, 
Thi^iaas, Sirah C, Robert, Emma, William 
and Martha. 



gSON. ALBERT WHITISTEY WYMAN, 

of section 22, Keg Creek Township, is 
engaijed in general farming, cattle-feed 
ing and stock-raising, and the proprietor of 
Maple Grove stock-farm, and a well-known 
and prominent citizen of this county, who 
came here March 29, 1871. He was born at 
Parma, Monroe County, New York, February 
20, 1834, the son of Samuel and Betsey 
(Atcliinson) Wyman, who was born in Shef- 
iield, Massachusetts, May 31, 1789, was a 
blacksmith, and served in the war of 1812, 
and whose father, Samuel Wyman, Sr., served 
in the Revolutionary war. The Wyman 
family were of English ancestry, and first 
settled at Sheffield, Massachusetts. Our sub- 
ject's mother, Betsey Atcliison, was born 
January 21, 1799, at Partna, Monroe County, 
New York, the daughter of John Atchison, 
one of the very first settlers in that town and 
county, and Betsey was the first female white 
child born at Parma. Her mother was Almira 
(Fuller) Atchihson, and her brother, Austin 
Atchinson, was in the war of 1812, and is 
no.v living in Spencerport, New York, at the 
venerable age of 100 years. The parents had 
eleven children, seven sons and four daughters. 



of whom Albert was the youngest sun. They 
lived in Monroe County, and the mother was 
buried in the same town where she was born, 
being eighty-five at her death, and the fatiier, 
who was born in 1789, died at the age of 
eighty-seven. He was a blacksmith by trade. 

Albert attended school until he was nine- 
teen years old, and then served an apprentice- 
ship at the carpenter's trade, and also worked 
as a journeyman. He was engaged in rail- 
road work, building bridges, taking and 
letting out contracts, and acting as foreman 
and superintendent of a force of mechanics 
for several years in different parts of the 
State. Mr. Wyman was then engaged in 
farming near Troy and Fort Edward until 
1871. He was Lieutenant of Company C, 
Twenty-fourth Regiment, New York. In 
1871 he came to this county, when the near- 
est house was five miles distant east of him, 
and bought 160 acres, and increased his pos- 
sessions to 753 acres, which have been well 
improved and cultivated. He has set out 
7,000 forest and 140 fruit trees. The farm, 
Maple Grove, is a beautiful home, and it is 
here Mr. Wyman is at home to all who wish 
to partake of his hospitality. 

He was married November 10, 1857, to 
Miss Harriet M. Peck, of Half Moon, Sara- 
toga County, New York, the daughter of 
Abraham and Betsey Ann (Wood) Peck, the 
former a native of Dutchess County, New 
York, and the latter of Lansingburg, New 
York. Mr. and Mrs. Wyman have lost three 
children by death, two infants and one daugh- 
ter, Hattie A., who was twelve years of age; 
and they have one son living. Burton A., who 
was married in this county to Miss Le- 
ticia Flood, a daughter of James Flood, 
of this township. They have four 
children, two sons and two daughters: 
Charles Albert, James, Hattie and an infant 
daughter. They live in Council Bluffs, but 



623 



BIOGRAPHICAL niSTORY 



own a farm near their father's. Mr. A. W. 
Wyiiian is a Democrat, who lias held many 
township offices in the last fifteen years. He 
was a representative of the Twenty-second 
General Legislative Assembly, with honor 
to both himself and bis party. Mr. Wyman 
snggested and named the town of Keg Creek, 
in which he was its first Treasurer, Township 
Trustee and Justice of the Peace, and still 
holds theTreasuryship. He is a Royal Arch 
Mason, Excelsior Lodge, Council Bluffs, 
having been made a Mason in 1856, at 
Waterford, New York. He is a member of 
the Farmers' Alliance, is President of the 
Township Alliance, and Treasurer of the 
County Alliance. 

Mr. Wyman lost his beloved wife by death, 
June 29, 1888. She was an estimable lady, 
of great intelligence, and always helped her 
husband in his business plans, and was a kind 
wife and mother. 



fOSEPH ABEL, owning and occupying 
240 acres of land as a farmer on section 
7, Garner Township, is one of the well- 
known, enterprising early settlers of Potta- 
wattamie County, having located here as 
early as 1847. He was born in Lee County, 
Iowa, February 20, 1842, a son of Uavid 
Abel, now a resident of Council Bluffs. 
His grandfather, William Abel, was a Revo- 
lutionary soldier. David was born in Canada, 
and married Ann Ewing, who was born near 
Perth, Scotland, and came with her parents 
to Canada when a girl. He removed to Illi- 
nois and to Missouri, and finally to this 
conntj. Of his two sons and one daughter, 
one son is a stock dealer in Council Bluffs; 
the daughter, Cordelia, is the wife of E. M. 
Hubbard, also of this city; and the other son 
is the subject of this sketch. 



lie was a lad of seven j'ears when his 
father moved to this county, with one of the 
foremost bands of Mormons under Brigham 
Young, and with many others decided to re- 
main in this county; and he has accordingly 
made this his home ever since, with the ex- 
ception of several years in Missouri. Ar- 
riving at the age of manhood, he went West 
and engaged in freighting from the Missouri 
River to Denver for five years, during the 
fearful period of Indian troubles and massa- 
ci'es on the plains, and stages were escorted 
by United States soldiers. He and others 
took twenty-one wagons in one train to Den- 
ver, not escorted Ijy the military. He had 
many hairbreadth escapes from the savage 
cruelty of the Indians. For days he acted 
as scout, riding high divides to guard the 
train. Returning homo, he purchased a por- 
tion of the present homestead, one mile from 
the city limits. The farm is well improved. 
The dwelling is a fine frame structure, one 
and a half stories high, on an elevated plat 
of ground, in a natural grove, and built in 
modern style. Every feature of the premises 
denotes the thrift of the proprietor. 

Mr. Abel is a man yet in the prime of 
life. He has traveled extensively, both in 
the East and in the West, and is well in- 
formed on western life. Frank and cordial 
in his manner, honest in all his dealings, he 
is counted a representative and successful 
farmer of this community. Politically he is 
a Democrat, and he is a member of the Pro- 
tective Alliance. Has served three years as 
Trustee of Garner Township. 

He was married in Council Bluffs, January 
9, 1866, to Miss Frances Winchester, a 
daughter of Benjamin Winchester, a promi- 
nent and well-known resident of this city, 
whose sketch appears upon another page in 
this work. Mrs. Abel's mother's maiden 
name was Maria Stone. Mr. and Mrs. Abel 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTT. 



have five children: Marvin H., Allura Ann, 
Allan P.., Harvey J. and Ivan E., all of whom 
are still with their parents. 



.^nj- 



lENERAL EUGENE A. CONSIGNY, 
Avoca, Iowa. — General Consigny is one 
of our prominent soldier citizens, who 
was identified with Avoca in its infancy, and 
who is one of the founders of the business 
interests of this thriving town. He is from 
an old French Catholic family. Louis de 
Consigny, the grandfather of the subject of 
this sketch, and the fonnder of the family 
in America, was born on a farm in France. 
He married in his native land, and soon 
afterward, about 1790, left the shores of 
sunny France with iiis. bride to endure the 
hardships and privations of pioneer life in 
New France, or Lower Canada, as it was then 
called. Settling on a large farm near Mon- 
treal, he lived there for many years as an in- 
dependent Canadian farmer, surrounded at 
length by the solid comforts of life, and here 
he reared a large family of children. At his 
death he left a considerable estate to his de- 
scendants. The stock from which he sprang 
was strong and hardy, and from the name 
and prefix, "de," it is inferable that he was 
of more genteel blood than that of the com- 
mon French voyager to America. Be this 
as it may, good blood is best shown by long 
life and good deeds, and in this respect the 
Consigny family have always been promi- 
nent. Longevity marks the morals of a 
family as surely as the sand in the hour-glass 
marks the time. Louis de Consigny lived 
to the patriarchal age of eighty years, and 
his good wife lived to see the sands of time 
mark the great age of ninety eight years. 
The descendants from these pioneer voyagers 



to a new world are to be found among our 
reliable and valued citizens. 

Antoine P. L. Consigny, the second son of 
the above, and the father of Eugene A., was 
born on the old homestead near Montreal, in 
1811. He had but one brother, the remain- 
der of the family being sisters. This brother, 
Louis, and himself were well educated, their 
father having liberal means. Antoine, having 
a taste for learning, at the early age of four- 
teen years entered the college at Montreal, 
receiving a thorough classical education, be- 
sides becoming a good French, Latin, Greek 
and English scholar, writing and speaking 
these languages with ease and fluency. Some 
of his letters are still extant, and the clear, 
old-fashioned hand looks like copper plate 
engraving, with so much skill and precision 
are the letters formed. He ranked at college 
as an able scholar, and graduated with honor. 
At the medical department of the same in- 
stitution he pursued his medical studies, and 
having a natural talent and love for his 
chosen profession he attained as high a de- 
gree in medicine as he had in the languages. 
Soon after completing his medical studies he 
began practice at St. Cesaire, Lower Canada, 
and with a slight interruption he remained 
here all his life, enjoying an extensive prac- 
tice and the confidence and respect of the 
community to an enviable degree. Possess- 
ing " the best gift of the gods," oratory, he 
took quite an active interest in politics and 
exerted a wide influence. His skill as an 
orator enabled him to hold an audience as if 
with a magic spell, and he molded their 
opinions. This enabled him to rank among 
the ablest orators of his day. National 
scenery exerts a strong influence over the 
minds of the people. The Egyptians, born 
and nurtured in a land of dull and somber 
surroundings, possessed the melancholy char- 
acter which made it natural for them to pass 



624 



BIOGRAPHICAL UISTOBY 



years of time in erecting vast monuments to 
their dead. The Swiss, reared amid the 
grand scenery of tlieir native Alps, and the 
soul-stirring music of their fierce winds, love 
liberty and cannot be enslaved. The mag- 
nificent natural scenery of Canada, its broad 
and mighty rivers, vast lake-!, lofty moun- 
tains and almost impenetrable forests, gave 
Dr. Antoine Consigny the love of native land 
and liberty, which broadened with his mind 
and strengtiiened with his manhood. Reared 
amidst a brave and fearless race, who have 
been voyagers, pioneers and explorers from 
Montreal to Lake Michigan and New Or- 
leans, and who were born soldiers, trappers 
and hunters, the early influences thrown 
around him strengthened his character 
and prepared him to take a part in that 
struggle for liberty made l>y the Canadians 
and known as the Patriot war, and which, 
although unsuccessful in its principal object, 
involved the best blood and vigor of the en- 
tire British Canadas, and was ultimately the 
means of a great modification of the severe 
and tyrannical rule of England. 

In 1837 the gathering clouds of discon- 
tent in Canada darkened into the storms of 
civil war, and Dr. Consigny was one of the 
first to respond to the call of patriotism. 
His countrymen, fellow-patriots and compan- 
ions in arms were such men as General 
Fapineau, and Dr. Allard, two of the most 
prominent men in this patriotic movement. 
After a short but severe struggle and some 
fighting, the jiatriots, deceived by traitors 
and overwhelmed by the mighty power of 
England, were obliged to fiy for their lives. 
Dr. Consigny fled to the neighboring and 
friendly State of Vermont, which indeed 
proved a haven of rest for his weary body as 
well as a solace for his heart, for here he 
met and won his wife, Miss Lucy L. Good- 
rich, in 1840. She was the daughter of 



Ezekiel Goodrich, of an old American fam- 
ily, and among the defenders of our country 
in the war of 1812. Captain Valentine Good- 
rich, a brother of_^ Mrs. Consigny, gave his 
life to this country at the battle of Lundy's 
Lane, and the ballet by which he met his 
death is still in the possession of the family 
as a precious relic. 

Dr. Consigny practiced medicine at Swan- 
ion Falls, Vermont, for two years. A price 
of £10,000 cash was placed upon the heads 
of General Papineau, Dr. Allard and Dr. 
Consigny, and it required a special pardon 
from the King of England before they could 
return to their native land. When this was 
eflfected Dr. Consigny returned to the peace- 
ful pursuit of the practice of his profession 
at St. Cesaire, taking with him the young 
bride he had won in the States when a rebel 
exile with a price on his head. He was con- 
tent to remain at peace with the Government 
the remainder of his life. His health was 
greatly shattered by the vicissitudes through 
which he passed while attempting his escape 
from his pursuer. His horse having given 
out, he was three days and nights in the 
dense Canadian forests in a rain-storm with- 
out shelter. Here he contracted rheumatism, 
which resulted in his deatii at the compara- 
tively early age of forty-five years; and thus 
a man of brilliant parts and devoted to his 
family and his country, was sacrificed to the 
cause of liberty. On account of his health 
he was obliged to relinquish his profession, 
and to accept from the Government the ap- 
pointmentofSuperintendent of Instruction of 
Lower Canada. This office he held until his 
death, to the credit of himself and great sat- 
isfaction of the people. He was a man of 
great liberality and broad ideas, and while 
earning and possessing large means he did 
not at his death leave more than a comfort- 
able estate. Dr. and Mrs. Consigny were the 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



635 



parents of ten children; four died in infancy 
and six are now living: Eugene A., Lucy, 
George J., Napoleon B., John F. and 
Joseph E. 

Dr. Consigny was a man that the biogra- 
pher delights to lienor, possessing great 
nobleness of character. He was an honored 
citizen and liberal-minded patriot, a true 
Christian and indulgent father. To say that 
he was a dignified gentleman of the old 
school, would be only to say that he was 
an educated and cultured Canadian gentle- 
man. Ilis memory is revered by his de- 
scendants, and this tribute springing from the 
heart and lips of his eldest son is but little 
in comparison with his great worth of char- 
acter. 

His widow is still living, at the advanced 
age of seventy-nine years, in Avoca. She 
was born June 2, 1811, at Swanton Falls, 
Vermont, and after her marriage to Dr. Con- 
signy resided in Canada for about fifteen 
years. She ha 1 a natural taste for literature 
and was a good scholar in her girlhood days, 
and throughout her life has been a great 
reader, and to this day retains the memory 
and mental faculties unimpaired by time. 
She has been a consistent and life-long 
member of the church, and her strength of 
character has been a great influence in 
molding the minds of her children. Her 
father, Ezekiel Goodrich, was a well-to-do 
Vermont farmer, and lived to the very great 
age of ninety-nine years, and retained to his 
last days liis cheerful disposition and mental 
activity. He had all his life been a man of 
great energy and of very temperate habits. 
The Consigny family thus blends with French 
stock and the sturdy solid characteristics of 
the Vermont pioneers and soldiers, who as 
"Green Mountain Boys" are famous in Rev- 
olutionary annals, and the good characteris- 
tics of the two races who for generations 



were opponents in arms were thus joined 
together. 

General Eugene A. Consigny, the oldest 
son, was born May 15, 1841, at St. Cesaire, 
Lower Canada, now Province of Queliec. He 
received the usual common-school education, 
and then entered the College of St. Hyacinthe, 
and graduated with honor. His father died 
about this time, and young Eugene was ap- 
pointed in his father's place as Superinten- 
dent of Instruction for Lower Canada to fill 
the unexpired term of three montlis, and 
though so young in years he tilled this im- 
portant position so well at least that there was 
no cause for complaint. His father's choice 
had been that his eldest son should enter the 
legal profession, and his own inclinations 
were in the same direction. However, his 
father's liberality had so encroached upon his 
estate that the family, although not poor, 
found themselves in not the easiest circum- 
stances, and upon Eugene, as the oldest son, 
devolved the task of assisting his brothers in 
acquiring an education. After a severe 
struggle, and actuated by a sense of duty to 
his mother and family, he gave up his cher- 
ished plans and entered a mercantile estab- 
lishment, as a clerk, at Granby, Lower Canada. 
He remained in the mercantile business as a 
clerk, engaged by different Arms at St. Al- 
bans, Vermont, and at Montreal for more 
than four years, and then went to the old 
home of his mother's youth (Swanton Falls, 
Vermont), his mother having returned from 
Canada two years before. Here he was con- 
nected with the firm of Jewett & Barney, and 
represented the interests of Colonel Barney, 
who was at that time a soldier in our great 
civil war. During this time Eugene had con- 
tributed liberally of his earnings to assist his 
mother in educating her children, and had 
truly been a mainstay and support to bis 
family. Young Consigny, however, was tired 



626 



BIOOUAPHICAL HISTORY. 



with a feeling of patriotism, and altliough 
offered a commission by his cousin, Colonel 
Barney, of Vermont (a gallant Vermont sol- 
dier wlio fell at the battle of tlie Wilderness 
while bravely leading his brigade), preferred 
to enlist as a private in Company M, First 
Regiment Vermont Volunteer Cavalry, going 
to Burlington, that State, to enlist, and receiv- 
ing nu bounty Tlie regiment was imme- 
diately ordered to the front, and Mr. 
Consigny was engaged in a good many bat- 
tles and skirmishes, among them Fairfax, 
Dranesville, Winchester, Lynchburg, Gettys- 
burg, Fisher's Hill, Wilderness, Cold Harbor, 
Spottsylvania, Petersburg, Five Forks and 
Appomattox, where Lee surrendered; and 
here, on the morning of the 9th of April, 
1865, he then being Adjutant of the regi- 
ment, led the last charge made by cavalry in 
the Eastern army. He received his tirst pro- 
motion as Sergeant after a service of a few 
months, and soon after Orderly Sergeant. 
He then received the con mission of Second 
Lieutenant, and for gallant and meritorious 
service on the battle-lield he received his pro- 
motion of First Lieutenant and Adjutant of 
the regiment — an office much courted by the 
younger officers. From the battle of the 
Wilderness at Five Forks, he was detailed on 
General Hancock's staff, and while on duty 
was wounded at the battle of Spottsylvania, 
by a sharpshooter, and was struck by a spent 
ball on the head. After the war he served 
three months on the frontier, and was hon- 
orably discharged at Burlington, Vermont. 

Like the great majority of our soldiers who 
fouglit to preserve the Union and survived. 
Adjutant Consigny returned to a life of act- 
ive business, and seeing the great opportuni- 
ties offered by the West, came to Dubuque, 
Iowa, by way of Chicago, and engaged in 
mercantile business for two years, and then 
went to Cascade, Iowa, and engaged in the 



same business. Flere our soldier citizen was 
himself called upon (by Cupid) to surrender, 
which he gracefully did, September 2, 1869, 
to Miss Cassie Benham, daughter of Dr. 
Lucius Benham, formerly a surgeon in the 
United States Army, and an Ohio man. Her 
mother's name before marriage was Rebecca 
Van Horn, and she was of an old Kentucky 
family. The family circle of General and 
Mrs. Consigny have been made complete by 
the birth of two sons, Goodrich L. and Eugene 
F. After marriage General Consigny took 
his young wife to De Soto, Missouri, and for 
three years was a fruit farmer. In 1872 he 
came to Avoca, then a very small town, and 
engaged in the grain business, and ran the 
first elevator in Avoca. Since that time Gen- 
eral Consigny has been identified with the 
leading business enterprises of Avoca; is a 
prominent member of the milling firm there, 
a stock company, and has done a prosperous 
business. The Centennial Mill Company also 
own mills at Tracy, Missouri, and Avoca. 
General Consigny is president and manager. 
Socially General Consigny is a member of 
the Knights of Pythias, G. A. R. and Loyal 
Legion, and he holds the office of Depart- 
ment Commander of Iowa, to which he was 
elected by acclamation. At Cedar Rapids, 
Iowa, at the encampment in 1888, by a rising 
vote of the convention, the delegates were 
instructed by resolution to nominate General 
Consigny as commander-in-chief of the G. 
A. R., an honor which an old soldier can 
always appreciate. By virtue of his rank as 
Department Commander of Iowa, the title of 
our subject is that of General, which is for 
life. At the Colonel Redfield Association, 
Dexter, Iowa, 8,000 soldiers being present, 
a resolution was ordered sent by wire to 
President Harrison for the appointment of 
General Consigny as Commissioner of Pen- 
sions, in place of Corporal Tanner, Pension 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



637 



Agent, a compliment appreciated by our sub- 
ject, as showing the esteem in which he was 
held by the old soldiers of his State. At Des 
Moines, in April, 1890, at the department 
encampment, he was presented by that body 
with an elegant jeweled gold badge repre- 
senting his rank as General, as a sliglit token 
of their recognition of his services. 

In his political views General Consigny 
is a Republican, and he represented the 
Ninth Iowa Congressional District at the 
Republican National Convention at Chicago 
in 1884. He lias filled the office of Mayor 
of his town, has taken an active interest in 
the cause of education, and was Trustee of 
Simpson College at Indianola, Iowa. Being 
mindful of the utility of our common schools, 
lie served six years as President of the School 
Board of Avoca. Both General and Mrs. 
Consigny are members of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church. The oldest son, Good- 
rich L., is Captain of the Camp Major E. A. 
Consigny, Sons of Veterans, which camp 
was named in honor of his father. He rep- 
resents the Centennial Mill Company on the 
road as a traveling agent, and, althougii but 
twenty-one, and the youngest traveling man 
in the State, meets with assured success. 
General Consigny is still a comparatively 
young man, not having reached lifty years, 
and while the frosts of winter have touched 
his head witii silver, his erect military form 
and energetic bearing mark hiin for many 
years of active life. As a soldier and a citi- 
zen he has been an example to younger men, 
not only in what he has accomplished in de- 
fense of his country in its hour of need, but 
in the bright example of temperance and 
morality. Neither the vicissitudes of camp 
nor the pleasures of the social reunions have 
tempted him to indulge in either intoxicating 
liquor or tobacco, and few there are, born and 
reared amoii": a social and rather bibulous 




people, and who have been accustomed 
through life to the ease and freedom of the 
West, can say as much. When the great 
roll of honoris called, while the achievements 
of the young soldier who fully offered him- 
self to his country will be credited to him, 
his name will be more honored for his con- 
trol of himself than for his victories in the 
field. 



J. WAY, of the firm of W. J. Way 
& Co., general merchants at Carson, 
" has been a successful business roan 
by his own tact and energy, and also by his 
social manner he has won for himself many 
warm friends. He commenced here in Car- 
son in 1880, on a small scale, as a pioneer 
merchant at this point, and he forced pros- 
perity upon his path. His present large and 
commodious building, erected in the fall of 
1889, is 36 x 120 feet in ground area, the 
first story being fifteen feet high, and here 
the firm carry a stock of $15,000 to $20,000 
worth of goods, doing a business of $20,000 
to $40,000 annually. 

Mr. Way was born in Menard County, 
Illinois, October 11, 1860, a son of T. B. and 
N. J. (Cox) Way, father of English ancestry. 
His mother was a native of Bonaparte, Iowa. 
When the subject of this sketch was a small 
lad, his father engaged in business at Indian 
Creek, Illinois, and later moved to Winter- 
set, Iowa. At the age of seventeen he took 
charge of his father's store, at Chandlerville, 
Cass County, and still later he was at Clar- 
inda. Page County, and from that point he 
moved to Carson, in connection with his ex- 
tensive mercantile business. He is also 
operating a large brick-yard. 

He was married, December 8, 1882, at 
Glenwood, Iowa, to Miss Vesta Head, a 



628 



BIOORAPHICAL IIISTORT 



daughter of Captain T. H. Head, who is a 
prominent citizen of Glenwood. She is a 
iady of more than ordinary culture, as she 
graduated at the age of fifteen years, at the 
Glenwood liigli School. Mr. and Mrs. Way's 
children are Leo C, Lynn D. and Philip. 
In politics Mr. Way is a Republican, and in 
religion a member of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church at Carson. 



[AMUEL R. COMER, of Walnut, is 
one of the best known citizen.s of this 
thriving town, and a member of the 
firm of Comer & Griffith, the only furniture 
establishment in the town, carrying an ex- 
cellent, well selected stock of $4,000 worth. 
Mr. Comer was born near Trenton, Grundy 
County, Missouri, on a farm May 27, 1850, 
and received a common-school education. 
His father, Thomas Comer, was from High- 
land County, Ohio, and from an old Ameri- 
can family. He went to Indiana when a 
younf man and married Racliel J. Apple- 
gate, daughter of Thomas Applegate, of 
Jasper County, Indiana, an old settler and 
pioneer. In 1842 Mr. Comer moved to 
Missouri, and settled in Grundy County. 
He was a soldier in Company A, Seventy- 
Second Regiment, Indiana Volunteer In- 
fantry, and was in service in Kentucky and 
Tennessee, being in several battles. He re- 
turned home and died in 1866, his days be- 
iu'T shorte lel by exposure. Mr. Comer was 
an industrious man and respected by all who 
knew him. He lett Missouri on account of 
the war troubles and died at Delphi, In- 
diana. He was a member of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church, and a Democrat in politics. 
Samuel R. Comer, the subject of this 
sketch, was left an orphan being but sixteen 
years of age at his father's death, and the care 



of his mother devolved upon him. He had 
gone to Indiana in 1861 with his parents, 
and engaged on a farm by the month, and 
thus supported his mother. This he con- 
tinued until his marriage at the early age of 
nineteen years, in 1869, to Miss Amanda E. 
Cappess, daughter of Adam and Elizabeth 
Cappess, from Ohio, and of American ances- 
try. They have two children : Henry A. and 
Hattie E. After marriage Mr. Comer went 
to Cedar County, Iowa, and farmed until 
1879, and then came to Walnut, and engaged 
in the teaming and dray business, in which 
he succeeded well. In 1888 he engajjed in 
his present business, in which he has pros- 
pered, and in which he still continues. 

In society Mr. Comer is an Odd Fellow. 
He is a self-made man, having by his own 
unaided efforts made his way from the con- 
dition of a poor boy to that of a representative 
American citizen, respected by his fellow 
townsmen and having a highly respectable 
family. 







RSON O. HOTCHKISS, an ex-soldier 
if the late war and for many years a 
railroad ma", now resides on a farm in 
section 2, Wright Township, Pottawattamie 
County, Iowa. He bought land here in 
1881 and took up his residence on it in 1888. 
Mr. Hotchkiss was born in Kane County, 
Illinois, near Geneva, December 20, 1837. 
His father, Wallace Hotchkiss, one of the 
first settlers of Kane County, was born in 
Tioga County, New York, son of Gillian 
Hotchkiss. He traced his ancestry back to 
seven brothers in England, who, on account 
of their politics and religion, were banished 
from their native country by the king. The 
maiden name of Mr. Hotchkiss' motlier was 
Lucy Carver. She was born in New York, 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTT. 



629 



a descendant of German ancestry. Many 
years ago the Carver family was a prominent 
one in Germany in both church and state. 
They were exiled from that country and 
came to America. Wallace and Lucy Hotch- 
kiss located in Kane County, Illinois, about 
the year 1834 and lived there until 1859, 
when they moved to Bourljon County, Kan- 
sas, where they spent the residue of their 
lives, the father dying at the age of sixty-five 
3'ears, and the mother in 1880, at the age of 
sixty-three. Mr. Hotchkiss was a farmer all 
his life. His political views were those of tiie 
Democratic party. He and his worthy com- 
panion reared a family of eight children, six 
of whom are living, viz.: Orson O., David, a 
resident of Kansas; Mary, in Dakota; Alice, 
in Kansas; and Carver and Nancy, also in 
that State. Burt, deceased, was a member of 
a Kansas regiment and served through the 
war for his coiintry. 

The subject of our sketch remained on the 
farm until he was seventeen years old, re- 
ceiving his education in the pioneer schools 
of Kane County. He was then employed to 
carry water for the workmen who were build- 
ing the Chicago, Burlington & Quiiicy iiail- 
oad through Kane County. Some time later 
he obtained a situation as brakeman on that 
road, which position he resigned during the 
Pike's Peak excitement; and with a company 
he set out for the West, From Pike's Peak 
he went overland to California, where, for 
two years he was engaged in mining, ranch- 
ing and freighting. In 1861 he returned to 
his home in Illinois, and in September of 
that year he enlisted in Company A, a cav- 
alry company which was attached to the 
Fifty-second Illinois Infantry, Colonel Will- 
son and Lieutenant Colonel Ed. Joslyn, the 
latter a prominent lawyer and ]>olitician. 
His company was stationed at St. Louis, 
where the Captain was Provost-marshal for a 



time. Later, with a portion of the Fourth 
Ohio Cavalry, they acted as body-guard for 
General Halleck, forming a battalion. From 
Pittsburg Landing Mr. Hotchkiss was all 
through the campaign, fighting along the 
lines to Corinth. Two months and a half he 
was confined in a hospital in Jacksonville, 
Illinois, after which he was discharged for 
general disability. He returned to Kane 
County, and some time .-vfterward again ob- 
tained a situation as brakeman. Not long 
afterward his faithfulness, honesty and ability 
were recognized by his employers and he was 
promoted to a higher position. In 1867 he 
resigned to accept a situation as engineer on 
the Northwestern Railroad, then being built 
through Iowa. He joined the force at Jeffer- 
son, took charge of engines and the making 
up of trains, and it was lie who took the first 
passenger engine into Council Bluffs on the 
Northwestern Railroad. It was No. 33, a 
wood-burner. Some time after this Mr. 
Hotchkiss again returned to Aurora, Illinois, 
and accepted a position as engineer on the 
Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad. He 
was afterward promoted, and ran the best 
passenger engine on the i-oad. It was at- 
tached to the fast mail train which ran be- 
tween Chicago and Aurora. During the 
great strike, February 4, 1888, Mr. Hotch- 
kiss retired from railroad life. He had spent 
thirty years on the road, had met with many 
trials and hair-breadth escapes, and at that 
time he decided to pass the declining years 
of his life in agricultural pursuits. In the 
spring of 1888 he built a fine residence, 
modern style, at a cost of $1,600. Hj also 
made other improvements on his farm, which 
comprises 120 acres, and is now pleasantly 
situated. 

Mr. Hotchkiss has been twice married. 
His first companion was nee Mary McDonald, 
daughter of John and Lucinda (Vaiigim) 



630 



BIOGRAPHICAL BISTORT 



McDonald. She died in 1867, leaving one 
son, P'rederick, who was a fireman on the 
Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad and 
who was killed in March, 1876, at the age of 
eighteen years. February 10, 1870, our sub- 
ject wedded Miss Mary Roxanna McDonald, 
a native of Steuben County, New York. 
She is a daughter of William McDonald, a 
sketch of whom will Vje found on another 
page of this book), and was fourteen years 
old when she came with her parents to 
Bureau C!ounty, Illinois. His second union 
has been blessed with four children: Willie 
and Wallie (twins), Savilla and Mary. 

Mr. Ilotchkiss is a member of the Brother- 
hood of Engineers, Division No. 32, Aurora, 
Illinois. In politics he is a Democrat. He 
still retains many of the characteristics of 
the railroad man; is sincere and outspoken, 
cordial and respecful to all. 

m l my a l l I t < T ill »B» ■» 

fe * * a) 




II. KNEPHER, a grocer at No. 
744 West Broad street, Council 
** Blufff, carries a stock of some $2,- 
500, and his atmual sales amount to $16,000. 
He established his present business in 1878, 
which he has since successfully conducted, 
lie was born in Brownsville, New York, De- 
cember 23, 1860, the son of H. T. and Mary 
(Bremmel) Knepher, the former a native of 
Germany, and the latter was born and reared 
in Ohio. They were the parents of six chil- 
dren, of whom our subject was the tiiird 
child. His early life was spent in attending 
school, and when sixteen years of age he 
cime to Council Blutis and engaged in the 
manufacture of cigars, which business he 
continued two years. He has also made 
several investments in real estate in this 
city. He is an active politician, and a stanch 
supporter of the Democratic party. He was 



elected City Alderman in 1888, and re- 
elected in 1889 as Alderman at large. He 
is a member and treasurer of the I. O. O. F., 
Hawkeye Lodge, No. 184, and is also a mem- 
ber of the M. W., Hazel Camp, No. 171. 

Mr. Knepher was married April 4, 1885, 
to Miss Rena Berger, daughter of K. C. and 
Mary L'erger, and wlio was born in Ohio, but 
reared in Brownsville. They have had two 
children, both of whom are deceased. Mr. 
Knepher is a member of the Board of Trade, 
and has Ijeeii a liberal endorser of anything 
that pertains to the good of the city. 



fW. MIKESILL, proprietor of a general 
store at 2300 West Broadway, Council 
^ Bluffs, established his business in Sep- 
tember, 1888, and carries a stock of some 
$2,500. He was born in Dayton, Ohio, in 
November, 1829, the son of John H. and 
Phoebe (Birch) Mikesill, natives of Virginia 
and New York, and of Scotch and Irish de- 
scent. They had a family of eight children, 
five of whom are still living. Our subject, 
the third child and the only one residing in 
this State, was brought up on a farm and 
educated in the common schools. In 1840 
he came to Iowa with his parents, locating 
in Marion County, where he grew to man- 
hood, and where his parents died. When he 
was twenty years of age he engaged in the 
mercantile business at Red Rock, Iowa, and 
in 1851 took a trip to California, passing 
through Council Bluffs. He remained in 
that State some eight years, and was engaged 
in mining, mercantile business, and also 
operated a water ditch for mining purposes. 
In the spring of 1860 he returned to this 
State, where he remained until 1870, when 
he again started for California, but stopped 
at Council Bluffs, where he has since re- 



OF PO I TAW ATT AM IE COUNTY. 



031 



imineJ. He first engaged in the stock busi- 
ness, but drifted into real estate, which he 
continued two years. In 1888 he commenced 
his present business, and has since acquired 
considerable property. His home is at No. 
2206 Avenue A. Politically he has always 
been a strong supporter of the Democratic 
party, and in the spring of 1890 was elected 
Alderman of the Sixth Ward. 

Mr. Mikesill waa married in 1861, to Miss 
Catherine Alley, a native of Indiana, bnt 
was reared in Iowa. They have a family of 
six ciiildren: Uba, wife of John Clatterbuck; 
Robert P., deceased; Caroline J., wife of Ira 
Benge, of Council Bluffs; Bettie, at home; 
William J., Donnelly C, John W., and Hor- 
ace, deceased. The mother is a member of 
the Christian Churcli, while the fatiier holds 
to tlie Spiritualistic faith. 



lOUNCIL BLUFFS LUMBER COM- 
PANY, 900 South Main street, corner 

^1 of Ninth avenue, are dealers in lumber, 
lime, coal, etc. Incorporated 1887, with a 
cash capital of $25,000. R. Stevenson, Presi- 
dent; M. J. Irons, Vice-President; H. Ste- 
venson, Secretary and Treasurer. Sales 
amount annually to $120,000 to $130,000, 
retail. Their stock includes all kinds of 
building material and all kinds of coal. 

Mr. H. Stevenson was born in Oshkosh, 
Wisconsin, December 24, 1859, the son of 
Hugh and Charlotte (Seelye) Stevenson, 
natives of Canada, and of Scotch descent. 
His father died in Nebraska in 1887, aged 
sixty-five years; and his mother is still 
living in Ansley, Custer County, Nebraska. 
In their family were eight children, all of 
whom are living excepting one. 

Mr. Stevenson, our sul)ject, the third child 
in the above family, lived in his native State 

45 



until he was nineteen years of age, and at- 
tended the normal school. In 1878 the 
family removed to Nebraska, where the boys 
engaged in the rearing of live-stock, a busi- 
ness called "ranching." These sons were: 
Renfrew, now the president of the Council 
Hlutf's Lumber Company; Robert, who is 
now encraofed with the H. Stevenson Lumber 
Company, of Ansley, Nebraska; and our 
subject, Henry. After two or three years' 
ranching, they engaged in the lumber busi- 
ness at Riverton, Nebraska, a short time, 
when Robert went to Franklin, the same 
State, and opened a lumber yard, and Henry 
went to Orleans and opened a yard there 
under the title of The H. & R. Stevenson 
Lumber Company. After following the busi- 
ness there for two or three years, and estab- 
lishing yards at Long Island and Almena, 
Kansas, he, with his brother Robert, con- 
solidated with their father and formed the 
H. Stevenson Lumber Company at Fuller- 
ton, Nebraska, with yards at Genoa, Ansley 
and Berwin, same State, and tiiis company 
still exists, now owned and controlled by six 
brothers: Renfrew, Henry, Robert, Brougham, 
Scotia and Stymert, Robert being the man- 
ager. 

In 1887 Henry came to Council BhiflPs 
and took charge of the Council Bluffs Lum- 
ber Company, which position he still main- 
tains. Renfrew is vice-president and man- 
ager of the Star Union Lumber Company at 
Omaha, with a capital of $50,000. He is 
therefore one of the most extensive lumber 
dealers in this part of the West. 

Mr. Henry Stevenson was married at Long 
Island, Kansas, July 15, 1885, to Miss 
Minerva Wel)b, of Orleans, Nebi'aska, but a 
native of Michigan, born in April, 1856, a 

daughter of George A. and ■ (Nichol) 

Webb, and of English and Scotch origin. 
Mr. and Mrs. Stevenson have two children. 



632 



BIOORAPniCAL HISTORY 



Leal and Renfrew N. Mr. Stevenson affili- 
ates with the Republican party. Is a mem- 
ber of St. Andrew's Society at Council 
Bluffs, and secretary of the saiue; also a 
member of the Board of Trade, and of the 
Retail Merchants' Association. He is presi- 
dent of the Board of the Iowa Savings and 
Loan Association of Des Moines. Mrs. 
Stevenson is a member of the First Baptist 
.Church. 



►>^ 



IHARLES A. ALTMANNSPERGER, 

one of the prominent business men of 
Iowa, and a Council Bluffs City Coun- 
cilman, was born in the town of Burgehaun, 
Province of Kurbessen, Germany, July 12, 
1858, the son of Andreas Aitmannspercrer, 
who was a lawyer of Marburg, Germany. 
He was elected a Judge of his native province, 
and died at the age of fifty- one years. 

Charles Altmannsperger received an excel- 
lent education at the Gymnasium of Fulda, 
Germany, where he obtained a knowledge of 
the English language, and after completing 
his education be entered the business house 
where ho served three years. During this 
time he took a commercial course, and then 
served three years as a clerk in Switzerland. 
In 1880 he came to America, and in 1881 to 
Avoca, where he entered the employment of 
Seifest & Wiese, an extensive business firm 
of that place. After remaining with them a 
few months, he came to Minden and took 
charge of their business here, which is prin- 
cipally lumber and coal, and since that time 
he has attended to their work with satisfaction 
to his firm and credit to himself. Mr. Alt- 
mannsperger takes an interest in thoroughbred 
English mastiffs, being a lover of the traits 
and character exhibited by that noble breed 
of dogs, and, like many men, see many traits 



which are worthy of lieing cultivated and 
improved. He now has a large kennel, num- 
bering at times as many as thirty thorough- 
bred English mastiffs. Ashmund, Suwanee, 
American Kennel Chib, 16,006; Vesta, 
6,854; Queen Victoria, 16,008 are the lead- 
ers from which he breeds. His dog Ben 
Harrison, 2d, 16,010, is a splendid animal, 
and is one of the best specimens of the Eng- 
lish mastiff now living. He is now only 
twenty months old, and weighs 185 pounds. 
When full grown he will weigh over 200 
pounds. Chancellor Bi>marck, 14,894, took 
the first prize at Denver, Colorado, in De- 
cember, 1889, and the silver prize medal at 
Chicago. There were American Kennel Club 
shows at New York. 

Mr. Altmannsperger's dogs are registered 
in their record book, where are kept the pedi- 
grees of pure-bred dogs with as much care 
and fidelity as the records of thoroughbred 
trotting-horses are kept. Chancellor Bis- 
marck is valued by bim at not less tlian 
$1,000. Mr. Altmannsperger is a careful 
breeder of the English mastiff, and his dogs 
are being shipped to all parts of the country. 
His noble race of dojis have descended from 
old English stock, made famous by the pens 
of the great English writers. Sir Walter 
Scott descriljed in '' Woodstock " a magnifi- 
cent specimen of this race as the famous 
guardian of Woodstock Hall. They are noted 
for their fidelity as watch-dogs and as guards 
for ladies. The trait strongly marked, which 
makes them of great value, is that they guard 
or keep their prisoners without a savage at- 
tack unless resisted. Tliey prevent their es- 
cape by holding rather than brutality. In size 
they are very tnassive, with immense lieids, 
and are alight fawn in color with black muz- 
zles and ears. They stand tirmly on well shaped 
legs, and have a bright, intelligent eye. 

Socially Mr. Altmannsperger is a promi- 



OF PorrAWATTAMlli COUNT T. 



63:j 



nent Mason, being a member of the blue 
lo'ige, Neiila Chapter of Avoca, and Scottish 
Rite, Counftil Bluffs. He has taiven fourteen 
degrees in Masonry. He is also a member 
of tlie Knights of Pythias of Neola. He has 
the confidence of tlie people of Minden, and 
is now serving as To vnship Clerk, which of- 
fice lie has lield i-ix years. He has taken an 
active interest in good schools, liaving heen 
Treasurer of the S'diool Board for five years, 
and lias lately been elected, as before stated, 
to the first Town Council of Minden. In 
1881 Mr. Altmannspergor married Eliza 
liohren,a native of Switzerland, and they have 
three girls: Caroline, Eliza and Matilda. Mr. 
Altmannsperger is a reliable citizen, owning 
his residence and otiier own property, and 
also a farm in this township. He is a young 
man, and lias just entered upon his career of 
usefulness. He is an active and reliable 
business man, possessing the confidence of 
his firm and the respect of the community in 
which he lives, and he is not only a credit to 
the sturdy German race from which he 
sprang, but a direct benefit to the county in 
which he has settled. He is a courteous 
host, having a delightful home, in which he 
takes great pleasure in entertaining his 
friends, and in whic!) he dispenses a liberal 
hospitality. 

•"'^ '^ " j' 'I '^^''--°~- — 

fJ. BARTON, proprietor of the St. Joe 
Livery, Feed and Sale Stable, 706 
" South Main street, Council Bluffs, 
carries a stock of some $8,000 or $9,000, 
and also buys anl sells horses on commis- 
sion. He took charge of the barn in July, 
1888, and is doing a good business. He 
was born in Lincolnshire, Enorland, in 1856, 
the son of Frederick and Mary , (Tomlinson) 
Barton, of English parentaire. He was 



reared to farm life in his native country, and 
in 1872 his parents emigrated to America, 
locating at Council Bluffs, where they have 
since resided, except that the father died in 
1876. In 1878 our present subject com- 
menced to take care of himself by operating 
his farm south of Council Bluffs for one 
year. Afterward ho engaged in various pur- 
suits until 1887-'88, when he engaged in 
buying and selling hay and in threshing, 
which he followed until he took his present 
place. He has a good farm in South Da- 
kota, and also owns an interest in a farm of 
eighty acres in Lewis Township. Politically 
Mr. Barton is a Democrat, takintc an active 
interest in the public welfare. 

He was married September 8, 1889, to 
Miss Lillie Pardan, a native of Council 
Bluffs, who was born in 1870, and they have 
an infant daughter. 



.4«H|^ 




ESLEY SNYDER, one of the old 
soldier citizens of Walnut, who is 
r^ferj Commander of the John A. Dix 
Post, No. 408, was born on a farm near 
Huntington County, Pennsylvania, February 
27, 1847, the son of John Snyder, who was 
born in the same place, and was of German 
descent. He married Sarah Lynn, daughter 
of John Lynn, of Pennsylvania, and they 
were the parents of nine children who lived 
to maturity, namely: Jane, Susan, Elizabeth, 
Martha, Rachel, Lucinda, Wesley, Jonathan 
and Hugh. The Snyders were old settlers of 
Pennsylvania, and John Snyder had two un- 
cles in the war of the Revolution. Mr. 
Snyder was a comfortable farmer, and in 1865 
emigrated to Iowa, settling on a farm in 
Johnson County, where he lived until his 
death in 1876. He was a member of the 



634 



BIOORAPSICAL SI STORY 



Methodist Episcopal Church, and an honor- 
able and upright citizen. 

August 29, 1864, at the age of sixteen 
years, Wesley Snyder enlisted in Company 
K, Two Hundred and Second Pennsylvania 
Volunteer Infantry, and served until the 
close of the war. He served along the 
Orano-e and Alexandria Railroad in Virginia, 
and on his return home he came with his 
father to Iowa, and has since been a citizen 
of this State. In 1879 he left farm work, 
which he had followed until this time, and 
worked in the elevator as engineer for two 
years in Shelby, Iowa, and then in Minden 
two years. In 1884 he catne to Walnut, 
where he has since ran the elevator for 
Davenport & Co. In 1889 he was appointed 
Commander of the John A. Dix Post, 
G. A. R., of Avoca for one year. He is a 
prominent member of the Methodist Church, 
of which is a Trustee and Steward. He is a 
well known in Avoca as a conscientious and 
upright citizen. 

— g-S"S%^— — 



fAMES MURRAY, one of the old soldier 
citizens of Pottawattamie County, was 
born in the city of Dublin, Ireland, 
March 1, 1833, a son of James Murray, who 
was a steward of the estate of William Howe, 
which was called Allendale. The father was 
a Catholic religiously, and died in Ireland in 
1861. His wife's maiden name was Jane 
Flynn, and they were the parents of six chil- 
dren, who lived to maturity: Dennis, Patrick, 
Elizabeth, Catherine, James and Eliza. Mr. 
Murray was an active and industrious man, 
and remained with Mr. Howe for over forty 
years, being implicitly trusted, — in other 
words, he was an honest man, who, as Pope, 
says, "is tlie noblest work of God." Mr. 



William Howe was a public notary and stock- 
broker in Dublin, and a man of wealth. 

At the age of seventeen years James Mur- 
ray, our subject, came to America, arriving 
in New York city in September, 1849. He 
went to Middletown, that State, and worked 
in a nursery, and the next spring went to 
Paterson, New Jersey, where he remained 
until 1854, when he came to Davenport, 
Iowa, and engaged in work on the Rock Is- 
land Railroad. He next removed to Iowa 
City, and worked in a commission house un- 
til April 28, 1861, when he enlisted in Com- 
pany B, First Iowa Regiment Volunteer In- 
fantry, under Captain Malian. Thus he num- 
bers among the brave men who were the first 
to volunteer in defense of the Union, and to 
set the example which was followed by thou- 
sands of men who were willing to risk their 
lives that their country might be saved, and 
become one of the greatest nations on eirth. 
Mr. Murray went with his regiment to Mis- 
souri, and was in service against the guerrillas 
who infested the State, and was in several 
skirmishes with them. This service was 
very severe, and the guerrillas or " biish- 
whackers" would be in ambush in the heavy 
oak scrubs and tire upon the troops. At Mc- 
CuUonufhtown a severe skirmish was fought, 
and August 10, 1861, at twenty minutes 
past two o'clock a. m., the first rifle shot was 
tired by the pickets at the famous battle of 
Wilson Creek, where the noted General Lyon 
fell; he was shot at fifteen minutes p ist 12 
o'clock. Mr. Murray saw him ride out in 
front of the First Iowa Regiment on a dapple- 
gray horse, where he fell instantly, pierced 
with bullets. He was but a few rods from 
Mr. Murray when he fell, and within two 
minutes our subject was shot through the 
wrist, shattering the small bones. His regi- 
ment retreated directly after the death of 
General Lyon to Springfield, Missouri, in 



OF POTFAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



635 



good order, wliicli place tliey reached at 7 
o'clock same day. Mr. Murray received no 
medical attendance, and tlie next night slept 
on the ground; and the next day the regi- 
ment, with the remainder of the army, re- 
treated to Raleigh, Missouri, 150 miles, and 
thence liy rail to St. Louis, where our subject 
received medical attendance, his arm being 
badly swollen. H.e was not in a hospital. 
His time having expired he was honorably 
discharged at St. Louis, and returned to Iowa 
City, but was disabled one year from work on 
account of his wound. 

He remained in the warehouse of the Rock 
Island Railroad until 1871, when he bought 
his present farm, then consisting of 120 acres 
of wild prairie. In 1876 he came to live on 
this land, which lie has since improved and 
made a comfortable home. He is well known 
as a faithful and honest citizen, and his 
course through life, either in the employ of 
others or working for himself, has been 
straightforward and manly. Politically he 
is a [Republican, and religiously a devoted 
Catholic. He is a member of the G. A. R., 
John A. Dix Post, of Walnut, Iowa. 

He was married, in 1862, at Iowa City, to 
Mary Quinn, who was born in the State of 
Maine of Irish parentage. To Mr. and Mrs. 
Murray have been born seven children: Eliza 
J., James, William, Ellen, Catherine, John 
and Annie. Mrs. Murray's father, Johnson 
Quinn, was born in Ireland, and settled in 
Elkhart County, Indiana, on a farm. He 
lived to the age of eighty-three, and was a 
member of the Methodist Church. His first 
wife, Sarah Shelleday, was born in Ireland, 
and died at the age of thirty-six years. They 
had six children: Eliza, William, Samuel, 
John, Mary and Robert. Mr. Quinn was 
again married, this time to Eliza Spencer, 
and they had two children: Daniel and Sarah. 
Mr. Murray is a pioneer of the township. 



having inade his farm from a wild prairie by 
hard work and industry, assisted by his faith- 
ful wife. He stands deservedly high as a 
good, intelligent American citizen. Having 
siied his blood on the field of battle in defense 
of American principles, he has a great love 
for his country, and we have no more loyal 
men than those who fought for our flag. 

•°^' ^ * 3 n i ' S ' * '~ 



||flLLIAM B. CUPPY.— This truly 
Wk Western gentleman was born in the 
^ great State of Iowa when it was yet 
aTerritory, and came to Pottawattamie Coun- 
ty before there were any settlers, except on 
the old stage route. The Sioux Indians were 
then camped in Levins' Grove, near where 
our subject now lives. William Cuppy, the 
great-grandfather of our subject, came from 
Spain, but was of Irish and French descent. 
He was the founder of the family name in 
America, which Was changed from Copps to 
Cuppy. Ada,m Cuppy, the father of our sub- 
ject, was born in Shelby County, Kentucky. 
He served in the war of 1812, and was 
present at Hull's surrender at Detroit. He 
went to Illinois when a young man, and there 
married Christiana Shaffer, daughter of John 
Shaffer, a soldier of the war of 1812. He was 
a farmer of Cass County, Illinois. Soon 
after marriage, in 1837, Mr. Cuppy came to 
Iowa, and stopped at Burlington during the 
fall and winter following. Here the subject 
of this sketch was born, and when but twenty- 
four hours old was the hero of an Indian 
outbreak. Some men had brought ten gal- 
lons of whisky across the Mississippi River 
in a canoe and sold it to the Indians. They 
became very wild and commenced burning 
the houses of the whites, and drove them to 
the Indian agent's headquarters for shelter. 
Mrs. Cuppy was lying in a slab shanty with 



630 



BKGHAPUICAL U IS I OUT 



her young cliild, ana the Indians set tire to it; 
but the squaws were friendly to her, and 
rushed in and carried her out on her bed. 
Tiie Indians, taking up tiie child to kill it, 
discovered it was a boy, and exclaimed: "It 
is a buck; don't kill it;" and so the boy was 
left to tell the story to another generation. 

Soon after this his father moved to Ot- 
tumwa, Iowa, and there served the Govern- 
ment as Indian Agent five years. The Sacs, 
Foxes and lowas were uader his agency, and 
here young William became familiar with 
Indian life. In 1850 Mr. Adam Cuppy 
moved to Mississippi County, remaining one 
year, and in 1851 went to Shelby County, 
where he lived until 1865. That county was 
organized at his house, the settlers coming 
together for a shooting match, and the poorest 
shots were obliged to take the offices, as no 
one desired them — quite a contrast to the 
present day. The tirst case was tried at 
Shelby ville by Judge Riddle, under the trees, 
the jury retiring to a hollow in the grove to 
deliberate. One of the lawyers who tried the 
case, "Jim" Brettor, procured a two-gallon 
jug of whisky, and treated the jury until 
some of them could not answer to the call of 
the sheriff. Mr. Cuppy was the father of 
seven children: Mary C, Emeline, William 
B., Lucy J., Charles, Grenville M. and Emily. 
Mr. and Mrs. Cuppy were members nf the 
Methodist Episcopal Church. The father was 
a line specimen of a frontiersman and a West- 
ern pioneer; he wassixfeet in height, weighed 
200 pounds, and was of robust health and 
character, and became accustomed to all the 
vicissitudes and trials of a pioneer life in the 
great West. He was a noted hunter of that 
period, and became a substantial farmer, 
owning COO acres of laud at Cuppy 's Grove. 
His hospitality was of the true Kentucky 
type, and he was never known to charge a 
man a dime who sought shelter or food at 



his house. In the winter of 1856-'57, which 
is recorded as the winter of great storms, 
several families took shelter under his roof 
and shared his hospitality, as their provisions 
were exhausted and the weather too severe 
for them to get to any town for supplies, and 
they remained with him until spring. 

William B., the son of the above and the 
subject of this sketch, was born in 1838, and 
as there were no schools in Iowa at that early 
day, he received but a limited education, ex- 
cept what he acquired by observation and 
practical experience. But having a quick 
and ready mind he became a well informed 
man, and in the rough school of the Iowa 
pioneer he learned manliness and stability of 
character, which has enabled him to turn his 
attention to any matter which he needed to 
carry through and succeed. He was married 
at the age of twenty-one years, to Susan A. 
Long, daughterof James M. and .Sophia (Deer) 
Long. The father was an old and proininent 
resident of Harlan, Iowa, and both families 
were of old American pioneer stock, from 
Indiana, and originally from Kentucky. 
They were the parents of five children : 
Susannah, Sarah G., Mary P., Mahala J. and 
Eddie W. 

After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Cuppy re- 
sided on the old homestead at Cuppy's Grove 
for ten years, and in 1870 came to their 
present farm of nearly 1,000 acres, 750 being 
in one body. In politics Mr. Cuppy is a 
stanch Democrat and free-trader, and several 
times has made speeches in defense of his 
opinions, in which, with his vigorous use of 
the old-fashioned, pioneer English, he freely 
and pointedly exprceses his views. When 
young, like his father before him, he was a 
great hunter, and among these peerless hunt- 
ers, the Indians, learned all their skillful 
tactics with shot-gun and rifle. The country 
was then full of game, elk and deer abound- 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



037 



ing, and in the early setrlMiients the buffalo 
were not driven to the prairies of Kansas by 
the inroads of tlie settlers. The face of the 
country was undulating and covered with 
grass, and in the spring was a mass of beau- 
tiful and many-colored flowers, and Mr. 
Cuppy describes it as being one of the love- 
liest sights the eye of man ever rested upon. 
The old pioneers of Iowa were noted for their 
kindness and hospitality, and also for their 
strict honesty. The neighbors within a radius 
of thirty and fifty miles visited each other 
an<l rendered mutual aid and eacoaragement. 
Their latch-string was always out. Mr. 
Cuppy is now a man of fifty-three years of age, 
but his eye is still undimraed with age, and 
he is an erect and well-built man, with an easy 
and polite manner. His hair is tinged with 
silver, but many years of an honorable and 
useful life are before him. He is one of the 
deservedly popular men of Pottawattamie 
County, known far and wide for his genial 
manner, kind heart and large hospitality. 

*q»-i' l y * 3 * * ? * V * *"* 




P. ELLIS, druggist at 556 Broad- 
way, Council Bluffs, was born at 
Elkhart, Indiana, March 27, 1856, 
a son of Joel and Emeline (Bailey) Ellis. In 
his father's family were Jacob, William, 
Charles, M. P., Fred, Joel, Sophia and Clara, 
the two latter of whom are deceased. Joel 
Ellis, the senior, was born in Chautauqua 
County, New York, February 14, 1818, of 
Scotch ancestry, who emigrated in early days 
to America, settling on the Hudson River, 
where their descendants resided for many 
generations and served their country both in 
the llevolutionary war and in the war of 
1812. In 1830 the senior Ellis emigrated 
with his parents to Elkhart, Indiana, in cov- 
ered wagons, and becanae a thoroughgoing 



citizen of that State. The granU'ather of 
Mr. M. P. Ellis opened a hotel kn^wji as the 
"Three- Mile — Plain Tavern," named with 
reference to its locality. Many thrilling 
incidents were connected with their pio- 
neer life there among the red savages 
and wild beasts of the forest; being before 
the days of civil law, and criminals were 
punished by lynch measures. The famous 
Black Hawk war occurring while they were 
resident there, the Indians were particu- 
larly bold and insolent, and one or two 
serious frights seized the people. Mr. Ellis, 
the grandfather, was a Whig in his political 
views, a member of the Consrreo-alional 
Church, and died at the age of eighty-four 
years, leaving an aged companion, who died 
in 1874, and was buried by his side at 
Elkhart. 

Joel Ellis remained at home with his par- 
ents to the age of twenty-one years, making 
the best of his meager educational advantages. 
Naturally possessing good business qualifica- 
tions, he soon advanced lo the front among 
business men. He built three large ware- 
houses on the banks of the St. Joseph River 
at the mouth of the Elkhart, and established 
and operated a barge or flat-boat line for the 
transportation of goods to Lake Michigan, 
practically enjoying a monopoly until the 
building of the Michigan Southern & North- 
ern Indiana Railroad, now the Lake Shore & 
Michigan Southern. He accumulated a for- 
tune, sold out his business and purchased a 
section of land (640 acres) and commenced 
farming on a large scale and in a scientific 
manner. In 1868 he sold his farm, moved 
to the village of Elkhart and engaged in the 
rearing of fine horses. He bred the horse 
Edward, which was afterward sold to Worth 
of New York, who drove him in harness with 
Dick Swiveler. They made the extraordi- 
nary low record of 2:12. Mr. Ellis was a 



6:^8 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORT 



strong Abolitionist during t le days <'f slavery, 
being a conductor on the underground rail- 
way. He died at hi^ home in Elkhart, Jnly 
23, 1890, as the remote result of la grippe. 
The mother of Mr. M. P. Ellis was burn in 
Erie County, Pennsylvania, now the only 
surviving child of Cyrus and Catherine (Hol- 
comb) Bailey. Her parents died when she 
was about sixteen years of age, and a year 
afterward she married. She is still living on 

o 

the old homestead, a zealous and consistent 
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 
Mr. Ellis, the subject of this sketch, at the 
age of seventeen years entered the employ of 
Hill & Kelly, druggists at Elkhart, and by 
strict attention to business he became pro- 
ficient. In 1882 he went to Fairbiiry, Ne- 
braska, where he entered the employ of 
Hinkle, Carr & Co., druggists. By the ob- 
servance of rigid economy he managed to 
save means enough to buy a piece of land in 
Jefferson County, Nebraska, which increased 
rapidly in value, and finally he sold it. He 
invested the proceeds in commercial paper, 
which also proved a profitable venture. 
Hinkle, Carr & Co. sold out, and Mr. Ellis, 
in looking for a place to establish a store, 
came to Council Bluffs and was oflfered a 
position by the Foster Brothers, wholesale 
and retail druggists. Accepting the place, 
he remained with them until the winter of 
1887, when he formed a partnership with J. 
H. Camp, under the firm name of Camp & 
Ellis, 556 Broadway. In September, 1889, 
he bought out his partner and since then has 
continued in the business alone. Mr. Ellis 
is an example of what a young man may ac- 
complish by strict attention to business and 
adhering to the principles of honesty and in- 
tegrity. Step by step he has ascended the 
rounds of the ladder, and though young in 
years he ranks among the leading business 
men of the city. In politics he is Democratic. 



September 10. 1889, he married Mrs. Alice 
Wilson, of Council Bluffs, and they have one 
child. Mrs. Ellis' parents were W. H. and 
Matilda (Thompson) Murlin, who had six 
children: Elvira, James, Alice (born January 
11, 1855), Allie U., Edgar E. and Herbie; all 
of them are now deceased excepting Mrs. 
Ellis and Edgar E. ; the latter of whom now 
resides in Denver, Colorado. Mr. Murlin 
was born in Hardin County, Kentucky, re- 
motely of German ancestry; and wlien he 
was sixteen years of age his parents moved 
with him to Mercer County, Chio, settling 
near Salina. February 10, 1850, he married 
and took his bride, in company with a num- 
ber of his young associates and their fam- 
ilies, and in three weeks arrived at Vinton, 
Iowa, their destination, which then contained 
but a dozen houses. To this place his uncle, 
James Thompson, had preceded him the year 
before; and his second-born, Eva, was the 
first white child born in Hampton, whither 
be had moved from Vinton. Mr. Murlin 
was successfully engaged in the grain busi- 
ness for many years, hauling his grain in 
wagons to the Mississippi River and unload- 
ing it into boats. September 10, 1862, he 
enlisted in Company A, Twenty-eighth Iowa 
Infantry, and during his service, which was 
under Grant, McClellan and Banks, he was 
promoted first to the rank of First Sergeant 
and afterward to that of Second Lieutenant. 
He was with Banks in the Red River ex- 
pedition. He was a valiant soldier, engaging 
in many hard-fought battles, and was honor- 
ably discharged at Savannah, Georgia, July 
21, 1865. After returning he was out one 
day with a hunting party and accidentally 
received a wound, from the efl'ect of which he 
ultimately died, September 14, 1865, at Vin- 
ton. Matilda Thompson was born at Spring- 
field, Ohio, Septetnher 28, 1832, the ninth in 
a family of thirteen children of James and 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE VOUNTT. 



639 



Mary (Melntyre) Thomiison. Their children 
were: Lucinda, Samuel, Elizabeth, Edward, 
Mary, Jane, James, Eleanor, Matilda, Andrew, 
Alviiia, Louisa, Martha and Kate. William 
Thompson, father of James, was born in 
Ireland in 1762; came to America in 1774 
and settled near Carlisle, Penusjivania. After 
her husband's death, Matilda Thompson was 
lelt with comparatively little means to edu- 
cate and bring up her children. Through the 
dishonesty of a partner her husband lost 
nearly all the accumulations of years; but 
with a brave heart and a mother's devotion 
and love she undertook the battles of life 
alone. After remaining at Vinton about 
four years, she moved to Oskaloosa, where 
resided her brother, Samuel Thompson, 
County Judge, to educate her children, and 
nine years afterward she came to Council 
Bluffs. 






jAVID WILDING, M. D., CrescentCity, 
was born in Preston, Lancashire, Eng- 
land, November 2-t, 1804, a son of 
Henry and Jane (Bamber) Wilding, also na- 
tives of the Albion Isle, who had eleven 
children, and remained in the land of their 
nativity to the end of their days. 

Dr. Wilding, the ninth in the above fam- 
ily, was reared in mercantile business, which 
was that of his father, but engaged also in 
other pursuits to some extent. At the age of 
twenty-three years he entered business for 
himself. He became a member of the Church 
of the Latter-Day Saints in 1833, and is still 
loyal to the creed, being an Elder ever since 
the year 1837. In 1841 he emigated to 
America, landing at New Orleans, and came 
direct to Nauvoo, joining the colony estab- 
lished there by the celebrated Joseph Smith, 
and he assisted in erecting the temple at 



that place, beginning with the foundation 
and building one corner as high as the stone 
work; and he also aided in building the 
Nauvoo House from its foundation. When 
the Mormons left Nauvoo in 1847 he came 
with them as far as Pottawattamie County, 
landing opposite Florence, Nebraska, and 
soon afterward located where he has ever 
since resided excepting the one year he was 
in Utah. The first engagement he made 
here was that of clerk in a store in Council 
Bluffs, where he remained until late in 1858. 
He owned a farm in Boomer Township, 
where he broke and cultivated fifty acres. 
He afterward sold this and purchased a sec- 
tion in Hazel Dell Township, made many 
valuable improvements upon it and held it 
for a number of years. In 1870 he disposed 
of this also. 

He commenced the practice of midwifery 
when a young man, and has won for him- 
self a wide reputation for skill, conducting 
su<'cessfully some remarkable cases where 
other physicians had failed; and he has never 
used an instrument. At the age of twenty- 
four years his back was broken in two 
places by a bale of cotton falling from a 
cart-load, and his back was injured in another 
place about twenty years ago by a horse 
falling with him. He has also suffered 
other serious accidents. He is an active 
worker in the cause of Christianity and 
morality. Two of his sons served in the 
late war, in Company A, Twenty-ninth Iowa 
Volunteer Infantry. James continued in the 
array until the war ended, but Herbert was 
discharged on account of ill health. The 
father and sons are all solid Republicans. 
The Doctor was Postmaster for ten years, 
giving satisfaction to the community. 

He was married in 1828 to Alice, daugh- 
ter of George and Elizabeth Adkinson, born 
April 8, 1810, and died August 9, 1876, 



640 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTOBT 



leaving eleven children, of whom the follow- 
ing is a record: George, born November 9, 
1829; Elizabeth A., May 28, 1832; James, 
July 3, 1835; Heber, April 30, 1838; David, 
July 16, 1840; Joe, April 12, 1813; Jen- 
nett, September 8, 1845; Henry and Alice, 
twins, July 1, 1848; Thomas, March 18, 
1851, and Sarah, July 14, 1853. 



►4»-tf« 



!EPIi THOMAS, a prominent farmer of 
Washington Township, was born in 
Champaign County, Hlinois, July 10, 
1855, the son of David I. Thomas, a native 
of Hardin County, Ohio, and a son of John 
Thomas, a native of Germany, who served in 
the war with Mexico, and was a Greybeard 
in his regiment. The mother of our subject 
was Nancy J. (Dunn) Thomas, a native of 
Hardin County, Kentucky, and the daughter 
of Zepli Dunn, who was born in the same 
State, and a son of Tliomas Dunn. The wife 
of Zeph Dunn was Sarah Ann (Brownfield) 
Dunn, a daughter of John Brownfield, who 
lived to a very old age, dying in 1866. The 
Thomas family moved to Henry County, 
Iowa, where the parents lived until their 
death, the father dying in 1873, at the age of 
fifty-one years. He was an expert machin- 
ist, gunsmith and blacksmith by trade; was 
a Democrat politically, and religiously was 
a believer in the Dunkards' Church. They 
were the parents of five children, of whom 
two now live in Nebraska, one in Iowa, one 
in Indiana and one in Oregon. 

Zeph was taught his father's trade in early 
life, but never followed it, and for fourteen 
years was engaged in lumbering on Skunk 
Kiver. In 1881 lie bought his present farm 
of eighty acres in Pottawattamie County, on 
which he has made many improvements, and 
now owns one of the best farms in the coun- 



ty. Besides his general farming he is also 
engaged in stock-raising. 

He was married in Henry County, Iowa, in 
April, 1878, to Miss Brovice C. Huddleston, 
who was born in 1861, in Henry County, the 
daughter of Greenbury and Sarah (Merri- 
field) Huddleston, the former a native of 
Kentucky, and the latter of Dayton, Ohio, 
and died July 24, 1887. Mr. and Mrs. 
Thomas are the parents of four children: 
Sylvia E., Edward D., Allie and Bessie O. 
Politically Mr. Thomas is independent. 



►^M^ 



<\* *B* 



IC. KILLION, a prominent farmer near 
Oakland, was born in Menard County, 
" Illinois, December 3, 1855, the son of 
Isaiah and Dorcas (Montgomery) Killion, the 
former a native of Kentucky, and the latter of 
Gibson County, Indiana. The parents were 
married in Menard County, and reared a fa- 
mily of six chilren. The father died in that 
county in 1876; he had be^n a farmer all his 
life; was a Republican politically; and religi- 
ously was a member of the Baptist Church. 
The mother came to Washington Township, 
Pottawattamie County, in 1879, where she 
still lives with her son, Marion. 

Our subject was reared in Menard County, 
and in 1878 came to Pottawattamie County. 
In 1880 he settled on his present farm, which 
consists of sixty-three acres of rich land, and 
on which he has erected a comfortable cot- 
tage, and has also made other improvements. 

Mr. Killion was married in this county 
March 8, 1883, to Miss Eliza Rhodes, a na- 
tive of Ne'w York State, and the daugtiter of 
Fred and Hannah (Briggs) Rhodes, natives of 
Germany. The father is now a retired farmer 
near Oakland. Mr. and Mrs. Killion have 
had four children, only one of whom survives, 
Elmer C, born October 14, 1890. In poll- 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



641 



tics Mr. Killion is a Republican, and Mrs. 
Killioii is a member of the Evangelical 
Church. 



►jwj^ 




J. MARTIN was born in Logan 
County, Illinois, May 5, 1859. His 
'* parents, Ira and Eliza (Wood) Mar- 
tin, both natives of Pennsylvania, were mar- 
ried in Ohio and subsequently removed to 
Illinois, settling in Logan County. His 
mother died when he was twenty -two years of 
age, and his father died in 1885, at the age 
of seventy-two years. He was a farmer all 
his life, a Democrat, and a member of the 
Christian Church. This worthy couple were 
the parents of live children, namely: Ira, of 
Silver Creek Township; John, Macedonia; 
Harriet Jane, Carson; William J., whose 
name heads this sketch; and Montgomery, a 
soldier in the lato war, died from disease con- 
tracted while in the service. 

William J. was reared on a farm in his 
native county, and received his education in 
the public schools of that place. In 1879 he 
left Logan County and came to Iowa, settling 
in Pottawattamie County. He purchased 
eighty acres of land in Silver Creek Town- 
ship, where he now resides, and to this, in 
1885, he added eighty acres more, now hav- 
ing 160 acres of rich and productive soil. 
It is well improved, and is adapted for stock 
and grain. He has a frame house 16x24 
feet, one and a half stories high, with a one 
story addition, 12 x 14 feet. It is surrounded 
by a tine grove and orchard, and makes an 
attractive home. He has stables and cribs 
for the accommodation of stock and farm 
products, and his land is divided into four 
fields. 

Mr. Martin was married in Council Bluffs 
in 1881, to Miss Eveline Cook, a successful 



teacher. Her father, Howley Cook, was born 
in Otsego, New York, February 11, 1811, 
and died in Fillmore County, Minnesota, 
September 30, 1887. For several years he 
was a teacher, but later in life gave his atten- 
tion to agricultural pursuits. Mrs. Martin's 
mother was nee Mary Seward. She was born 
in Cattaraugus County, New York, Decem- 
ber 1, 1821, and departed this life January 
28, 1863. She was a Christian woman and 
a member of the Baptist Church. Mr. and 
Mrs. Martin have two children: Lela Frances 
and Ira Elmer. 

Politically Mr. Martin is a Democrat. He 
is a man in the prime of life, frank and cor- 
dial in his manner to all, and honorable in 
every respect. Mrs. Martin is a consistent 
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 



•«|*^^ 



"^•' 



AMUEL T. McFALL is one of the 
prominent and esteemed citizens of 
Silver Creek Township, Pottawattamie 
County, Iowa. He was born in Iroquois 
County, Illinois, February 14, 1886. His 
father, Samuel McFall, a Kentuckian by 
birth, was a descendant of an old Kentucky 
family who traced their ancestry back to 
Scotland. His mother, Elizabeth (Barbee) 
McFall, was born in Ross County, Ohio, 
daughter of William and Mary Barbee. Our 
subject's parents were married in Bartholo- 
mew County, Indiana, from whence they 
afterward moved to Iroquois County, Illi- 
nois. In 1840 they came to Iowa and were 
among the early settlers of Jefferson County. 
In 1847 they removed to Mahaska County, 
same State. The mother died in 1878. She 
was born November 11, 1804. The father 
was born October 10, 1803, and died in 1885. 
This worthy couple were the parents of ten 
children, fonr sons and six daughters, ot 



643 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTOR? 



whom Samuel T. was the fifth boru. The 
father came of true pioneer stock. He was 
a Democrat before tlie war, but at that time 
cast his vote and influence for Lincoln. He 
was an active and zealous Methodist and a 
class-leader. 

Mr. McFall was four years old when his 
father came to Iowa. He was reared on 
frontier farms in JeflPerson and Mahaska 
counties, and was educated in log school- 
houses. During the great Rebellion he en- 
tered the service of his country, in 1862, en- 
listing in Company H, Thirty-sixth Iowa 
Volunteer Infantry. He was in many of the 
hotly contested battles of the war. Among 
the engagements in which he took pa'^t we 
mention Memphis, Helena, Little Rock, 
Prairie du Chien, Camden, Duval's Bluff, 
Fort Pemberton, below Vicksburg and Mark's 
Mills. At the latter place he was wounded 
by a minie ball in the left shoulder and lung 
and was taken prisoner for twenty- five days. 
Then he was paroled and confined at Little 
Rock Hospital and also at Keokuk Hospital. 
May 12, 1865, he was honorably discharged, 
and now receives a pension of sixteen dollars 
per month. He has since suffered much from 
the effect of the wound. During the season 
of 1872 he was confined to the house a 
greater part of the time. 

Until 1880 Mr. McFall was engaged in 
farming in Mahaska County. In that year 
he came to Pottawattamie County and pur- 
chased 160 acres of wild prairie land which 
he has since improved and now has under 
cultivation. He erected a comfortable frame 
house and stables, put up a modern wind- 
mill, made other improvements, and is now 
engaged in general farming and stock-raising. 

Mr. McFall was married in Mahaska 
County, Iowa, March 18, 1866, to Miss Isa- 
belle Skidmore, a lady of much intelligence, 
who was born in Franklin County, Ohio. 



Her father, James M. Skidmore, was also a 
native of Franklin County. Her grand- 
father, George Skidmore, was a native of 
Kentucky, a soldier in the war of 1812, and 
a captain in the Mexican war. Her moiher, 
Eunice (Hendricks) Skidmore, was born in 
Ohio, daughter of James and Elizabeth Hen- 
dricks. Mrs. McFall's parents located in 
Mahaska County, Iowa, when she was eight- 
een years old. They now live in Sheridan 
County, Kansas. They had nine children, 
two sons and seven daughters, Mrs. McFall 
being the seconl born. Our subject and his 
wife have threa children: Nonnon R., Cora 
L. and James B. They lost one child by 
death, Carlie, at the ago of two and a half 
years. 

Mr. McFall is a Ripublican. He is a 
member of Macedonia Post, G. A. R., and is 
associated with the Masonic fraternity, Mace- 
donia Lodge. He was made a Mason in Tol- 
eration Lodge, Mahaska County, in 1S75. 
Both he and his wife are worthy meinbers of 
the Methodist Episcopal Lone Star Church. 
Mr. McFall has served as Justice of the 
Peace. He is one of the liberal supporters 
of educational and religious movements, and 
is regarded by all who know him as an hon- 
orable and upright man. 

'" "fe ' S"> ' rt" '" 



P. WICKHAM, of the firm of Wick- 
ham Bros , contractors and builders, 
" of Council Bluffs, have their ofHce at 
the corner of Broad and Main streets. The 
firm was organized in 1867, and they have 
since done an extensive business, having 
erected many of the business blocks in this 
city. Among those they have erected are 
the Pottawattamie court-house, the Bennett 
block, Eisman's block, Deen & Wells build- 
ing. Keystone building. First & Broadway, 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



643 



and Bnrnham & Lulley's banks, J. J. Brown's 
building, Dodge building, the new Grand 
Hotel and Dahaney's Opera Block, which is 
one of the largest buildings in the city. Mr. 
Wickham has also built two fine residences 
for himself, the first being now owned by P. 
C. Duval, corner of Willow avenue and BluflF 
street, and his present residence on the cor- 
ner of Seventh street and Seventh avenue. 

He was born in October, 1845, in Antrim 
County, Ireland, the eon of Patrick and Celia 
(Pryor) Wickham. He was reared in his 
native country until twelve years of age, 
when he came to America with his parents. 
He went first to New Orleans, and then to 
St. Louis, where he remained a short time. 
He next came to Council Bluffs, where his 
parents died, and as soon as he reached his 
majority he engagee at brick and stone ma- 
sonry, which he has since followed. 

Mr. Wickham was married in this city, in 
1875, to Jennie Fenian, a native of Winne 
bago County, Illinois, born in 1852. They 
have a family ot six children: Angeline, 
Celia, George, Genevieve, Paul and Agnes. 
They are both members of the Catholic 
Church. Politically Mr. Wickham is a 
stanch Democrat, and is one of the charter 
members of the Building and Loan Associa- 
tion of Council Bluffs. 

->^*>^f-|^-~ 

fAMES SAINT, section 35, Waveland 
Township, is numbered among the early 
settlers and successful citizens of this 
part of Pottawattamie County, Iowa. Mr. 
Saint was born in Hamilton County, Ohio, 
ten miles from the mouth of the Little Miami 
River, October 27, 1830. His father, James 
Saint, Sr., was born in Massachusetts, a de- 
scendant of one of the Pilgi-ims who landed 
on Plymouth Rock. Mr. Saint had two 



uncles who served in the war of 1812, one 
being killed and the other wounded. These 
were brothers of his father. James Saint, 
Sr., married Jane Allen, a native of Penn 
sylvania. Her father, William Allen, was a 
relative of William Allen, ex-Governor of 
Ohio. To Mr. and Mrs. Saint five sons and 
five daughters were born, James being the 
sixth child. The father died in Ohio in 
1861. He had been a farmer all his life, and 
was a Republican. The mother is now 
eighty-five years old, and resides at Louis- 
ville, Kentucky. 

Mr. Saint spent his yonth on a farm in 
Hamilton County, Ohio, chopping wood, 
clearing land and doing other .farm work, 
and during the winter months got what edu- 
cation he could in the little log school-house. 
In 1858 he went to Pike's Peak in search of 
gold. Prom there he continued his way 
across the plains to California. After a 
sojourn of two years on the Pacific Coast he 
came back as far as Iowa, traveling on horse- 
back, and bringing with him a pack-horse. 
During the journey he camped out at night 
and did his own cooking. 

In 1861 Mr. Saint bought land in Potta- 
wattamie County, Iowa, but soon the war 
broke out and he entered the service of his 
country. He enlisted in Company I, Twenty- 
third Iowa Infantry, one of tiie best regi- 
ments that ever went to the front. Mr. 
Saint participated in many important en- 
gagements, among which we note the follow- 
ing: the battles of Port Gibson, Jackson, 
Mississippi, Champion Hill, Black River 
Bridge, the siege of Vicksburg, New Or- 
leans, the Red River expedition, and several 
others. He was honorably discharged at 
Harrisburg, Texas, after which he returned 
North. 

At the close of the war Mr. Saint located 
at Lewis, Cass County, Iowa, where lie 



641 



BIOGRAPHIC A L HISTOR 7. 



worked at the carpenter's trade for some 
time. In 1866 be married Miss Elizabeth 
Hamilton, a native of Ohio, and a daughter 
of James and Elizabetii (Long) Hamilton, 
also natives of Ohio. The year he was mar- 
ried Mr. Saint settled on a farm of 120 acres, 
where he now lives, being among the first 
settlers of the neighborhood. He is now the 
owner of 240 acres of well-improved land. 
He has a good frame house and large barn, 
30 X 45 feet. He also has other farm build- 
ings, a wind-mill and good fences. Mr. 
Saint gives his attention to general farming 
and stock-raising. He and his wife are the 
parents of five children, viz.: George, Will- 
iam, who is now attending college at Shenan- 
doah, Iowa; Inez, James and Earl. Mr. 
Saint is much interested in educational mat- 
ters, and is giving his children the benefit 
of a good education, so that tliej will be 
fitted to occupy useful positions in life. He 
is a Republican, and has served as Township 
Clerk. Is a member of the Masonic frater- 
nity, having been made a Maion in (3hio. 
Mrs. Saint and the three oldest children are 
members of the Christian Church. 



SKANK R. LEVIN was made Chief of 
the City Fire Department in April, 
1890, and has been a member of the 
order since its early history. He joined the 
Volunteer Fire Department in 1877, and was 
associated with it until 1884, when the city 
established the paid department. He was 
foreman of Rescue Engine Company, No. 3, 
for four years, and when the paid department 
was organized he was foreman of it until it 
was thoroughly established. 

Mr. Levin was born in Sweden, July 16, 
1854, son of John and Louisa Levin. His 
youth was spent in his native country, and 



in 1868 he came to America with his parents 
and settled in Council Bluffs. His father is 
living and resides in this city. Before comino' 
to the United States Mr. Levin spent one 
year learning the cigar trade, and after locat- 
ing here he was engaged in various pursuits 
for two years. Then he became associated 
with Filbert & Vaight. cigar manufacturers, 
with whom he remained two years. After 
being with Mr. Hubstine one year and with 
Mr. Daubaum for a time, he, in 1877, estab- 
lished a cigar manufactory of his own. He 
also opened a retail store, and since then has 
done an extensive business, turning out as 
many as a quarter of a million cigars in one 
year. This establishment is located at No. 
400 Broad street. In 1889 Mr. Levin also 
opera. ed a barber shop in connection with 
his cigar trade. He employs an average of 
four men in his factory and puts up a tirst- 
class line of goods. His oldest brand, the 
" Figaro," has been in use for ten years. 
Politically he has atBliated with the Repub- 
lican party until recently, but is now an in- 
dependent. He is a member of the following 
orders: A. F.& A. M., No. 71, Council Bluffs; 
A. A. S. R., Oriental of Iowa Valley, Council 
Bluffs, and R. A. No. 156. In the A. A. 
S. R. he officiates as one of the degree officers. 
Mr. Levin was married August 3, 1880, to 
MissCaroline Acton, a native of Den mark, born 
November 26, 1855. They have one child — 
Oscar. They hold to the faith of the Scandina- 
vian Baptist Church. 

■o^.. g . 3 .. ; . g . ^ 



fOHN H. GOULD, an enterprising and 
well-known early settler of Pottawatta- 
mie County, Iowa, and an ex-soldier of 
the late war, located in Waveland Township 
in 1866, when all this part of the State was 
new and wild. 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



645 



Mr. Gonld was born in Vermont, January 
15, 1811, son of Joseph and Susan (Haskin) 
Gonld, natives of the Mohawk Valley, New 
York. Both the Haskins and Goulds were 
Dutch. Grandfather Haskins was a soldier 
in the war of 1812. Josepli Gonld and wife 
reared a familv of four daughters and three 
sons. The mother was a Methodist, and in 
that faith reared her children. The father 
was a farmer all his life, and in his political 
views was a Democrat. His death occurred 
in Vermont 

John H., although reared on a farm, in 
early life showed himself to be a natural 
mechanic; could lay stone or brick, plaster, 
handle the broad-ax, and, in fact, could turn 
his hand to anything he chose. His educa- 
tion was obtained in the common schools of 
Vermont. For a time he was in New York 
State working on tlie Erie Canal, employed 
by Mr. Comstock, a prominent canal owner. 
He was in New York city during the great 
cholera epidemic in 1833. In 1835 he re- 
moved to Eureau County, Illinois, becoming 
one of the pioneer settlers of tiiat place. 
Tiiis was Ijefore the Black Hawk war. Mr. 
Gould was married in Bureau County, Janu- 
ary 29, 1846, to Martha Prunk, who was born 
in Virginia, daugliter of Daniel and Cather- 
ine Prunk. Mr. Prunk also settled in Bureau 
County before the Indian war. During tiie 
great Rebellion Mr. Gould served nine or ten 
months in the Ninety-third Illinois Infantry, 
Company E, his regiment being stationed in 
Missouri and other parts of the South. He 
was in several skirmishes but no battles. 

Mr. Gould resided in Bureau County, Illi- 
nois, until 1866, when he came to Pottawat- 
tamie County, Iowa, and bought land which 
WHS partly improved, and on which a log 
house had been built. He is now the owner 
of 214 acres of well improved land on section 
11, Waveland Townsiiip. He has a comfort- 



able house and other buildings on his farm. 
Mr. Gould has five children: Mary Magdaline 
Johnson, a widow, who resides with her 
father. Before her marriage she was a suc- 
cessful teacher. George W., of Willow Lake, 
South Dakota; Daniel W., a resident of Port- 
land, Oregon; Addison, who lives in Omaha, 
Nebraska; and Emma Catherine, wife of S. 
Solomon, "Waveland Township, Pottawattamie 
County. They lost one child, Madison, who 
died at the age of eighteen months. The 
great loss of Mr. Gould's life was in the death 
of his beloved wife. January 14, 1889. She 
was a devoted and loving wife and mother, 
atid a true Christian. Her church relations 
were with the Methodist. Mr. Gould is also 
a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
having been connected with it thirty-three 
years. His mother was a worthy member of 
the same for seventy-six years. Mr. Gonld 
has served as Sabbath-school Superintendent, 
and is a zealous Christian worker. His polit- 
ical views are in harmony with Democratic 
principles. He has ever been interested in 
educational matters, and has served the public 
as a member of the School Board, lie is 
associated with the G. A. R., Worthingtc^n 
Post, No. 9, Griswold, Iowa. Although past 
eighty he is a well preserved man. As an 
honored and upright citizen he has the re- 
spect ot all who know him. 

"-• % * i »' ! ' ^ '' '" 

LARKSON GODFREY.— Among the 

many successful citizens of Pottawatta- 
mie County, Iowa, we find the above- 
named gentleman, who by his own exertions 
has risen to a position of wealth and in- 
fluence. Mr. Godfrey was born ten miles 
west of La Fayette, in Tippecanoe County, 
Indiana, July 17, 1836. Elijah Godfrey, his 
father, was l)orn in Maryland, a smi nf Joseph 



646 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY 



Godfrey, wlio was of English ancestry. 
Elijali Godfrey was married in Ross County, 
Ohio, to Eleanor Davison, a native of that 
county, and a daughter of Frederick Davi- 
son. They subsequently moved to Tippeca- 
noe County, Indiana, making tiie trip on 
horseback and carrying some household 
goods and two children on pack-horses. 
They were among the early pioneers of that 
part of Indiana. Of the two sons and seven 
daughters born to them, the subject of this 
sketch was the fifth child. When he was 
fourteen years old his mother died. The 
father afterward moved to Warren County, 
Illinois, where he died al the age of eighty- 
two years. His whole life was spent on a 
farm. He was an honored and esteemed 
citizen, a member of the Republican party, 
and a believer in the Gospel. 

Clarkson Godfrey spent his youth on a 
frontier farm in Tippecanoe County, where 
he learned to clear land and do all kinds of 
farm work, and where he was educated in 
the common schools of the period. At the 
age of nineteen he went to Warren County, 
Illinois, where he engaged in farming until 
1873. In that year he came to Waveland 
Townshiji, Pottawattamie County, Iowa. 
During the war Mr. Godfrey entered the 
service of his country, enlisting in tlie spring 
of 1865 in the Forty-seventh Illinois Volun- 
teer Infantry. He was in the battles of 
Spanish Fort and Fort Blakely. At the 
close of the war he was honorably discharged 
and returned to Illinois. 

Mr. Godfrey was married in Warren 
County, Illinois, March 14, 1868, to Miss 
Ellen E. De Hart, a lady of education and 
culture and a successful and popular teacher. 
She WHS born in Brown County, Indiana, but 
was reared in Warren County, Illinois. 

In 1873, as already stated, Mr. Godfrey 
came to iiis present location. He first bouglit 



160 acres of wild land in section 19, Wave 
land Township, and be>.'ame one of the early 
settlers of the neighborhood. His efforts 
have been rewarded with prosperity. More 
land has been added to his first purchase, and 
he now owns 565 acres of well-improved 
land. Four hundred and forty acres are in 
a body in Waveland Township, and 125 acres 
are in Grove Township. He has three good 
tenant houses on his land, and his own house 
is a comfortable story-and-a-half frame cot- 
tage, pleasantly located on a natural building 
site. His home is surrounded by a grove 
and orchard of five acres. Other improve- 
ments on his farm are a good barn, 26 x 48 
feet, cattle sheds, feed lots, modern wind 
pump, etc. Mr. Godfrey is engaged in 
stock-raising, and is one of the most exten- 
sive farmers in the township, and it would 
be difficult to find a better large tract of land 
in the township than his. 

Mr. and Mrs. Godfrey have seven children: 
Maud, Isabelle, Franklin, Albert, Nellie, 
Ernest and Emma. They have lost three 
by death: their first bjrn, an infant son; 
Charlotte Jane, at the age of six months; 
and a baby girl. Mr Godfrey is a Republi- 
can, and has served the public as Township 
Trustee. He is a man in the prime of life, 
is well posted on the topics of the day, is out- 
spoken and affable in manner, and is regarded 
as one of the popular citizens of Waveland 
Township. Mrs. Godfrey is an active uiem- 
ber of the Evangelical Church, of which 
her husband is one of the most liberal 
supporters. 



.j^^g, ILLIAM QUICK, an enterprising and 
successful young farmer of Wright 
Township, has been a resident of 
Pottawattamie County, Iowa, since he was a 




OF POTT AW A rr AM IE COUNTY. 



647 



small boy. He was born in Ohio, in Au- 
gust, 1865, son of Jasper and Jane Quick, na- 
tives of Pennsylvania and Ohio, respectively. 
When quite young he came with his parents 
to Waveland Township, this county, where he 
grew up on a farm and received a limited 
education. He early learned habits of indus- 
try, honesty and perseverance — factors in a 
young man's character which will always in- 
sure success. His parents had eight children, 
three sons and five dauwliters, he bein^ the 
first born. For some time lie worked ont by 
the month. 

March 10, 1887, Mr. Quick married Eme- 
line Pierson, a native of Pottawattamie 
County, daughter of Granville and Elizabeth 
Pierson. Her father is an old settler of this 
county, and a veteran of the Mexican and 
civil wars. After his marriage Mr. Quick 
lived in Waveland Township one year. The 
farm on which he now lives, eighty acres on 
section 12, Wright Township, he purchased 
from E. a. Pierson. With his characteristic 
go-aheadativeness he set about improving the 
farm at once: finished the house, built stables, 
cribs, granary, made stock-lots and put up a 
modern wind-pump, besides many other im- 
provements in the way of fencing, etc. He 
is cultivating 320 acres, having rented a large 
tract of laud. He has sixty-live head of cat- 
tle, 100 hogs and four horses. Mr. Quick is 
a good judge of cattle and a successful 
breeder of the same. 

He and his wife have one daughter, Flor- 
ence May. 



fILLIAM STIDHAM is one of the 

well known early pioneers of Grove 

Township, having first come to this 

county when a lad, in 1847. 

He was born near Wilmincfton, Delaware, 
46 B ' 




February 18, 1837, the son of George David 
and Esther Stidha.n, both natives of Pennsyl- 
vania. He was only a babe when his parents 
moved to Fountain County, Indiana, and 
when he was seven years old his mother died. 
Then for a time he made his home with an 
uncle. His father was subsequently married, 
in Vermilion County, Illinois, to Susan Ann 
Winegar, by whom he had one daughter, now 
Mrs. Esther Williams, a widow of Grove 
Township. After his father's marriage Will- 
iam returned to him. Mr. Stidham came to 
Garden Grove, Iowa, with the Latter-Day 
Saints, in 1846, where he spent the winter, 
and the next season went to Salt Lake. He 
was a bold and fearless man. He loved new 
scenes, new country and plenty of game, and 
the adventurous life of the West was con- 
genial to his tastes, but he would not obey 
the Mormon laws. He was threatened with 
death if he continued to disregard their laws, 
so the next season, with two other families, 
he left Utah to return to Iowa. On his way 
back he met Brigham Young, to whom he 
told why and where he was going, but Mr. 
Young, seeing lie was in the vicinity of 
friends, did not offer to molest him. Upon 
his arrival in Iowa he located in Monroe 
County, where he remained two years. At 
the end of that time he came to Pottawatta- 
mie County and settled in Grove Township, 
where he spent the rest of his life, and died 
at the age of seventy-six years. Previous to 
his death he united with the Christian Church. 
In politics he was a Republican. His wife 
was a Methodist. She lived until 1889, and 
died at the home of her step-son, the subject 
of this sketch. 

William Stidham grew to manhood in this 
pioneer country, received a limited education 
in a log school-house, and early in life did 
farm work, breaking and clearing land. In 
1869 he went to California, going across the 



G48 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY 



plains with ox teams. He engaged in mining, 
prospecting, and ireighting goods, which at 
tliat time was a profitable bnsiness, and spent 
ten years on the Pacific coast, after which he 
returned to Iowa, and for two years lived in 
Grove Township, Pottawattamie County. 
Then he went to Big Horn River, the head of 
the Missouri, on a prospecting tour, lint the 
Indians were so troublesome, killing some of 
the men, that the search for minerals had to 
be abandoned, and the prospecting party re- 
turned to civilization. Mr. Stidham came 
back to his oltl home in Grove Township. 
Here he owns 186 acres of land, on section 
21, well watered, and comprising botli timber 
and prairie land. Tlie farm is well adapted 
for grain or stock. 

Mr. Stidham has in his make-up many of 
the characteristics of tlie Western pioneer. 
He is firm in his convictions of right and 
wrong, is plain in his speech and is frank and 
fearless in his manner. He has the confi- 
dence and respect of all who know him, 



►>4^ 



fAMES WICKHAM, of Council Bluffs, 
is a native of County Antrim, Ireland, 
and a son of Patrick and Sisela (Prior) 
Wickliam. James remained in his native 
country until 1855, when he came to Amer- 
ica, locating in New York City, where he 
joined his mother and two brothers, who had 
come to this country in 1854; the father and 
remainder of the family came via New Or- 
leans and joined the family at Council Bluffs. 
They had a family of ten children: Edward, 
deceased; Mary, wife of Martin Hughes, of 
Council Bluffs; James, our subject; Patrick, 
a resident of Montana; Bernhard, deceased; 
Thomas, deceased ; John, deceased; Francis, 
deceased; Owen P., a resident of this city, and 
Ann, deceased. The parents made their 



home in Council Bluff's until their death, the 
father dying in January, 1872, and the mother 
on March 4, 1889. 

Our subject was born January 12, 1837, 
and after attaining his majority commenced 
work for himself, having learned the stone 
and brick-mason's trade, at which he worked 
in the summer, and in the winter seasons 
turned his attention to anything that pre- 
sented itself. He commenced contracting and 
building in 1863, under tl.e firm name of 
Hughes & Wickham Bros., which paitner- 
ship continued until the former withdrew 
from the company, which then continued 
business under the name of James & O. P. 
Wickham. They do an immense amount of 
business, and are among the oldest contract- 
ors and builders in the city, tlie partnership 
having been established in 1865. They do 
an annual business of some $150,000, and 
employ about 200 men during the summer 
seasons. In 1888 Mr. James Wickham 
erected a handsome brick mansion on Frank- 
lin avenue, No. 400, at a cost of some $10,- 
000, where he and his family reside in peace 
and comfort. 

He was married, in June, 1859, to Mary 
Lacy, who was born in Ireland in 1835. She 
died in Council Bluff's November 9, 1867, 
and Mr. Wickham was then married, in Sep- 
tember, 1873, to Miss Bridget Keating, a 
native of Clare, Ireland, born February 2, 
1853. They have eleven children, namely: 
Bernhard P., Edward A., Kate, Nell, Jdhn, 
Anna, Veronica, James, Nora, Loretta and 
Leo. The family are members of the Catho- 
lic Church. 

E. A. Wickham, of the firm of Wickham 
& Co. composed of E. A. Wickham and J. E. 
Riley, have their office at 502 Broad Street, 
Council BInffs. They also have an office at 
4 and 5 Granite Block, Omaha, under the 
firm name of J. E. Riley & Co., and also an 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



649 



office at Denver, Colorado, in R')ijin 17, Gran- 
ite Buildine, also under tlie name of J. E. 
Kiley & Co. They are tlie leading contract- 
ors of public work, and do a i annual busi- 
ness of $550,000, employing about 400 men. 
They do business in Council I>luffs, Omaha, 
Jr'lattsmoutli, Burlington, Denver and Ne- 
braska City. They did their heaviest con- 
tracting in Denver in 1889-'90, amounting 
to $280,000. 

E. A. Wickham was born in Council Rlutt's, 
November 6, 1864, and was educated in the 
public schools of this city, and three years in 
the Benedictine College at Atchison, Kansas. 
In 1884, after completing his studies, he took 
charge of the busint^ss of Wickham Bros., as 
manager, which position he is still holding, 
but will withdraw in January, 1891. Polit- 
ically he is a stanch Democrat, and is associ- 
ated with the Catholic Church. He is also 
one of the Directors of the State Savings 
Bank of Council Bluffs, 

fL. TEMPLETON, Marshal of Council 
Bluffs, was elected to his present posi- 
* tion in March, 1890. She is a native 
of Missouri, born April 11, 1855, son of 
James M. Templeton. His parents came to 
Council Bluffs in 1863, where he was reared 
and educated in the public schools. While 
a youth he learned the cigar business, with 
which he has since been connected. In 1882 
he established a cigar manufactory and store, 
No. 550 West Broad Street. He carries a 
full line of manufacturers' supplies, and is 
doing a fine business. In 1871 he joined the 
city tire department, and was Chief of the 
same during the years 1882, '83 and '84 and 
also during 1887 and '88. He was one of 
the organizers of the paid tire department, 
and was the first Chief. Mr. Templeton has 



been considered one of the most successful 
chiefs of this order in the West. He is a 
member of the National Association of Fire 
Engineers, and was a delegate to the conven- 
tion of the same held in Detroit, Michigan, 
in 1890. He is also a member of the State 
Firemen's Association, being its Yice-presi- 
dent. Mr. Templeton is associated with the 
I. O. O. F., Hawkeye Lodge, No. 184. 
Politically he is a stanch Democrat and takes 
an active interest in political matters. When 
he was elected Marshal he received the 
largest majority ever cast in Council Bluffs. 
March 2, 1880, Mr. Templeton married 
Miss Ella Lamb, a native of Wisconsin. Her 
death occurred in November, 1882, at the 
age of twenty-four years. 

— -♦^■i ^ ' S n ;»| *-'-»* 



lOT HE WESTERN LUMBER AND 
SUPPLY COMPANY, of Council 
Bluffs, was established in 1888 by 
Jacob Martinson, Lewis Hammer and Ed 
Mott. In 1889 Mr. Mott withdrew. They 
first established with a cash capital of $35,- 
000, which was afterward increased to $45,- 
000. The annual amount of dues is $100,- 
000, wholesale and retail. They deal in all 
kinds of building material and deliver at any 
point The yards and office are at the corner 
of Third avenue and Thirteenth street, and 
are managed by Mr. L. Hammer. This 
gentleman is also interested in another lum- 
ber yard, at the corner of Second and Vine 
streets, under the firm name of L. Hammer 
& Co., established by them in 1867, with a 
cash capital of $25,000, afterward increased 
to $35,000. The annual amount of business 
there is $65,000, and the scope is the same as 
at the other place already mentioned. 

Lewis Hammer was born in Lorain County, 
Ohio, September 4, 1847, the son of Godfrey 



650 



BJOOBAPHICAL HISTORY 



and Catliarina (Dochtler) Hammer, and of 
German ancestry. Tlie parents both died in 
Ohio. Mr. Hammer, one of their six chil- 
dren, was reared in his native State, to farm 
life, and at the age of twentj-one struck out 
in the world for himself, tirst working at the 
carpenter's trade seven years, — two years in 
Ohio. In July, 1857, he came to Council 
Blufis and followed his trade here five years, 
when he engaged in the lumber trade, pur- 
chasing a saw-mill, which he operated two 
years. He furnished the first ties for the 
Union Pacific Railroad. The ties and lum- 
ber were ratted down tlie river to Omaha. 
After running that mill — located on the 
Bauyo River in Harrison County — two years, 
he came to Council Bluffs, wiiere he has since 
been engaged in the lumber trade. He is 
also carrying on farming and stock-raising 
extensively, under the firm name of Hammer 
& Wood. They have a farm of 2,500 acres, 
and rear high-grade cattle, horses and liogs; 
600 acres are under cultivation. The grazing 
lands are in Dawson County, Nebraska, on 
the Fort Kearney and Black Hill Railroad. 
Mr. Hammer has assisted largely in build- 
ing up Council Bluffs in all its interests, 
especially in the line of manufactories, etc. 
In 1859 he went by ox team to Pike's 
Peak, being on the road thirty days from 
Council Bluffs to Denver, and spent a year 
there. 

Politically he is a stanch Republican ; has 
been Alderman for the city two terms. He 
is a member of Council Bluffs Lodge, No. 
49, I. O. O. F.. in which he has passed the 
chairs; and he is also a member of the en- 
campment. He was married in March, 1869, 
to Rhoda A. Wood, daughter of T. K. and 
Deema (Mann) Wood, of Kentucky, where 
she was born in 1858; and four of their five 
children are living: Etta, wife of Henry 
Brier, of Council Bluffs; Lewis H.,at home; 



Elmer Arthur, deceased; Hazel J. and Bessie 
L., at home. 



VLk^MJ^*.^ 



IfHEODORE BRAY, proprietor of the 
Pacific Livery, Sale and Feed Stables, 
was born in Jersey City, New Jersey, 
February 19, 1841, the son of John and 
Eliza J. (Struble) Bray, of Irish and German 
origin. Was reared to farm life in Ids 
native State, educated at the public schools 
and in a private college at Deckertown, that 
State, graduating April 10, 1861. Four days 
afterward he enlisted in Company I, Harris' 
Light Cavalry, under General Kilpatrick, 
and served four years and nine days, being 
mustered out at Washington, District of 
Columbia. He was taken prisoner in the 
Shenandoah Valley, and nine days after this 
was exchanged ; but lie was again captured 
at luka, Mississippi, and was in [jrison eight 
months at Vicksburg. The principal battles 
in which he was engaged were those of Fair 
Oaks, Fairfax Court House, Corinth, Shiloh, 
Lookout Mountain, and skirmishes. 

After the war he spent a year in Chicago 
as foreman of a livery barn; then was a ye&v 
in the same business at St. Louis; and then 
ten months for himself at Rockford, Illinois. 
Selling out at the latter place, he came to 
Bowen, Iowa, where for one winter he ran a 
pack line. In August, 1877, he came to 
Council Bluffs, where he has since made his 
home. Here he first engaged in rnilroading 
on the Sioux City & Pacific line, contracting 
and making the first grade into Sioux City. 
Two years afterward he returned to Council 
Bluffs, and since then he has been engaged 
in the livery business, in which he gives 
general satisfaction and is doing a prosper- 
ous business, having now a stock of about 
thirty-five horses, with a good number of 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



651 



vehicles, etc. He is a Republican, and a 
member of Lodge No. 166, F. & A. M.; of 
Abraham Lincoln Post, G. A. R., and also of 
the Veteran Firemen's Associaticm, he beino; 
one of the charter members in 1868. 

He was married in 1866 to Cynthia A. 
Allen, at Hamilton, Canada, who was born 
in that province in 1843, and they have two 
children: Charles, enaajj-ed in real estate and 
loans in Omaha, but residing in Council 
Bluffs; and Nettie A., a graduate of 1890 
at the Sisters' School. The family are 
Catholics. 




T. COLE, proprietor of the Ogdeii 
Livery Stables, at No. 158 West 
I* Broad street, assumed control there 
in January, 1887, carrying now a stock of 
about $8,000. He also runs a line of car- 
riages, and supplies hearses for funerals. 
The first business of the kind he had here in 
Council Bluffs was as manager of the St. Joe 
Barn, from 1883 to 1886; and next he had 
control of the Rink Barn, which he ran in 
conjunction with the O^den establishment a 
year. He was born in Henry County, Iowa, 
in 1858, the son of Robert and Mary (Hut- 
ton) Cole, and of English origin. His father 
is dead, and his mother is living at Mount 
Pleasant, this State. His school education 
was completed at the Wesleyan University in 
that town. In 1869 he went to Hamilton 
County, this State, and opened up a farm of 
eiglity acres, and in 1881 he came to Council 
Bluffs, where he has since resided. He was 
als I engaged as collector and in other pur- 
suits until 1883, when he commenced in the 
livery business, as already stated. He pos- 
sesses a valuable patent wire-stretcher, for 
stretching all kinds of wire. He is an ener- 
getic business man. 



He was married in November, 1883, to 
Miss Anna Maxwell, of this county, svlio was 
born in Rock Island, Illinois; and they have 
one son, Robert, who was born in Ivlarch, 
1885. Mr. Cole is a Republican on national 
questions, is a member of the Royal Arcanum 
and Modern Woodmen societies, while Mrs. 
Cole is a member of the Baptist Church. 



■'•' 'i .'' l ** i 'if^ 



fOSEPH F. YOUNG, Jr., dealer in live- 
stock, Council Bluffs, was born in this 
city, June 2, 1868, the son of J. F. and 
Mary A. Young; was educated three years 
at the Western Iowa College here. At the 
age of fourteen he commenced handling live- 
stock for his father, and at eighteen years of 
age he entered into partnership with S. H. 
Buliard, and for a year was engaged with 
him in buying and shipping stock. Then he 
again entered partnership with his father, 
and was with him until June, 1890, when he 
once more commenced upon his own hook, 
and he is now doing an extensive business 
dealing in cattle and horses. He is a Re- 
publican in his political sympathies. For 
his wife he married. May 14, 1890, Miss Lil- 
lie B. Garner, who was born in this city, 
June 3, 1870. 



■ lEL STABLES, at the corner of Fourth 
i/W street and Fifth avenue. Council Bluffs, 
are managed by Mr. Fred Davis as 
livery, feed and sale stables. He carries a 
good stock and has an extensive business, 
keeping two large barns. He also deals 
some in real estate. He began here as pro- 
prietor of the Ogden Stables on Broadway 
for a year; next he was owner of stables on 
North First street for eighteen months; then 



653 



BIOGRAPHICAL aiHTOliT 



for two years cuiuJucted staliles on North 
Main street, and since 1888 lie has i)cen at 
his present place. 

lie has lieen a resident of the city since 
1863, having come here with his parents, 
William H. and Rebecca (Neal) Davis, from 
Oskaloosa, this State. His father is dead, 
wliile his mother is still a resident of this 
city. They are of Welsh and Irish extrac- 
tion. Mr. Davis was born in Peoria, Illinois, 
in May, 1853; was ilve years of age when 
the family removed to St. Joseph, Missouri, 
where they resided until 1861; then they 
moved to Oskaloosa, and thence to Council 
Bluffs. At the age of nineteen or twenty 
years he entered the employ of Thomas & 
Jackson, wholesale grocers, for something 
over two years in the house and a year as 
traveling salesman for them. Next he was 
traveling salesman' for Steele & Johnson two 
years, and finally engaged in the livery busi- 
ness, which he has since followed. He is a 
live, enterprising business man. Republican 
in his politics, and a member of the order of 
Modern Woodmen. 






»M. ELLIS & CO., architects, rooms 
243, 244 and 245, Merriam building, 
* Council Bluffs, and the main office in 
the Bee building, Omaha, is a company 
formed December, 1889, and consisting of F. 
M. Ellis, H. C. Cook and J. H. Kent. The 
office in Council Bluffs is under the super 
vision of H. C. Cook. Some of the prin- 
cipal buildings of Omaha and other cities 
have been erected by this firm, such as the 
Commercial National Bank, residence of 
H. W. Yates, Alfred Millard, lion. H. C. 
Clark's building, of Omaha, and the first 
Presbyterian Church of Council Bluffs; 



also the State Insane Asylum of New York, 
Nebraska, the McDonough County (Illinois) 
Asylum, the court-house at Lincoln, Ne- 
braska, Wesleyan University at Bartley, 
Nebraska, Grand Opera Houoe at Peoria, 
Illinoiti, opera house at Huron, Dakota, 
Opera House and Masonic Temple at Oska- 
loosa, Iowa, hotel at Waterloo, Iowa, and 
numerous other fine buildings at different 
points of the West and Central States. 

Mr. Cook came to Council Bluffs in De- 
cember, 1889, where the branch office was 
formed. Previous to his comincr to Council 

o 

Bluffs he was located in Omaha, Nebraska, 
where he had been five years. He was a 
student of H. P. Sedding, of London, Eng- 
land, in architectural work. After having 
completed his schooling he went to Rome, 
where he did his first work. He also trav- 
eled through Italy and France, in the pursuit 
of his studies, after which he returned to 
London, England, where he remained but a 
short time. In 1875 he came to America, 
locating at Boston, Massachusetts, where he 
was engaged at his trade, and in 1884 he 
removed to Kansas City, where he sjjent one 
year. In 1885 he came to Omaha, Nebraska. 
His entire life has been devoted to his busi- 
ness, having entered the study of architecture 
at the age of fifteen. 

lie is a native of Boston, Massachusetts 
born in 1851, the son of Edward and Mary 
(Howard) Cook, of English ancestry. He 
was married in November, 1874, to Miss 
Elizabeth Founton, daughter of Joseph 
Founton, a native of France. They arc the 
parents of five children: Edward, Will- 
iam, Mary, John, Frank, all at home. Mr. 
Cook is a member of the Royal Arcanum, 
the Modern Woodmen and the A. F. & A. 
M. The family are prominent members of 
the Methodist Episcopal Church, Mr. Cook 
being President of the M. M. A., a society 



OF r()TTAWATTAM[E COUNTY. 



653 



of the same clinrcli, and is one of the rising 
business men of the city of Council Bluffs. 



fOHN EVANS, of Garner Township, 
section 6, is one of tiie well-known and 
early settlers of Pottawattamie County. 
He was born in Wales, June 14, 1844, and 
came to this country in 1856. (For parents, 
emigration, etc., sea sketch of Joseph Evans.) 
He passed his youth engaged in farming, 
wliich occupation he has always followed. 
His first purchase was his present farm, 
where he has lived for many years. He has 
145 acres of Pottawattamie Creek land, where 
he is engaged in general farming, stock-rais- 
ing and gardening, five miles frOra the city 
limits of Council Bluffs. He is a man yet 
in the prime of life, frank and cordial in his 
manner, honorable in his business, and is one 
of tlie enterprising citizens of Garner Town- 
ship. Politically he is independent. 

He was married in Pottawattamie County, 
October 10. 1866, to Miss Sarah Reece, who 
was l)orn in Wales, the daughter of John and 
Mary (Davis) Reece, also natives of Wales. 
The father died in Council Bluffs in 1875, 
and the mother in Garner Township in 1866. 
Mr. and Mrs. Evans have six children, viz.: 
Mary, wife of William Strang, of Council 
Bluffs; Margaret, Francis, Sadie, John and 
Eva. The family are memlters of the Re- 
organize! Churcli of tiie Latter- Day Saints, 
of which Mr. Evans is a Priest. 



SORRIS HOUGH, of Hazel Dell 
Township, is the son of Riley and 
^&^^ Sedelia Hough, was born in Lee 
County, Iowa, April 20, 1843, and was but 
live years of age when his parents emigrated 




to i'otta vattanie County, where he has since 
made his home. He has therefore been 
broucrlit up to farm life. He made his home 
with his parents most of the time until he 
was twenty-six years of age, excepting three 
summer seasons spent in freighting from 
Council Bluffs to Denver. 

He was married April 25, 1869, to Sai-ah 
Hall, daughter of A. J. and Nancy Hall. 
Mrs. Hough was born in Lee County, Iowa, 
May 31, 1847. They have had seven chil- 
dren, namely: (Charles A., Lee J., Richard 
M., David M., Samuel A., Oscar H. and 
Ernest W. After his marriage Mr. Hough 
came to the farm where he now resides, then 
comprising eighty acres of unimproved land 
on section 3, Hazel Dell Township; and here, 
where there was nothing but prairie grass, 
he and his new bride began life's journey 
together, and here they have steadily resided 
for twenty-one years. In the meantime he 
had added to his estate, until he now has 320 
acres in one body, on sections 2, 3, 10 and 
11, Hazel Dell Township, and twenty acres 
in section 5, and 160 in Neola Township. 
He first erected a small frame, 14 x 16 feet, 
in which he commenced life and which he 
occupied until 1882, when he erected his 
present handsome frame residence, 16 x 28 
and 16x20, one of the neatest houses in this 
part of the country. He has of course also 
good barns for stock and grain, as general 
farming and stock-raising is his business. 
He takes special interest in introducing the 
better grades. Of cattle he has the short- 
horn breeds. He was instrumental in having 
brought to the county one of the finest im- 
ported Clydesdale horses — -Napeau byname — 
which he keeps upon his farm. He was sired 
by Prince Harold, and is a splendid specimen 
of the horse genus. Mr. Hough stands in 
the front ranks as a progressive and prosper- 
ous farmer and stock-raiser of Pottawattamie 



()-|4 



blOORAPli ICA L HISTORY 



County. He is a decided Democrat; lias 
been Township Trustee, member of the School 
Board, and is now a member of the Farmers' 
Alliance. 



\ENRY F. PLUME R, a farmer of Lewis 
Township, is a native of Hanover, Ger- 
many, born October 8, 1828, the son of 
John H. and Mary Plnmer. The parents 
came to America in the year 1830, locating 
in what was then Cole Contity, now Moniteau 
County, Missouri, and then removed to Mills 
County, Iowa, where their death occurred — 
the mother's in December, 1862, and the 
father's in April, 1885. The war record of 
Mr. Plumor's father is something to be re- 
membered by his children, as six years was 
spent in the English army. He was in the 
famous battle of Waterloo, and served in the 
French revolution under the Duke of Well- 
ington. They had a family of six children, 
viz.: Caroline, deceased; Sophia, wife of Wm. 
Saar, of Mills County, Iowa; Henry F., the 
subject of this sketch; Frederick, residing in 
Kansas; William, residing in Pottawattamie 
County, and Christopher, residing in Mills 
County, Iowa. 

Henry F. Plumer, our subject, was reared 
to farm life, and received his limited educa- 
tion in the schools of German}- and this 
country, but by close application he has se- 
cured a practical education. When he was 
twelve years of age he came to America with 
his parents, and since that time lie has made 
his home in Missouri and Iowa. When he 
was about twenty-one years of age lie com- 
menced to work for himself 

Mr. Plumer was married August 20, 1849, 
to Miss Sophia Kinning, who was born in 
Mercer County, Ohio, October 12, 1835, the 
daughter of John H. and Mary (Meyer) Kin- 



ning. natives of Hanover, Germany, who came 
to America in 1829. The mother died in 
Missouri about the year 1843. They had three 
children: Henry, who died in the army at 
Jefferson Barracks, after having served two 
years; Sophia and Augusta. 

After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Plumer 
located in Missouri for two years, after which 
they came to Iowa, locating in Pottawattamie 
County. They made a purchase of a claim 
from a man named Huston, for $250, who 
had made fine improvements, and as soon as 
the land came into market he purchased it 
from the Government. Mr. Plumer made a 
pre-emption of 160 acres on section 25, 
Lewis Township, where he erected a small log 
house, 18x20 feet, in which he made his 
home for some time. In 1861 he erected a 
frame residence, 18 x 38 feet, and in 1880 
built an addition. He has a pleasant home 
surrounded with shade and ornamental trees, 
and everything bespeaks thrift, energy and 
prosperity. He has added to his first pur- 
chase until he now owns 1,200 acres of as 
good land as lies in Pottawattamie County, 
Lewis Township and Keg Creek, and he also 
has 840 acres in Woodbury County, Bremner 
Township, and 1,280 acres in Ellis County, 
Kansas. He has always devoted himself to 
farming and stock-raising, buying, shipping, 
etc., in which he deals quite extensively. In 
1870 he erected the Crystal Mills of Council 
Bluffs, which he disposed of to Thomas Evans. 
Mr. Plumer is a good example of what a man 
can accomplish who starts with nothing but 
pluck and energy, as he started with com- 
paratively nothing, but by good management 
amassed a handsome competency. He has 
been a public benefactor in various ways to 
the community at large. They are worthy 
members of the Evangelical Church, and do- 
nated the land to the society upon which to 
build the church, and also assisted largely in 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



655 



its constructicn. Politically Mr. Plumer is 
a Democrat, and is a strong advocate of law 
and order, and strives to promote tlie best 
interests of the cominiiuity in general. Mr. 
and Mrs. Plumer have twelve children living, 
namely: Mary J., wife of Fred Spetman, of 
Omaha, Nehraska; John, residing in Council 
Bluffs; William, of Woodbury County, Iowa'; 
Emeline, wife of Fred Ludick, of Woodbury 
County; Josephine, at home; Ferdinand, of 
Woodbury County; Edward, at home; Cor- 
nelius; Oscar; Augusta, deceased; Thomas, 
at home; Laura, Plenry, and an infant daugh- 
ter deceased. Mr. Plumer has given quite 
generously to his children as they grew to 
manhood and womanhood, helping them to 
make a start for themselves in life. 

— — ^^-^^i^— 




IILLIAM II. DIAL, a farmer of Hazel 
Dell Township, is a native of Cabell 
County, West Virginia, born Sep- 
tember 21, 1833, the son of George and Ma- 
tilda (Stoakes) Dial, natives of North Carolina 
and Virginia respectively. 

They were married in Virginia, where they 
resided a few years, and then moved to Mis- 
souri, where Mrs. Dial died in 1844. They 
had five children, namely: John E., deceased 
in 1848; William H., our subject; Mary, a 
resident of Oregon; Rebecca, deceased in 
1843; and Francis Marion, a resident of Ore- 
gon. In 1847 Mr. Dial was again married, 
in Taylor County, Iowa, to Rachel Husbands, 
and they had two children: Thomas J. and 
Martha. His wife died, and he was aeain 
married, to Mrs. Wilson. He afterward went 
to his son's, where he died. He was a farmer 
by occupation. 

William H. Dial, our subject, was but two 
years of age when his parents removed to 
Platte County, Missouri, and then to Andrew 



County, where he was raised to the life of a 
farmer. His education was received by 
studying during his leisure moments, and by 
observation; on account of living on the 
frotitier he was deprived of the advantages of 
schooling. When he was fourteen years of 
age, in 1847, they removed to Taylor County, 
in a wild and unsettled territory inhabited by 
wolves and Indians. This was the second 
time he was thrown on the frontier, but he 
again went to work and assisted in opening 
up the country. Here they endured njany 
hardships and privations, such as are incident 
to pioneer life, making their home in a log 
cal)in of that day, which had no windows, 
and they did their cooking at the wide, old- 
fashioned fire-place. In 1863 he came to 
Pottawattamie County, and spent the first 
winter east of Council Bluffs, and then moved 
to the vicinity where he now lives. He first 
rented a farm of raw prairie land for seven 
years of William Garner, but in 1870 he 
purchased a tract of forty acres of the Rock 
Island Railroad Company on section 25, Hazel 
Dell Township, which was also raw prairie 
land. In June, 1871, he removed to his 
])resent farm, where he erected a residence 
26x14 and 16,xl2, one and a half stories 
high. He has added to his farm at different 
times, until he now possesses 120 acres of 
the best stock land in the county, and ten 
acres of timber land on section 17, Hazel 
Dell Township. He also has property in 
Weston, where he has resided since February 
17, 18yO. He has always turned his atten- 
tion to farming and stock-raising, and also 
has a fine orchard on his farm, and one of 
the finest plum orchards in this section of 
the county. 

In his political views Mr. Llial has always 
been a stanch Democrat, taking an active part 
in all political work of his county and State. 
He has represented his Township as a mem- 



656 



BIOORAPHTCAL BISTORT 



ber of the School Board, Road Supervisor, 
and is now acting as Justice of the Peace. 

Mr. Dial was married December 4, 1852, 
to Mirtha A.nii Campbell, who was born in 
Kentucky, and the daughter of Isaac and 
Mary A. (Parker) Will. They have seven 
children, namely: John I., a resident of Gar- 
ner Township; Mary E., wife of John Garner, 
residing in Garner Township; Margaret A., 
wife of Mr. Price, residing in California; 
William Vallanding, deceased; Amanda, de- 
ceased; Russell F., residing in Hazel Dell 
Township on tiie old home farm; Georgia 
M., the widow of William A. Moore. Mr. 
Dial is a self-made man, having risen to his 
present position by pluck and perseverance, 
and he now stands among the well-to-do citi- 
zens of the county. 



+^' 



fj. HARTWELL, a business man of 
Oakland, was born in Rockford, lUi- 
_- * nois, February 24, 1855, the son of 
George and Chloe (Dodge) Hart well, the 
father a native of Pennsylvania and the 
mother of New York. The senior Hartwell 
was a millwright by trade, lived near Janes- 
ville, Wisconsin, some time, and was married 
there. After that he moved to Rockford, 
Illinois, and thence to Muscatine, Iowa, 
where he bought a farm and erected a mill. 
Finally he went to Marshalltown to repair a 
mill, and there by accident met his death, at 
the age of forty-four years, leaving a wife 
and six children, namely: George W., now 
residing at Lincoln, Missouri; Helen, wife 
of George W. Welsh and residing at Boone, 
Iowa; T. J., the subject of this sketch; San- 
ford, editor of the News; Charles and Har- 
din, residents of Marshalltown. 

T. J., the third child in the above men- 
tioned family, at the age of thirteen years 



began to learn the trade of tinner. His 
mother, being left a widow, lost what money 
she had, and the education she gave her 
children was therefore very limited, and the 
boys were placed out early to learn some 
trade. Thus by industry and economy they 
have won for themselves a comfortable home 
in Marshalltown, where she and two of her 
sons reside. After completing iiis terra of 
apprenticeship. Mr. Hartwell spent a year 
in Des Moines; then was in several places; 
spent four years at Malc<»lm; after that he 
sold fruit trees and was in other employments 
until he came to Carson, Pottawattamie 
County, engaging in trade in agricultural 
implements, grain and coal. February 21, 
1884, two years after he came to Carson, he 
married a lady whose parents first emigrated 
to Illinois, settling upon a farm, and tinally 
came to this county and settled near Carson, 
where the father about live years ago was ac- 
cidentally killed, leaving his wife and three 
daucrhters: Annie, wife of F. S. Coy, of Cen- 
ter Township; Libbie G. is the next, and 
Allie, a resident at home. Mrs. Hartwell 
was born in Illinois, August 16, 1863, and 
was brought up as a farmer's daughter. At 
length Mr. Hartwell disposed of his business 
at Carson and came to Oakland, buying his 
present establishment, where he is carrying 
on the same trade, in two large warerooms 
and a nice office adjoining. Here he has a 
large stock of farming implements, farm ma- 
chines and apparatus of all kinds, also an 
extra repository for wagons, buggies, etc. 
He also deals to some extent in seeds for the 
farm. His gross income amounts to about 
$20,000 a year. The conduct of his business 
has been such as to win for him many friends, 
and favor among all his patrons. He is a 
fixed Democrat, being chairman of a central 
committee. He has been Assessor of his 
township two years, Recorder for a period, 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



657 



and is now Mayor of the city, where he takes 
great interest in building up the material in- 
terests and moral standing of the commu- 
nity. He is a member of Oakland Ark, No. 
335, F. & A. M., also of Lodge No. 442 of 
1. O. O. F., at tlie same place, and of the 
lodge of the Daughters of Rebekah. Ilis 
two children are: Lottie Ghloe, born Decem- 
ber 26, 1884, and Katie May, born August 
16, 1886. 

fAMES B. FOSTER came to Wright 
Township, Pottawattamie County, Iowa, 
in 1880. He was born in Pike County, 
Ohio, April 8, 1858, a son of Andrew and 
Martha (Humphreys) Foster, both natives of 
that place. The Fosters are of English an- 
cestry. The six children born to Andrew 
Foster and wife are as follows: Hannah, 
James B., David, Nancy, Samuel and Jenny. 
When James B. was fourteen years old his 
mother died. She was a member of the Free- 
Will Baptist Church. The father is now 
seventy years of age and still resides in Pike 
County, Ohio. 

James B. received a common-school educa- 
tion and was reared in his native county. At 
the age of twenty-two years he came West 
and settled in Iowa. He remained two 
months in the eastern part of the State, after 
which he came to Wright Township, Potta- 
wattamie County. For two years he worked 
for James Boiler, a relative of his. Then he 
purchased his present farm of eighty acres, 
which at that time was wild land. Fifty acres 
of it. however, had been broken. He selected 
a natural building site on which he erected a 
story and a half frame house, and, surrounded 
as it is with shade trees, it makes a comfort- 
able and attractive home. Mr. Foster has 
also made other improvements in the way of 
stables, other buildings and good fences. 



He was married January 30, 1882, to Miss 
Agnes Wimpenny,a native of Racine County, 
Wisconsin, and a daughter of Joseph Wim- 
pennj', a native of England. Her mother 
was born in Edinl)urg, Scotland. Joseph 
Wimpenny, a weaver by trade, was for many 
years foreman of the mills at Burlington, 
Wisconsin. Mrs. Foster was reared and ed- 
ucated in her native county. She and her 
husband have three children, viz.: Grace 
Mabel, Charlie Joseph and Roy. Mr. Foster 
is in the prime of life, has a good physique, 
is frank and cordial in his manner, and is re- 
spected by all who know him. His political 
views are in harmony with Democratic prin- 
ciples. Mrs. Foster is a member of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church. 

~'" "| ' S i' S * |" "-*°' 



^ A. HATSWELL is one of the prom- 
Mffi inent and successful stock-dealers of 
^5^" Pottawattamie County, Iowa. He 
came here in the spring of 1881, and has 
since made Grove Township his home. 

Mr. Hatswell was born in Iowa County, 
Wisconsin, June 8, 1858, son of John and 
Mary (Collard) Hatswell, both natives of 
England. His father settled in Wisconsin in 
1849. L. A. spent his boyhood days in Iowa 
County and when in his 'teens came with his 
parents to the State of Iowa and located 
in Montgomery County, where he grew to 
manhood. He received his education in the 
public schools, and was reared to the stock 
business from his youth up. 

In 1881 he came to his present location 
and purchased eighty acres of wild land, to 
which he afterward added 160 acres more, 
making 240 in one body, in section 26. This 
farm is now well improved, having a good 
frame house, two barns, cribs, yards, wind- 
mill, feed-lots, and other modern convenien- 



658 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORT 



ces. One of" the barns is 26x30 feet, and 
the other, whicli was built in 1890, is 36x48 
feet, with sixteen-feet posts, and with a rock 
basement. Mr. Hatswell also owns 103 acres 
of improved land in section 19. Last year 
he raised some 4,000 bushels of corn, feeding 
a large amount of it to his stock, having 
about 200 head of cattle and 300 liogs. He 
deals extensively in cattle, buying, feeding, 
shipping and selling, and has been very suc- 
cessful in his business undertakings. At 
difterent times he has been in partnership 
with William Lewis, in shipping stock. Mr. 
Hatswell is a Republican. He is a gentle- 
man of integrity and is frank and cordial in 
his manner. Although comparatively a joung 
man he is numbered financially, socially, 
and politically, among the enterprising and 
successful business men of Grove Township. 



■■ ^ ■ 2 " S ' | """ - 

fAMES F. CON KLIN, a successful farmer 
of Wright Township, came to his present 
location in 1877. He is a native of the 
Buckeye State, born in Belmont County, No- 
vember 1,1843. His father,J.D.Conklin, was 
born in Morris County, New Jersey, a son of 
Benjamin Conklin, who was of Scotch-Irish 
extraction. J. D. Conklin was married in 
Belmont County, Ohio, to Elizabeth Hill, a 
native of that State. The Hills are of Ger- 
man descent, but many generations of the 
family have been residents of Pennsylvania 
and Ohio. When the subject of this sketch 
was four years old his parents moved to War- 
ren County, Illinois, where they lived until 
1877. In that year they came to Iowa and 
located in Wright Township, Pottawattamie 
County, where the father died July 21, 1888. 
He was a mechanic, brick-layer and plasterer, 
having learned his trade in I^ew York city. 
In later life he turned his attention to agri- 



cultural pursuits. He was a Republican and 
a Methodist. While in Illinois he was licensed 
to exhort in the Methodist Church, and was 
a zealous worker in the cause of his Master. 
He and his wife reared a family of nine 
children, four sons and five daughters. Mrs. 
Conklin is still living, and makes her home 
with her children. 

James F. was brought up on the farm, 
educated in the public schools, and early in 
life was taught lessons of honesty and frugal- 
ity. Having arrived at manhood, he was 
married at Lewis, Cass County, Iowa, to 
Nelly Graham, daughter of Christie and 
Elizabeth Graham, the father a native of 
Ohio, and the mother of Wisconsin. Mrs. 
Conklin was born in Wisconsin, and at the 
age of thirteen years came with her parents 
to Iowa, locating in Pottawattamie County, 
where they still reside. Mr. and Mrs. Conk- 
lin have six children: Fanny. Laura, Roscoe, 
William, EInora and Minnie. They lost two 
infant sons. In politics Mr. Conklin is a 
Republican. He and his wife are consistent 
members of the Asbury Methodist Episcopal 
Church, and he has served as class-leader. 
They are also Sabbath-school members. Mr. 
Conklin owns 145 acres of well-improved 
land, and is engaged in general farming and 
stock-raising. He is a man of broad and 
progressive views, and is regarded as an up- 
right and honorable citizen. 

' S ' ^"^ ' S' * " ' 




ILLIAM SIDENER came to Wright 
^ Township, Pottawattamie County, 

1^=^^ ill 1880, and has since made his 
home here. Mr. Sidener was born in St. 
Joseph County, Michigan, December 2, 1838. 
His father, Jacob Sidener, was born in Fay- 
ette County, Ohio, and his grandfather, 
Nicholas Sidener, was a native of Kentucky, 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



659 



tlie Sideners being of German ancestry. 
Jacob Sidener married Sarah Fox, who was 
born in Fayette County, Ohio, a daughter of 
Andrew and Sarah Fox, natives of Pennsyl- 
vania, and of Pennsylvania Dutch ancestry. 
Both Mr. Sidener and his wife were reared 
in Ohio. Some time after their marriage 
they emigrated to St. Joseph County, Michi- 
gan, where they became pioneers. He en- 
tered a tract of Government land, and atone 
time owned 360 acres. They spent the re- 
mainder of their lives in St. Joseph County, 
the mother dying at the age of thirty-eight, 
when her son William was about fifteen or 
sixteen years old. The father died at the age 
of sixty-seven years. He was a farmer and 
a stock-raiser and dealer, and his prosperity 
in life was due to his own well directed 
efforts. Politically he was a Republican, 
formerly a Whig. He was a member of the 
Methodist Church, and an active and zealous 
worker in the cause of Christ. This worthy 
couple reared six children, William being 
the oldest of the fatnily. Joseph, the second 
son, was a member of the Forty-first Iowa 
Infantry, and was killed at the battle of 
Shiloh. 

The subject of this sketch was reared on 
his father's farm in Michigan. Arriving at 
tlie age of manhood, he was united in mar- 
riage, in Lagrange County, Indiana, January 
8, 1857, to Miss Catherine Roat, a native of 
New York State, daughter of William and 
Emma (Smith) Roat. Her father was born 
and reared in jS"ew York State, and died 
there at the age of forty-eight years, and her 
mother died in Lagrange County, Indiana, at 
about the same age. They reared a family 
of four sons and five daughters, Mrs. Sidener 
being the fourth born. 

In 1859 the subject of this sketch and his 
wife removed to La Fayette, Illinois, where 
they resided until 1880. In that year they 



came to this county, and he bought his pres- 
ent farm of Abel Gifford, who had improved 
it. It consists of 160 acres, has a good 
frame house and other farm buildings, and 
all the surroundings are in a flourishincr con- 
dition. The school-house in District No. 9 
is situated on the southwest corner of the 
farm, and the Asbury Church is only sixty 
rods east of Mr. Sidener's residence; so he 
is in close proximity to both school and 
church privileges. He is engaged in general 
farming and stock-raising. Mr. Sidener and 
wife have three children, viz.: Ida B., Estella 
May, wife of Fremont Dewitt, Wright Town- 
ship, and Arthur G. They have three de- 
ceased: Roxelania, at the age of three years, 
and two who died in infancy. 

Mr. Sidener's political vit ws are in har- 
mony with Republican principles. He and 
his wife and daughter Ida are members of 
the Asbury Methodist Episcopal Church. 
He is a man who has had much experience 
in the world, has traveled extensively, and is 
well informed on all general topics. He is 
a trustee of the church of which he is a 
member, and takes an active interest in re- 
ligious and educational matters. 



I^ENJAMIN G. HARDING, farmer at 
Crebcent City, was born in Greeu 
County, Kentucky, December 20, 1820, 
son of Payne and Matilda (Reed) Harding, 
natives of that State but of Virginia ances- 
try, and farmers. The parents moved from 
Kentucky to Hendricks County, Indiana, 
where they remained fourteen years, clearing 
two farms. The mother dying there, the 
father moved to Linn County, Iowa, bought 
a farm on Cedar River and commenced im- 
proving it; and in December, 1859, married 
Mary Reynolds. Several years afterward he 



(160 



BIOGRAPUIUAL UI8TURT 



disposed of tliat property and purchased a 
farm in Decatur County, this State, and 
moved upon it, but shortly left that and set- 
tled in Chariton County, Missouri, where his 
second wife died. After residing there ten 
years he sold and came to live with his son, 
our present subject, and died March 22, 1883, 
at the age of eighty-three years. He had 
eight children, namely: Sarah and Elizabeth, 
deceased; Benjamin G., the third born; 
Emily, wife of James Kirk, of Missouri; 
Rowanna, deceased; Mary Ann, now the wife 
of George Daugherty, of Iowa; and Martha 
and Samuel, also both deceased. 

Benjamin, brought up to farm life, left 
home at the age of twenty years and began 
life for himself by raising live-stock exten- 
bively and successfully. In live years he 
sold out and moved to Decatur County, 
Iowa, and bought ninety acres of unimproved 
laud, lived upon it four years and was mar- 
ried there. He then located in Crescent City 
and engaged in farming and buying cattle, 
and turning them to sell to emigrants. This 
he followed for nine years and then bought 
forty acres of partly improved land on sec- 
tion 13, and this he has made a comfortable 
home. He erected a frame house twenty- 
ei^ht feet square and one and a half stories 
hiffh, the usual farm buildings, and planted 
a tine grove and orchard, etc., and the prem- 
ises denote thrift and prosperity. He has 
added to his farm until he now has 210 acres 
of tine land, of which 100 acres are in culti- 
vation; fifty acres are in Hazel Dell Town- 
ship. He has experienced many of the hard- 
ships of pioneer life, commencing with 
nothing, but iias faced them bravely and won 
success. 

Politically he is a stanch Democrat and 
takes great interest in the public affairs of 
the town and county. He has held various 
township othces; is a lover of law and order; 



a member of the M. P. Society of Crescent 
City, of which lie is usually the spokesman, 
being deeply interested in tlie work. He and 
his wife are members of the Church of Lat- 
ter-Day Saints, of which he is an ordained 
elder; and he has officiated as pastor of the 
Crescent City and other congregations of this 
faith in the vicinity for twenty years. He 
is a representative citizen and farmer of this 
county, and has many friends. 

February 19, 1857, he married Elizabeth 
Ann, daughter of Elsa and Mary (Hall) Has- 
kins, natives respectively of Virginia and 
Kentucky, who in 1838 moved to Missouri 
and afterward came to Crescent City, where 
they bothdied, he at the age of seventy-seven 
years and she at seventy-eight, spending her 
last days at the residence of Mr. Harding. 
Mr. and Mrs. Harding's children are ten in 
number, namely: Samuel P., at Crescent 
City; Oliver, in Crescent Township; Emma, 
wife of Charles Sapworth of Hazel Dell 
Township; Olive May and Jason, at home: 
George Jackson, at Council Bluffs; Don Car- 
los, Pearl, diaries and Mary ,all at home. 
There are also two grandchildren, whom they 
are bringing up, named Myrtle M. and Wil- 
liam B. 

— ^'V^'^*"-^ — 

EORGE W. PECK was born in Essex 
County, New York, January 18, 1852, 
a son of Scott and Betsey (Chamberlin) 
Peck, the former a native of Ohio and the 
latter of Vermont. His maternal grand- 
father was of German descent. Mr. Peck's 
parents were married in Essex County. In 
1863 the family moved from New York to 
Ogle County, Illinois, where George W. 
grew to manhood. Ilis education was ob- 
tained iu the common schools of his native 
county and in Illinois, and he was early 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



661 



taught industry, economy and -honesty. To 
his early training is due much of his success 
in after life. In 1875 he started West tc 
make his way in the world, coming with a 
team to Montgomery County, Iowa, where he 
settled. For several seasons he rented land, 
but afterward purchased forty acres in sec- 
tion 10, Grove Township, Pottawattamie 
County. After keeping it two years he sold 
it and bought another farm, in company with 
R. H. Barr. Two years later he sold out to 
Mr. Barr, and bouglit 120 acres of Mr. T. S. 
McAlhing, which he still owns and on which 
he lives. It is now under a good state of 
cultivation, is well fenced and divided into 
fields. Mr. Peck is extensively engaged in 
feeding stock, keeping an average of one hun- 
dred head of cattle and a large number of 
hogs. 

Mr. Peck was married in Grove Township. 
January 2, 1876, to Miss Ella Barr. She 
was born in Massachusetts and lived there 
until twelve years of age, when she came to 
Ogle County, Illinois. She is a lady of in- 
telligence and refinement and was before her 
marriage a successful teacher. Her father, 
E. H. Barr, is a resident of Grove Town- 
siiip. Mr. and Mrs. Peck have five children, 
viz.: Walter Frank, Ida E., Ethel Clara, Dor- 
cas Bessie and an infant sen. They lost their 
second child, Cora, who died at the age of 
eight years. Politically Mr. Peck is a Re- 
publican. He and his wife are both mem- 
bers of the Evangelical Church, of which he 
is a trustee. He is an active worker in the 
church and Sabbath-school, being superin- 
tendent of the latter. He is also interested 
in educational matters and anything tending 
toward the advancement of the community 
where he resides. 

Mr. Peck's father is a resident of York, 
Nebraska. His mother died in York County, 
that State, in 1888, at the home of her son. 



where she had gone on a visit with the hope 
of regaining her health. 



►4wH 



rnOMAS J. JOHNS came to this 
county in 1863, and has since made it 
W his home. He was born in Polk 
County, Iowa, August 26, 1852. He is a 
son of Peter S. Johns, one of the early set- 
tlers of Polk County, and nee Sarah Fisher, 
his wife. In 1863 the parents catne to Pot- 
tawattamie County, and settled in Belknap 
Township, where the father rented land for 
some time. During the Rebellion he was 
one of the Iowa soldiers. From exposure in 
the war he contracted a chronic disease, and 
died from its effects about the year 1865. He 
left a wife arid six children, five of whom are 
now living, viz.: Angeline, wife of M. S. 
Gillespie, Valley Township; Thomas J., the 
subject of this sketch; Menton, a resident of 
Washington ; A. B. and H. F (twins), the 
forme'- at Oakland and the latter at home, a 
teacher and a law student. Lucretia is de- 
ceased. The father was a farmer all his life. 
His political views were those of the Repub- 
lican party. The mother still resides on the 
farm. 

Mr. Johns was a lad of eleven years when 
his parents located in this county. He was 
reared on the farm and his education was 
obtained in the public schools of Pottawatta- 
mie County. In 1872, with his mother and 
brothers, he came to the land he now owns, 
which at that time was wild prairie. He has 
since improved it, and now owns two farms 
of 160 acres each, separated by the highway. 
He has two good frame houses and other 
modern farm improvements. A spring on 
his place furnishes a bountiful supply of 
water for his stock. Mr. Johns is engaged 
in general farming and stock-raising, feeding 



662 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY 



from one to two car-loads of cattle and a 
large number of hogs annually. 

He was married in Center Township, Jan- 
uary 6, 1886, to Izora B. Butler, daughter of 
W. B. Butler, one of the prominent citizens 
of Center Township. This union has been 
blessed with two children, namely: Frauces 
J. and Grace E. Mrs. Johns is a member of 
the Methodist Episcopal Church of Pleasant 
Ridge. Politically Mr. Johns afBliates with 
the Republican party. At present he is a 
member of the Board of Township Trustees; 
is associated with the I. O. O. F. Lodge, No. 
442, of Oakland. 

■^^ "^ • > ' I ' |" '"^ 



^LFRED FRAZlER,of Rockford Town- 
ship, was born in Indiana, March 13, 
1837, the son of James C. and Malinda 
(Fuller) Frazier, natives of Tennessee and 
Indiana, respectively. The father, in pioneer 
times, moved from Tennessee to Indiana, 
locating upon a farm and lived there until 
his death, leaving a wife and nine children, 
of whom Alfred, our subject, is the fourth in 
order of birth. Remaining at the paternal 
home until he was married, he, in 1854, 
located at his present residence, purchasino; 
about 800 acres of piairie, a small portion of 
which had been broken by Mormons, and 
there was a log house on the premises. With 
Mr. Frazier came also his mother (the young- 
est child of ten in the family of John and 
Esther P'uller, natives and farmers of Vir- 
ginia), who died a few years afterward. Mr. 
Fuller had also a mill and a distillery, which 
he ran here until he died. 

Mr. Frazier was married at the age of nine- 
teen years, in May, 1857, to Juliana Wild, 
daughter of William and Sarah Wild, natives 
of England, who emigrated to America and 
located on Pigeon Creek, this county, and 



died there. Their three children were John 
and Nancy, now residing in California, and 
Juliana. The latter was born in November, 
1837. Mr. Frazier now has 500 acres of ex- 
cellent land on section 35, of which about 
260 acres are in cultivation and the rest in 
meadow and pasture; he also owns a lot in 
the village of Honey Creek. He ships three 
or four car-loads of cattle annually and two 
car-loads of hogs. He superintends the cul- 
tivation of the large farm while he is also 
Postmaster at Honey Creek, which office he 
has held ever since 1868. Coming here in 
the early day, he has witnessed all the changes 
that have been made to redeem this country 
from its original savage state to its pi'esent 
high standing. Politically he is a decided 
Republican, and as such has been an active 
worker; has been Township Clerk, etc. His 
live children are: James W., residing at 
home; Nettie, deceased; Mary, wife of J. 
E. White; Eunice, at home; and John F., 
deceased. 



jj^^i REICHART, grain-dealer at Neola, 
was born June 4, 1845, a son of Henry 
* and Catharine (Gaytross) Reichart. 
The father was born in Pennsylvania, of 
German parentage, the fourth of eight chil- 
dren, was reared to farm life and continued 
at his parental home until he was twenty- 
five years of age, and then for fifteen years 
he was engaged in the butcher's trade. In 
1869 he came to Pottawattamie County, set- 
tling upon eighty acres on section 16, Nor- 
walk Township, and there he resided until 
his death, November 4, 1885, when he was 
about eighty-six years of age. His wife died 
in September, 1871, aged fifty-five years. 
They had six children, namely: Caroline, 
Saraii E., the subject of this sketch was the 
the third, George, Samuel and Jacob. 



OF rOTrAWATTAMIH COUNTY. 



663 



Mr. Reichart, our subject, was also brought 
up as a fanner's son. At the age of nineteen 
he left home and soon, May 22, 1861, en- 
listed in Company C, One Ilnndred and 
Forty-third Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, 
and was taken witli a detached force to Han is- 
burg, that State, and tli rough New York to 
enforce the draft. They then joined the army 
of the Fotoinjic, lirst under General McClellan 
and then under General Meade, engaging in 
tlie celebrated battle of Gettysburg, the hard- 
est-fought battle of the war. Mr. Reichart 
was captured and held two days. Rejoining 
his regiment at Fairfax, he was afterward eti- 
gaged at Culpeper, where he remained in 
camp some time; he was also at Laurel Hill, 
where he received a wound in tiie leg. He 
was then sent to a hospital in Philadelphia. 
Two months afterward he obtained a furloueh. 
Four months after that he i-ejoined his regi- 
ment at Petersburg. At the surrender of that 
place he was detailed with others to convey 
prisoners to New York, and while on their 
way between Washington and Baltimore they 
received the news of the assassination of 
President Lincoln, and they were consequently 
stationed four days at Washington. After 
delivering tiie prisoners at New York they 
returned to Washington and were placed in 
review. Tbey then visited White Haven, 
Pennsylvania, and were taken to Harrisburg, 
where they were mustered out, June 19, 
1865. Li 1863, just after the battle of 
Gettysburg, Mr. Reichart was promoted 
Orderly Sergeant. 

After visiting home a short time belauded 
at Council Bluffs, August 12, in company 
with four other young men, and for a year 
worked for Mr. Garner, of Garner Township, 
for $25 a month. In June, 1857, he married 
and moved upon a farm of 120 acres on sec- 
tions 16 and 21, Norwalk Township, which 
he had purchased the preceding year, and 

47 



here he began life anew. At that time there 
were no improvements on the place, and the 
nearest neighbor was four miles distant. He 
put up a frame house 14x24 feet in dimen- 
sions and the necessary farm buildings, fences, 
etc., and planted a grove. Here he raised 
grain and stock, dealing in the latter con- 
siderably, with success. In 1879 he moved 
into Neola and engaged in the hardware 
busitiess, renting his farm; in 1871 he sold 
the farm and bought the hardware store and 
three lots, on which he built a residence and 
where lie now resides. The hardware trade 
he conducted for about eleven years, transact- 
ing an annual business of $35,000 to $40,000; 

and then he exchanged the stock and busi- 
ed 

ness for 320 acres of land in Nebraska, with 
the live-stock and grain that was upon it. A 
year subsequently lie disposed of this and 
went into the grain business, which he car- 
ries on extensively, handling about 265.000 
bushels a year, his crib having a capacity of 
100,000 bushels. 

Mr. Reichart is a thorough Democrat; has 
held the various offices of Neola and Norwalk 
townships; was elected the first Justice of 
the Peace of Norwalk Township, a member 
of the first Board of Supervisors, a member 
of the first town council of Neola, the third 
Mayor of the town, a member of the first 
Board of Education of the independent dis- 
trict, and for the past eight years has been 
TownshipClerk. During his mayoralty bonds 
for water-works were issued. 

Mr. Reichart is a breeder of fine horses, 
the Norman and Clydesdale; of these he has 
twenty-seven liead. He deals also exten- 
sively in pure-bred Poland-China hogs, and 
in agricultural imp'ements. In the latter he 
is in partnershi|) with his brother. 

June 19, 1867, Mr. Reichart married Eliza 
Jane Ritter, of Pottawattamie County, who 
was born in 1850, daughter of Adam and 



664 



BIOORAPHICAL HISTORY 



Nancy (Ward) Kitter, natives of Virginia, 
who came to Iowa in 1837, and were the 
parents of nine children. Mrs. Reichart, the 
fifth in the above family, was reared as a 
farmer's daughter. By this marriage there 
have been four children: Laura, deceased; 
Caroline, who resides at home; and Sarah and 
Lizzie, deceased. 



►>4j-. 



jLFRED BY BEE, a prominent farmer 
of Crescent Township, was born No- 
vember 4, 1810, in Barren County, 
Kentucky. His father, Lee Bybee, a native 
of Virginia, moved after his marriage to 
Kentucky and subsequently to Clay County, 
Indiana, upon 240 acres of rough, unim- 
proved land in a wild country among Indians, 
dangerous beasts and wild game. About 
twenty years afterward his wife died, leaving 
the following named children: Betsie, who 
married Nebil Gee, resided in Kentucky and 
is now dead; Nancy, who married Oliver 
Cromwell and is now deceased; Lucinda, who 
resides in Utah; Loramer, in Kansas; Maria, 
in Indiana; Jerusha, deceased; Absalom, in 
Ogden, Utah; Alfred, the subject of this 
sketch; John, Lee and Jo, all three deceased; 
Mr. Bybee then came with his children to 
Nauvoo, whence he was driven with the rest 
of the Mormons, with whom he came to 
Pottawattamie County and lived here five 
years. Then he went West to Salt Lake and 
remained there until his death. Here Alfred 
was detailed, before his father's death, to take 
a train to California, and lie remained there 
ten years. In 1861 he returned to Potta- 
wattamie County and purchased a farm. He 
now has 230 acres of good land, lying in 
Hazel Dell, Boomer, Rockford and Crescent 
(section 1) townships. 

In March, 1832, he married Mary Walker, 



who was born in Hardin County, Kentucky, 
whence her parents afterward moved lo In- 
diana, where they remained until they died. 
After his marriage Mr. Bybee settled upon 
his present place. His wife died in 1835, at 
the age of sixty- six years, leaving two chil- 
dren: Alfred A., residing at Honey Creek, 
and Mary M., wife of John Ranson of Boomer 
Township. December 10, 1876, Mr. Bybee 
married Miss Ann Arthur, daughter of Peter 
and Catherine (Sillers) Arthur, natives re- 
spectively of England and Scotland, who 
came to Canada East about 1817; they had 
eight children, the sixth of whom is Mrs. 
Bybee; she was born September 19, 1833. 
After her father's death she with her three 
children came to Pottawattamie County, 
where she died in June, 1875. 

Mr. Bybee is a reliable Republican and a 
member of the Church of Latter- Day Saints, 
zealously active in former times. Although 
he has suffered many of the hardships of 
pioneer life and has labored hard to establish 
and maintain a comfortable home, he is lib- 
eral and does much for the promotion of 
Christianity and morality. He is enjoying a 
happy period in his declining years, which 
he so well deserves. 



ILAS L. STEPHENS, a farmer of Cres- 
jJSi'^ cent Township, was born in Utah 
Territory, November 7, 1854, a son of 
William C. and Lydia S. (Ballard) Stephens, 
natives of Tennessee. The father was reared 
on the farm, and in 1859, after having gone 
to Utah during the great Mormon emigra- 
tion, was married. About 1866 he returned 
to Council Bluffs and .--ome months afterward 
went to Crescent City, bought forty acres 
near by, made a number of improvements, 
and about five years afterward he sold it, and 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



663 



was in different places until he bought eighty 
acres of partly improved land, which he now 
occupies. He has put the place in good 
condition, and has been successful in his 
enterprises. He makes his home partly in 
Council Bluffs. He had eight children: 
James, born in 1S59, an i now residing in 
Council Bluffs; Francis, deceased; George 
W., born in Utah, in 1862, now residing in 
Council Bluffs; Silas L. was the next; Philip 
and Robert are both dead; Samuel U., borti 
in 1874, is in Council Bluffs; and Bert, born 
in 1873, lives also in that city. 

Mr. Silas L. Stephens, January 2, 1887, 
married Alice Gideon, the daughter of V. M. 
and Rosanna (Baum) Gideon, who had four 
children: Alice, just mentioned, was born in 
Madison County, Iowa, September 12, 1868. 
After his marriage Mr. Stephens worked with 
his team on the grade, then rented a farm for 
two years and since then he has been follow- 
ing agricultural pursuits on the old home 
place, where he is enjoying the pleasures of 
a well finished residence. His two children 
are Ernest R., born October 17, 1888; and 
Lydia Rosanna, September 19, 1889. 

Mr. Stephens is a stanch Democrat, well 
principled and energetic. Is a good violin- 
ist and a favorite in social circles. 



►>4^i 



A. HUTCHINSON, a farmer and 
stock-raiser of Ci'escent Township, 
'** was born near Providence, Rhode Is- 
land, May 6, 1842, the son of Matthew and 
Jenette (Anderson) Hutchinson, natives of 
Scotland, who came to America in 1842. The 
father was a dealer in general merchandise 
ai.d engaged in the lisheries. He died No- 
vember 8, 1867, his wife having died four 
years after their emigration to America. On 
lier death, Mr. Hutchinson abandoned house- 



keeping, while the subject of this sketch, the 
youngest of his seven children, was taken 
charge of by an older brother until he was 
eight years old, when his father married his 
second wife. At the age of sixteen years he 
went to Providence and served two and a half 
years learning the trade of jeweler; then he 
came to Council Bluffs, and thence went to 
St. John's, near the site of the Missouri Val- 
ley, and was engaged there on a farm until 
the next spring; next he was on a farm on 
Pigeon Creek one season; returning to Coun- 
cil Bluffs, he learned photography and after- 
ward traveled extensively in the practice of 
this art until his healtli failed, and he re- 
sorted to hauling goods across the plains, 
which enabled him to recover his health. 
For four years of this time he practiced 
photography in connection with his other 
business. Coming again to Council Bluff's, 
he bought a farm of 132 acres, sold it the 
next year and purchased seventy-two and a 
half acres, and in three years sold that. 
Meanwhile he was married, and afterward he 
bought eighty acres of land on section 23. 
Of this tract he has made a comfortable 
home, with all the usual farm appurtenances, 
in good condition. Much may be said in his 
praise, as he started with nothing in pioneer 
times and by pluck and energy has stood all 
the expenses of travel, changes and many 
little losses, and yet has the possessions he 
now enjoys. He has now an aggregate of 
500 acres of good land. He deals also in 
live-stock to a considerable extent. 

Politically Mr. Hutchinson is a zealous Re- 
publican, and locally independent. He is 
efficient in the promotion of education, 
Christianity and the scope of modern benovo- 
lent institutions. He and his wife are mem- 
bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church at 
Crescent City, of which class he is leader, and 
was virtually one of its founders. 



666 



BIOGRAPHICAL n [STORY 



November 18, 1867, he married Martha 
Green, daughter of Rowland and Ruth 
(Haskins) Green, natives of Vermont. Mr. 
Green, a carpenter by profession, still resides 
at Wallingsford, in his native State. His 
wife died at the age nf thirty-four years, leav- 
ing four children: Edward, deceased; one 
died in infancy; Smith, also deceased; and 
Martha J. After the death of Mrs. Green, 
Mr. Green married Mrs. Wheeler, now de- 
ceased, and by that mari'ii'ge there were five 
children. Mr. and Mrs. Hutchinson have 
six ciiildren: Arthur M., who was born May 
3, 1869: Ada, September 9, 1871; Lillie, 
September 20, 1872; Louie A., September 5, 
1876; Maud, June 7, 1881; and Ruth May, 
October 26, 1889. All these are still with 
their parents. 




PftlLLIAM BEEZLEY, of section 22, 
Macedonia Township, was born in 
Clarke County, Ohio, two miles east 
of Springfield, in January, 1818, the son of 
John Beezle}, who was born in Brown 
County, Ohio, and was one of the earliest 
settlers of that State, and whose father, 
William Beezley, came there with Daniel 
Boone, and built the first grist-mill on the 
Little Miami River. The Beezleys were a 
patriotic family, and John Beezley, William's 
father, though a boy, was with his father a 
short time in the war of 1812. His grand- 
father was made Captain under General 
William Harrison, and the subject and his 
father both lived to vote for General and Ben 
Harrison. The father lived to an advanced 
age, being born in October, 1797, and died 
in Clarke County, Ohio, March 7, 1889, at 
about ninety years of age. Our subject's 
mother was Elizabeth (Ellsworth) Beezley, 
who was born in Martinslnirg, Virginia, of 



an old Virginia family; Colonel Ellsworth of 
the late war was her second cousin. 

William Beezley, our subject, was reared 
in Ohio, engaged in farming and stock-rais- 
ing: until 1857, when he removed to Louran 
County, Illinois. When the war broke out 
he enlisted in the first Illinois regiment that 
went out, and he again enlisted in 1862, in the 
One Hundred and Sixth Illinois Infantry, Com- 
pany F, and served until the close of the war. 
He was at Island 62, siege of Vicksburg, the 
taking of Little Rock, Arkan.~as, and went up 
the Red River with General Steele as far as 
Jenkins' Ferry, and was in many other engage- 
ments. He then went out as Captain, and 
after the death of the Major he was elected 
to fill his place, and was made Lieutenant, 
Colonel, and had charge of the re<riment dur- 
ing the last year. He had three sons and two 
boys he had raised in the war: John T., in 
the Thirty- eighth Illinois Infantry, serving 
nearly five years, and came out with a Cap- 
tain's commission; he lives in Crawford 
County, Kansas, near Gerard ; Cassi us C, who 
served in the One Hundred and Sixth Regi- 
ment Illinois with his father, was killed at 
Island 62, and was buried near there; William 
James, in the One Hundred and Forty-fifth 
Illinois Regiment, and now lives in southern 
Nebraska, near Orleans. The two boys Mr. 
Beezley took to raise were James Ferguson, 
in the Seventh Regiment, and now resides in 
southwestern Kansas, near Wichita; and 
Charles Russum, in the Thirty-eighth Regi- 
ment, and died at Chattanooga, Tennessee. 

Our subject resided in Logan County un- 
til 1876, when he came to this county, and 
bought 320 acres of land on the Nishnabotna 
River. He now owns 510 acres of good land 
on sections 21, 22 and 15, which is partly 
improved. He was first tnarried in Miami 
County, Ohio, when twenty-five years of age, 
to I'olly Atni Castle, who was born in Mary- 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



007 



land. They bad six cliildreii, of whom five 
are now living: John, at Gerard, Kansas; 
Emeline, the wife of Newton Boylcs, of Gra- 
ham County, Kansas; Cassiiis C, who was 
killed on Island 62; William James, residing 
in southwestern Nebraska; and Jenny, the 
wife of Cornelius Stockton, of Hanson 
County, Dakota. Mrs. Beezley died in 1880, 
and Mr. Beezley was again married Decem- 
ber 20, 1884, to Miss Anna Fawcett, who 
was born in England. By this union there 
were three children: Benjamin Roscoe, 
George Fawcett and Elmer Smith. Polit- 
ically he is a Republican, and is a member 
of the G. A. R., Updegraif Post, Macedonia 
charter. He was made a Mason in Ohio 
nearly half a century ago. He was raised in 
the old-school Baptist Church, but joined the 
Methodist Episcopal Church over lifty years 
ago. 




IILLIAM TOMPKIN, proprietor of 
the Macedonia Breeding Farm, has 
one of the leading establishments of 
the kind in southwestern Iowa. Mr. Tomp- 
kin was born in Derbyshire, England, near 
Yorkshire, April 25, 1829, a son of Thomas 
and Anil (Pilkington) Tompkin. His father 
was a dealer in and breeder of good horses, 
and he therefore learned of him a great deal 
in that line. In early life he also learned the 
butcher's trade, which he followed some 
years. In 1855 he came to America, settling 
at Peru, LaSalle County, Illinois, and a short 
time afterward at Mendota, same county, 
where he lived nine years, engaged in butcher- 
ing, shipping stock and dealing in horses. 
In 1864 he went to Central City, Colorado, 
where he conducted a grocery and meat 
market four or five years. Then he located 
at Council Bluffs and here engaged in the 



horse trade, in company' with Rev. William 
Armstrong. He also bought the Star Meat 
Market, which he ran for a time. In 1867 
he made a trade for 160 acres of land where 
he now lives. He has bought and sold other 
land, and has now 320 acres of good land, 
adjoinining the town of Macedonia. He has 
spent thousands of dollars in stocking his 
farm with the best specimens of the horse 
genus. On his place are some mares and 
fillies that would make a " blue-grass" horse- 
man of Kentucky proud to own; and he has 
forty or iifty head that are bred most royally. 
In 1884 he purchased " International," which 
was bred at the Meadows Farm near Carlin- 
ville, Illinois. He took the first premium at 
St. Louis, Missouri, in 1882, over thirty-four 
competitors, from ten different States. His 
sire was the sire of Stockines' dam, and was 
at the head of Mr. Tompkin's herd for four 
seasons. 

Among Mf. Tompkin's best mares are 
Mary G., sired by Pat Malloy; Beeswing, 
sired by Council Bluffs and from the dam 
Mary G. ; Lady Tompkin, a full sister to Bees- 
wing; Lady O'Neill; Nettie Bray, full sister 
to the two last. All these are thoroughbred, 
and are as fine as can be found in Western 
Iowa. Copper Glance, a standard-bred trot- 
ting horse, was at the head of the herd in 
1889. No. 8,888, from a half-sister to Isaac, 
was sired by Mambrino Patchen, No. 58. 
Copper Glance's colts, seven of which are 
upon the farm, give good promise. For 
him Mr, Tompkin gave $5,000. Vidal, a 
thoroughbred, is the son of Vandal, Jr., by 
the dam Ida B., which was sired by Mon- 
archist, bred at the Preekness stud at Lex- 
ington, Kentucky. Vidal is now at the head 
of the thoroughbred stud. Ironwood, No. 
3,819, standard, and registered in Wallace's 
American Trotting Register, volume 6, was 
sired by Iron Duke, a Hambletonian sired by 



608 



BTOGRAPniCAL niSTORY 



Dexter. Iron wood is one of tbe best bred 
hor.-^es in the West. His first dam was Lady 
Di.xon, by Vermont Hero, and his second, 
Nellie F., by Young Consternalion. Mr. 
Tompkiii bought Ironwood at Ellis' Grove, 
near Janesville, Wisconsin. Delavan, No. 
6,575, is a remarkable, well-bred horse, hav- 
ing the popular Hambletonian-Mambrino 
Chief cross that has produced so many fast 
horses, such as Phallus, Onward and Guy 
Wilkes. 

Mr. Tompkin has a good half-mile track 
upon his farm, where he can train and inter- 
cross his stock. Every animal on his place 
is thoroughbred, even to the swine, poultry 
and dogs. His fine residence cost $3,000. 
In orchard there are five or six acres, of all 
kinds of fruits. Mr. Tompkin was first mar- 
ried to Mary Ann Goddard, in JNew York 
State, and had three children: George, Wal- 
ter and Emma. Secondly he married, at 
Mendota, Illinois, Mrs. Eleanor Miller, whose 
maiden name was Frank. She was born in 
Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. By this 
marriage there are two sons: Jacob and Aaron. 



■^t«< 



[ULLIVAN & VIRTUE are the pro- 
S*\i prietors of the only livery, sale and feed 
stable in Macedonia. It is located on 
Main street, near the principal hotel and con- 
venient to the business portion of the town. 
They keep in stock a good class of driving 
and road horses, and vehicles of all kinds 
that are needed in that community. The 
livery business in this village was inaugu- 
rated ten years ago by Mitchell Brothers, on 
the north side of Main street, and since then 
there have been several changes in proprietor- 
ship, etc.: Bryant Brothers, Neil Stockton, 
Charles Murphy and Mr. Mains, — the last 
of whom sold out to Mr. J. B. Sullivan, the 



senior member of the present firm. The barn, 
42 X 80 feet and two stories high, was built 
in 1882 or 1883 by Charles Smith. 

Mr. Sullivan was born near Muncie, Dela- 
ware County, Indiana, in 1860, a son of 
Samuel and Eliza Sullivan. He was brougiit 
up on a farm; lived some nine months in 
Clarke County, Ohio; then came to Boone 
County, Iowa, and tM'o years afterward, in 
January, 1878, he arrived in Pottawattamie 
County, first settling in Silver Creek Town- 
ship. Purchasing a farm, he engaged in 
agricultural pursuits. In 1884 he came to 
Macedonia, and in 1886 purchased the livery 
stock already mentioned. He is a popular 
liveryman and is a genial citizen. He was 
married in 1884, at Oskaloosa, Iowa, to 
Miss Ida Stevens, and they have one child, 
Florence. 

J. P. Virtue, the junior member of the 
above firm, was born in 1857, in Fulton 
County, Illinois, a son of Thomas and Mary 
Virtue; was reared upon an Illinois farm. 
He is a member of Hillsdale Lodge, No. 
331, I. O. O. F., and Ruby Lodge, No. 444, 
F. & A. M., at Macedonia. He is a genial 
bachelor who looks upon the bright side of 
life and is a favorite among his acquaintances. 

'^•' ^ • ? " S ' | '''" — 



YE BROTHERS & CO., comprising 
Willoughby Dye, Sylvester Dye, Henry 
1^ Kennedy and Elmer E. Smith, consti- 
tute the pioneer and leading mercantile house 
of Macedonia, their establishment being oue 
of the most popular stores in the western 
part of Pottawattamie County. Willoughby 
Dye, the senior member, started in business 
at old Macedonia, in July, 1876, as a mem- 
ber of the firm of Heinsteiner & Dye. In 
1878 Mr. Dye purchased his partner's in- 
terest, and in 1880 a partnership was formed 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



G63 



with his brother, Sylvester Dye. In Feb- 
ruary, 1878, Henry Kennedy and Elmer E. 
Smith were admitted into the tirm. Their 
store building, 44 x 90, was erected in 1882. 
Tley keep a very large and tine stock of 
general merchandise, dry goods and groceries, 
boots and shoes, etc., doing a business of 
$40,000 to $50,000 per annum. They are, 
of course, extensively and favorably known. 
Willoughby Dye & Co. are the leading man- 
ufacturers of brick and tile in the eastern 
part of the county, making 350,000 brick 
each year and employing six to eight men 
during the season of business. Their works 
were established in 1882. 

Mr. Willoughby Dye was born in Lee 
County, Iowa, April 14, 1852, a son of Henry 
Dye, who settled in Iowa in 1839. His 
mother's name before marriage was Jane 
Mickelwaite, a native of England. He was 
brought up on a farm and completed his 
Bcliool education at the Academy at Fort 
Madison. He then taught school for a time, 
including two terras in Pottawattamie Coun- 
ty. Coming here first in 1871, he returned 
to Lee County, and in 1863 came again to 
this county. He taught school until Feb- 
ruary, 1874, when he obtained a situation 
with D. L. Ileimscheimer, at Glenwood, 
Iowa, with whom he formed in 1876 the 
partnership, etc., as before stated. Though 
yet in the prime of life Mr. Dye has had 
large experience in life and as a business 
man and citizen he stands high in the esti- 
mation of the people. Being very liberal, 
witli his purse as well as in spirit, he has 
done more than any other man in the build- 
ing up of the village of Macedonia. Politi- 
cally he is a Democrat; and he is at present 
tlie Worshipful Master of the Ruby Lodge, 
No. 415, F. & A. M.; and he is also a mem- 
ber of subordinate lodge, No. 421, I. O. O. F. 

He was married October 1, 1879, at Mace- 



donia, to Miss Maggie Reinund, who was 
born in Cedar County, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. 
Dye have four children: Charles, Harry L., 
Irolene and an infant son not yet named. 



•— 101 II) 



>-5»-»f" 



fOSHUA ALSTON came to this county 
in 1855, where he has since resided. 
He was born in Lancashire, England, 
February 20, 1837, the son of Joshua and 
Margaret (Wilson) Alston, also natives of 
Lancashire, England. They had five chil- 
dren, four daughters and one son. Joshua 
was a lad of six years when his father died, 
and his mother lived until 1878, when she 
died, at the age of sixty-six years. Joshua 
was reared in his native land, and was mar- 
ried September 29, 1856, at Bolton, Lanca- 
shire, England, to Miss Martha Bichno, who 
was born in Cambridge, England, the daugh- 
ter of Joseph Bichno. In October following 
the marriage, Mr. Alston sailed from Liver- 
pool to New York in a sailing vessel, being 
twenty eight days on the ocean, and arriving 
in New York on the day of Buchanan's elec- 
tion as President of the United States. From 
New York he went to Cleveland, Ohio, where 
he obtained a situation on a dairy farm, and 
afterward worked in the rolling mills. From 
there he moved to Lee County, Iowa, near 
Fort Madison, where he bought land very 
cheap and sold it at higher rates, thus doing 
quite a real-estate business. He sold his in- 
terest in Lee County, and bought land in 
Davis County, loWa, near Bloomtield, where 
he remained until 1885, when he came to 
tins county. He has bought and sold many 
farms here besides his own, which is well 
stocked, and located two and a half miles 
from Carson. 

Mr. and Mrs. Alston have three children: 
Margaret, wife of David Snapp, of this 



670 



BIOGRAPHICAL HI STORY 




township; Joseph W., who is married and 
lives in Carson Township; and Nancy A., 
the wife of Cliarles Fredericks, of Lee 
County, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Alston are 
members of the Methodist Episcopal Chnrch, 
and politically he is a Republican. 



E. DURHAM, of section 26, Carson 
Township, came to this county in 
* 1881, where he has since resided. 
He was born in Hart County, Kentucky, 
January 10, 1826, the son of John and 
Mourning (Burris) Dnrham. The father was 
a native of Albemarle County, Virginia, and 
was a son of David Durham, of Virginia, 
and was a soldier in tho war of 1812. The 
mother was born in Albemarle County, Vir- 
ginia, of a good family. Our subject was 
but two years old when the family moved to 
Sangamon County, Illinois, where thej lived 
a short time, and then removed to Bureau 
County, Illinois, when the Sac and Fox In- 
dians inhabited that region. Here the par- 
ents lived until their death. They raised six 
children, of which our subject was the 
youngest. 

W. E. Durham, the subject of this sketch, 
resided in Bureau County, near Maiden, until 
1881, when he sold the old farm and came to 
Pottawattamie County, and bought his pi-es- 
ent place, consisting of 580 acres, which is 
one of the most valuable farms in the county. 
Grove Farm is a beautiful home; the resi- 
dence was erected in 1882, and is in the 
shape of three L's, two stories high, and cost 
$8,000. The farm contains about twenty 
acres of forest and grove trees. 

He was married March 27, 1856, in Bureau 
County, Illinois, to Miss Rebecca Sherman, 
a woman of intelligence and of a good fam- 
ily. She was born in Lucas County, Ohio, 



the daughter of Jchn Sherman, who was 
horn on the ocean, of German parents, who 
were on their way to America. They after- 
ward settled at Cumberland County, Penn- 
sylvania. Mrs. Durham's mother was Cath- 
erine (Keel) Sherman, who was born in 
Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. Mrs. 
Durham was only fourteen years old when 
her parents removed from Stark County, 
Ohio, to Bureau County, Illinois. Her father 
died at the latter place in 1861, and her 
mother died in Missouri in 1875. Mr. and 
Mrs. Durham have eight children, viz. : Flora 
v., wife of David White, of Carson Town- 
ship; Ethelinda, wife of Felix Setz, of 
Washington Township; Mary W., wife of 
Rob Steele, of Center Township; Rhoda, 
wife of J. C. Elswicks, of Carson Township; 
Ira E., one of Pottawattamie's successful 
teachers; John Sherman, at home; William 
Arthur, of Carson Township; and Charlie 
K., at home. Mr. and Mrs. Durham, two 
sons and their youngest daughter are mem- 
bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church; the 
other daughters are members of the Presby- 
terian and Baptist churches. Politically Mr. 
Durham is a Democrat, and works for the 
best interest of his party. 

»°*- " | V » 3| i ; . 7 lii 101 



F. PRATT, of Crescent City, was horn 
in Abbeville County, South Carolina, 
I® October 19, 1824, the son of William 
and Martha (Murdoch) Pratt. His mother 
was born July 31, 1800, and his father Sep- 
tember 27, 1798, both being descendants of 
English, Irish and Welsh ancestry. Mr. 
Pratt's grandfather came to America at the 
age of sixteen years, in 1776, at the com- 
mencement of the Revolutionary war, first 
locating in Newberry County, South Caro- 
lina, and engaging in a distillery. He mar- 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



671 



ried Elizabeth Davenport, a native of the 
same county, and they moved to Abbeville, 
where they spent the remainder of their 
days with their son. William Pratt received 
a good education, his father being a teacher, 
and married Gabriella Callahan, who was 
born in Abbeville County, July 31, 1824, 
and then left his parental home, in his 
twenty-tirst year, 1845, locating in Chatooga 
County, Georgia. There lie purchased 160 
acres of land, for which he paid $800; 
seventy acres of this tract had been cultivated 
by an old Cherokee Indian named Overtaker. 
The improvements, therefore, were few and 
meager. Here Mr. Pratt commenced raising 
grain, fruit and cotton, and also his own 
domestic animals, and continued there until 
1855, when he sold the place at $1,600, and 
bought another two miles distant for $800. 
On that place there were forty acres cleared. 
He cleared twenty-iive acres more, put up a 
log house and barns, atid made many other 
improvements. He added to it by purchase 
until he finally had 370 acres of good farm- 
ing land. 

Then in September, 1861, he enlisted in 
the military service, joining Company F, 
Thirty-fifth Georgia Volunteer Infantry, under 
General Holmes, and was engaged in many 
hard-fought battles, as those of Fair Oaks, 
Virginia, the Wilderness, Seven Days' tight 
in front of Richmond between Lee and Mc- 
Clellan, etc. In 1862 he enjoyed a furlough, 
being disabled, and remained at home some- 
thing more than a year. In 1863 he re- 
turned to service under General Early, whose 
forces scoured the Shenandoah Valley as far 
as Winchester. In February, 1865, he pro- 
cured another furlough home, and before its 
term expired the war closed. He was in most 
of the hottest battles of Virginia during the 
four years of the war, but was not wounded. 

April 12, 1869, he sold his farm already 



described and started for Utah, by way of 
Chattanooga, Memjihis, St. Louis, etc., by 
rail and water, and on arriving at Omaha, 
May 1, he stopped here until July, doing odd 
jobs. Then ho rented a farm of eighty acres 
in Rockford Township, Pottawattamie County, 
of which forty acres were broken. After fol- 
lowing agricultural pursuits there for a year, 
he purchased a saw-mill and ran it for ten 
years. June 26, 1876, he moved the mill to 
Crescent City and ran it two years. Then 
he sold it to his sons and bought his present 
farm of sixty acres within the limits of 
Crescent City, which had been improved 
some, having a log house upon it. Nearly 
all the improvements there at the present 
day are the product of his own labor, — a 
good residence, out-buildings, etc. It is in- 
deed a well furnished and comfortable home. 
Mr. Pratt is a high-principled Democrat, 
sympathizing with the so-called "Green- 
back" movement, and liberal in his heart to- 
ward all parties. In local elections he is of 
course independent, voting for the best man, 
regardless of party. He was Justice of the 
Peace eight years in Georgia, two terms in 
Rockford Township, and two in Crescent 
Toivnship. He is a member of Mount 
Hickory Lodge, No. 133, F. & A. M., of 
Georgia, esteeming this order far above all 
other organizations. He has also been the 
second officer of the Grange for a number of 
years, and has held other offices. He also 
belongs to the Crescent M. P. Society, this 
lodge being the oldest of the kind in the 
State. In this he has officiated as president, 
vice-president, etc., ever since its foundation. 
He is also a member of the Farmers' Alli- 
ance. He and his wife were Baptists in 
Georgia, both being baptized on the same 
day and by the same minister; they are now 
members of the Reorganized Church of 
Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. 



673 



BIOaUAPHICAL HISTORY. 



Mr. and Mrs. Pratt are the parents of 
nine children, as follows: John W. and 
Nancy E., born in Chattooga County, Georgia, 
June 2, 1846: John W. resides in Harrison 
County, Iowa; Nancy E. is the wife of 
E. L. McKinney, in Jackson County, Indian 
Territory; James A., born September 14, 
1849, in Chattooga Countj', Georgia, now re- 
sides in Crescent City; S. V. was born April 
10, 1852, in Georgia, and also resides in 
Crescent Township; Martha Ann, born Au- 
gust 12, 1853, in Chattooga County, died 
July 21, 1871; Emma C. was born also in 
that county, April 11, 1855, and is now the 
wife of C. I). Watts, in Sherman County, 
Kansas; Phcebe .!., born also in Ciiattooga 
County; August 11, 1857, is the wife of 
J. M. Boyd, in Crescent City; Charles F., 
born November 10, 1861, in Chattooga 
County, and resides at home; Leona, born 
also in Chattooga County, February 28, 1864, 
is the wife of Clement Hough at Crescent 
City. Mr. and Mrs. Pratt are the grand- 
parents of twenty-one children, all living. 
Mrs. Pratt is of English and Irish descent; 
was born in Abbeville County, South Caro- 
lina, the daughter of John and Nancy (Ste- 
venson) Callahan; was brought up as a fann- 
er's daughter, within four miles of where 
she was married to Mr. Pratt, July 2, 1845. 
She is the fifth in order of birth in a family 
of twenty-three children, and the daughter of 
her father's second wife. All those children 
grow up and married during their father's 
life-time. Mrs. Pratt is now aged sixty-seven 
years. 



fW. EVERSON, of section 29, Carson 
Township, came to this county in 1881. 
' He was born in Newcastle County, 
Delaware, May 26, 1846, the son of John 



and Eliza (Morris) Everson, both natives of 
Delaware; the latter can trace their family 
back to Scotch ancestry. They had live chil- 
dren, of whom J. W. was the second of three 
sons and two daughters. The mother died 
in Delaware in 1867, and the father is still 
living at Wilmington, Delaware, and has 
been a farmer all his life. J. W. received 
his education in the public schools of that 
State, and afterward at St. Mary's College, 
and at the age of twenty-three years, in 1868, 
he removed to Mahaska County, Iowa, where 
he remained until 1881. He then came to 
Pottawattamie County and bought eighty 
acres of land, which he broke and improved 
and afterward added eighty acres more, until 
he now has 160 acres in a body. He also 
owns eighty acres in Belknap Township, sec- 
tion 21, which is in cultivation. 

Mr. Everson was married at Kirkville, to 
Miss Polly Ann Lee, who was born in Ma- 
haska County, Iowa, the daughter of Mar- 
shall, a native of this State. They have five 
children: Harvey E., Irwin W., liosaltha, 
Minnie and Gertie. Politically Mr. Everson 
is a Republican, and is at present Township 
Trustee, serving to the best interest of his 
party. Mrs. Everson is a member of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church. 



W. FERGUSON, of section 31, Car- 
son Township, was born in Wayne 
CJounty, Indiana, March 1, 1821, 
the sou of Nimrod and Elizabeth Isabelle 
Ferguson, both born in Wilkes County, North 
Carolina. They came to Wayne County in 
1812, but they were forced to move back to 
their old home in North Carolina on account 
of trouble with the Indians. They again 
moved to Wayne County, where they re- 
mained until 1849, and then came to Edgar 




OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



673 



County, Illinois, and in 1855 to Jasper 
County, Iowa. M. W. Ferguson remained 
in Jasper County until 1867, when he went 
to Dallas County, Iowa, and then to Fremont 
City, Iowa, where he bought 160 acres uf 
wild land, which he broke, and to which he 
has since added another 120 acres, until he 
now has 280 acres of land in a fine state of 
cultivation. He engaged in extensive grain 
and stock-raising, being quite successful in 
each. 

Mr. Ferguson was married in Jirly, 1860, 
in Jasper County, to Miss Mary Jane Han- 
ley, a woman of intelligence, who was born 
in Wayne County, Kentucky, the daughter 
of George W. Hanley. They have three 
children: George Ferguson, at home; James 
I., who is one of the successful teachers of 
the county, and Mary, the wife of George 
Conod, of Carson Township. Politically 
Mr. Ferguson is a Democrat. Mrs. Fergu- 
son was brought up under the auspices of 
the Christian Church, while her husband was 
raised in the Baptist Church. 



ROBERT IJNGRAM, of section 13, Keg 
Creek Township, first came to Potta- 
wattamie County in 1872. He was 
born in Ayrshire, Scotland, August 30, 1882, 
the eon of James and Jane (Sterling) Ingram. 
Both were born in Ayrshire and lived there 
until they died, the mother dying when 
Robert was only four years old, while the 
father died about two years ago, in 1888, at 
the advanced age of ninety years. Robert 
received his education and was reared to 
farm work in his native place. At twenty 
years of age he left his native land and came 
to the United States, and resided for two 
months near New Amsterdam, New York, 
and then went to Chicago, when that place 



was but a small town. He then removed to 
La Porte County, Indiana, where he resided 
ten or fifteen years, working out liy the 
month mostly. His next move was to Kan- 
kakee, Illinois, and later, in 1872, he moved 
his family to Iowa, driving first to Morris, 
Illinois, and from there shipped his house- 
hold furniture by railroad to Iowa. They 
bought 320 acres of land from the Rock 
Island Railroad Company, where his son, An- 
drew Lincoln, now lives on 160 acres of this 
land. Mr. Ingram erected his house in 1883, 
at a cost of $2,500, which is surrounded by 
shade and ornamental trees. 

He was married in La Porte County, In- 
diana, when twenty-eight years of age, to 
Miss Eliza Cain, a native of Ohio, and they 
have one child. A year after his marriage 
his wife died, and he was married some time 
later in Indiana, to Miss Melissa M. Mur- 
phy, who was reared in Porter and La Porte 
counties, Indiana. They have three children: 
Andrew Lincoln, who is married and resides 
near his father; Martha, the wife of Poland 
Ward of this township; Rob Marion, at 
home. Politically Mr. Ingram is a Repub- 
lican, and is a member of the Methodist 
Church at Silver City, but that society is now 
building a church at Silver Creek, calling 
themselves the Lone Star Class. 




L. THROP, of section 4, Carson 
Township, was born in Decatur 
" County, Indiana, January 21, 1846, 
the son of J. C. and Margaret (Hood) Throp, 
the former a native of New Jersey and a de- 
scendant of the old Puritan stock of this 
coast: the latter is a native of Kentucky, and 
a daughter of Samuel Hood, of Irish extrac- 
tion. The parents were married in Indiana, 
where they had come with their parents from 



674 



BIOORAPHICAL BISTORT 



New Jersey. They reared a family of nine 
children five sons and four daughters. W. 
L. Throp, tiie sixth child, resided in Decatur 
County until 1873, when he came to Potta- 
wattamie County and purchased 160 acres of 
wild land, mostly prairie, excepting fifteen 
acres of natural grove. He has since im- 
proved it, and he now owns one of the best 
farms in this township. He is engaged in 
general fanning and stock-raising. He was 
married January 20, 1876, to Miss Carrie 
Potter, of this county. She was tiiirteen 
years of age when she came with her parents 
and was the daughter of Ira and Sybil (Win- 
sor) Potter. The father died in Rhode 
Island, and the mother lives in this county. 
Mr. and Mrs. Throp have two children: Jen- 
nie and Fred. Politically Mr. Throp is a 
Republican, and has served as Justice of the 
Peace with credit to himself and the best in- 
terests of the community. Mr. and Mrs. 
Throp are members of the Presbyterian 
Church, of which lie is an elder. He takes 
an active interest in both education and re- 
ligion and anything for the best interests of 
the people in the community where he re- 
sides. He is a man yet in the prime of life, 
and is numbered among the enterprising cit- 
izens of the township. 



B. PERKINS, of section 12, Keg 
Creek Township, came to this county 
"' in the spring of 1872, where he has 
since resided. He was born in Warren 
County, Illinois, February 6, 1845, the son 
of D. R. Perkins, a native of Kentucky and 
the grandson of D. R. Perkins, Sr., a native 
of Virginia and of Welsh descent. Our sub- 
ject's mother was Maria Lienrance, a native 
of Virginia and of French ancestry. The 
father with his parents came to Warren Coun- 



ty, Illinois, where he was married, being one 
of the first pioneers of that part of Illinois. 
They reared a family of eleven children. The 
mother died in the summer of 1878, and the 
father in March, 1888; he was a farmer all 
his life. In politics he was a Democrat, and 
both he and his wife were members of the 
Christian Church. 

A. B., the eldest child, was reared on a 
farm, and in 1859 his parents came to War 
ren County, Iowa, and in 1870 removed to 
Kansas, where they lived until their death. 
He lived in Warren County until 1871, when 
lie removed to Sarpy County, Nebraska, and 
remained two years and then came to Potta- 
wattamie County. He first bought sixty-one 
acres of wild land, on which he lived one 
year, and then purchased eighty acres where 
his home now is, and later forty acres north 
of it. He now owns 120 acres of well-im- 
proved land in a body. His residence, which 
was built in 1887, cost $2,300. Park Place 
is a beautiful home, and Mr. Perkins and 
family are surrounded with many of the 
comforts of life. 

He was married in Warren County, Iowa, 
February 3, 1870, to Malinda W. Whited, 
who was born, reared and educated in the 
same county. She was a daughter of Laza- 
rus and Maria (Surber) Whited, the former 
a native of Virginia and the latter of Indiana. 
The parents were among the first settlers of 
Warren County, and afterward moved to 
Cass County, where they lived until their 
death. The mother died in 1870 and the 
father in 1889. Mr. and Mrs. Perkins have 
eight children, viz.: Mary Blair, who was a 
successful teacher; Beriah B., Daniel R., 
Bert, RoUa W., Minnie L., Nellie, Maria, 
Solomon and Pusey. Mr. Perkins was for- 
merly a Democrat but is now independent. 
He is a member of the Farmers' Alliance, 
and has served as Township Trustee and also 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



675 



as Assessor. Tlie fainily are members of the 
Christian Church. 



-^^OLONEL WILLIAM ORK, of section 
W. 5, Keg Creek Township, the proprie- 
tor of Hardindale Farm, is one of the 
prominent citizens of the county. He came 
here in 1872 from Harrison County, Iowa, 
where he has since made liis home. He was 
horn in Down County, near Belfast, Ireland, 
the son of John and Elizabeth (Laraont) Orr. 
William lived in his native place until six- 
teen years of age, and then sailed from Bel- 
fast to Liverpool and from there to New 
York. He went to Harrison County, Ohio, 
then to Tuscarawas County, where he lived 
until 1844, then to Butler County, Pennsyl- 
vania, until 1847, then to Washington Coun- 
ty, Pennsylvania, until the fall of 1848, then 
returned to the old homestead in Ireland. 
After six months he returned to Ohio and 
lived in Carroll County until 1856, when he 
went to Nebraska, and in 1857 near Florence, 
and in 1861 to Harrison County, Iowa. Here 
he bought an improved farm four miles south 
of Logan, where he settled and lived until 
the fall of 1872, when he came to I'otta- 
wattamie County, purchasing the land where 
he now lives, which was partly improved. 
Hardindale now contains 590 acres in a 
body, and is one among the well-improved 
farms of Keg Creek Township. The farm is 
fenced and divided into cultivated fields, 
meadows and pasture, and everything about 
the Orr homestead shows the thrift and en- 
terprise of the owner. Colonel Orr is one of 
the prominent btock-raisers and feeders in 
the county, making a specialty of Red Polled 
cattle, of which he has as good as can be 
found in Western Iowa. 

He was married in Belfast, Ireland, March 



24, 1849, to Margaret Orr, the daughter of 
John Alexander Orr. They have had twelve 
children, six of whom are still living, viz.: 
Margaret Anna, the wife of D. S. Frank, of 
this township, was born January 24, 1850; 
Elizabeth Jane, born June 15, 1855, wife of 
H. B. Knowles, of this township; Mary, wife 
of Artemus Ward; Lamont and Mary, twins; 
William, at home, born May 12, 1861; and 
Emma, born February 27, 1865. They have 
lost six by death, namely: John Alexander, 
born July 25, 1851; Mary, horn November 
27, 1852, died when a child; William Orr, 
born March 15, 1857, also died when a child; 
Edwin, born January 10, 1864; Hiram Wood- 
worth, born February 28, 1869; and Minnie, 
born January 15, 1871. The great loss of 
Colonel Orr's life was in the death of his wife 
May 6, 1888. They had lived together for 
nearly thirty-nine years. She was reared a 
Unitarian, and was a woman of many virtues, 
an affectionate wife and mother, and a very 
estimable lady. Politically Colonel Orr is a 
Democrat, and has served as Trustee and a 
member of the School Board. He also served 
as Trustee of the Deaf and Dumb Asylum 
for four years, from 1874 to 1878. He is a 
man sixty-four years of age, has traveled 
extensively, and is well-informed on all the 
questions of the day. 



p^DMOND LATHAN, of section 1, 
Hardin Township, came to this county 
May 5, 1851. He was born on Elk 
River, Clay County, Indiana, July 14, 1824, 
the son of John and Nancy (Bollarhide) 
Latlian, both natives of North Carolina, 
the former of English ancestry and the 
latter of German. They were married in 
North Carolina, and afterward removed to 
Indiana about 1812, where they were among 



676 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY 



the early settlers. They reared a family 
of eight children, namely: Utley Ann, Eliza- 
beth, Edmond, Laborn, John, Charlotte, 
Harrison and Eliza Ann. The parents died 
in Boone County, Iowa, near Des Moines, 
the father at fifty-two years of age, and the 
mother at the age of sixty-live. 

Edmond Lathan was reared on a farm in 
Clay County, Indiana, until twenty-four or 
twenty-five years of age, and his youth was 
passed at farm work, in chopping, clearing 
and grubbing. After his marriage lie bougiit 
a farm in Clay County, where he lived until 
1850, when he sold out and came West to 
Pottawattamie County, with two teams of 
horses. He brought his wife and three cliil- 
dren with him, and was on the road about 
twenty days, fording many streams, and cross- 
ing the larger ones on ferry-boats, camping 
out at night most of the time. When he 
arrived in tliis county he settled above Cres- 
cent City, ten miles from Council BlutfjJ. 
Here he lived several yeai's and improved 
quite a tract of land, and in 1855 built the 
first school-house erected in the county, 
which was of hewed logs and shingled roof; 
he made the shingles with a drawing-knife. 
He sold out some years later and moved to 
Council Bluffs, where he resided for three 
years, engaged in teaming and gardening. 
Mr. Lathan then moved to Keg Creek Town- 
ship, where he resided for several years, and 
in 1878 came to his present farm, which was 
partly improved and contained a small prairie 
house. 

Mr. Lathan was united in marriage, when 
twenty years of age, to Nancy Reel, who was 
born near Greencastle, Putnam County, In- 
diana, the daughter of William A. and Sarah 
(Reel) Reel. The father was born in Dayton, 
Ohio, of Irish ancestry. They had nine chil- 
dren, six of whom are now living, namely: 
John William, who resides in Colorado; 



Mrs. Martha Aldridge, who resides in Ne- 
braska; Joseph Riley, who lives in Monroe 
County, near Mapleton; Mary Etta, wife of 
George Cox, who resides in Missouri Val- 
ley; Anna, wife of Silas Jones, who resides 
in Monona County, near Mapleton; Edmond, 
who resides in Nebraska. They lost three 
children by death: Sarah Elizabeth, who died 
at the age of forty-four years; Edith, who 
died in childhood; and a babe. Mrs. Lathan 
died in 1859, when thirty-five years of age. 
Mr. Lathan was married to his present wife 
in 1861, to Mrs. Jessie Martin, nee Under- 
wood, who was born in Scotland, and a sister 
of Samuel G. Underwood, of Keg Creek 
Township. They have four children: Nancy 
Ann, wife of G. L. Brown, residing in Wash- 
ington Township; Samuel, engaged in the 
timber business in Butte, Montana; Harrison, 
at home; and Jessie, also at home. Politi- 
cally Mr. Lathan is a Democrat, and has been 
a member of the Baptist Church for forty- 
five years. He was at one time a member of 
the Methodist Church and a moderator in 
the Baptist Church. 



^ • S i' S ' l" -'-^ — 

HOMAS FLOOD, of Hardin Town- 
ship, section 26, has been a resident o 
Pottawattamie County since 1873. He 
was born in Mills County, Iowa, September 
6, 1858, the son of James and M. L. (Bel- 
atti) Flood. The father was a prominent old 
settler of Mills County, and is now one of the 
the solid citizens of Keg Creek Township. 
Thomas, the eldest child of five sons and one 
daughter, was reared in Mills County until 
fourteen years of age, when his father settled 
in Keg Creek Township. Here he grew to 
manhood, having passed his youth at farm 
work in the summer and attending school 
durincr the winter. He finished his education 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



677 



at a public school and by studying at home, 
and lastly at St. Joseph Business College. He 
engaged in teaching at the age of eighteen 
years, and taught during the winter montlis 
and frequently during the summer months 
for twelve years. He bought the land where 
he now lives in the spring of 1881, which 
was then wild land. He broke out some of 
it, and the next season rented it. He again 
located on his farm in the spring of 1884, 
where he has since resided and made his 
home; he has eighty acres well improved. 
He is engaged in general farming and stock- 
raising, and is also engaged in general mer- 
chandising, having built a store and put in a 
good supply of general merchandise in com- 
pany with his brother, Lawrence Flood, who 
is also in company with him on the farm. 
They carry a tine assortment of dry-goods, 
groceries and farming implements. The 
Flood Brothers are favorably and well known 
all over this section and have a good trade. 
Politically Mr. Flood is a Democrat, and was 
appointed Postmaster of Armour in March, 
1890. 

He was married March 12, 1884, to Miss 
Alice Le Valley, of Silver Creek Township, a 
woman of intelligence, who was born in 
Lincoln, Illinois, the daughter of Hugh 
Le Valley. They have four children: Fran- 
ces, Charles, Lawrence and a baby girl. 




S. QUICK, one of the best and most 
favorably known citizens of Hardin 
1*^ Township, was born in Rocking- 
ham County, Virginia, August 15, 1818, a 
son of William Quick, who served in the 
war of 1812, and Elizabeth (Trout) Quick. 
He was seven years old when his pai-ents re- 
moved to Licking County, Ohio, in pioneer 



days. William and live brothers drew b}' 
hand a light wagon, loaded with household 
goods. Mr. W. S. Quick, our subject, saw 
the first shovelful of dirt thrown on be- 
ginning the construction of the Erie Canal, 
by Governor Trumbull, of Ohio. He was 
brought up on a pioneer farm, clearing 
ground in the forest. After his marriage in 
1856 he came to Iowa, settling at Winterset, 
Madison County, for three years. Then he 
went to Pike's Peak with an ox team, in 
search of gold; next he was engaged in 
freighting from Des Moines and Plattsmouth 
to Denver; tben conducted a hotel at Denver 
and also entered the mercantile trade; re- 
moved to Omaha and then to Council Bluffs, 
engaging in the livery business, in buying 
and shipping grain, and in general merchan 
dise. One season (18G5) lie drove a herd of 
600 cattle to Chicago. He settled upon his 
present farm in 1881, which he had pur- 
chased previously, in 1872. Here he has 
built two good liou.ses, a barn 42 x 50, and 
other buildings, and planted a tine orchard 
and grove of ornamental trees. He and his 
son are partners in the farm and in the store, 
in which they carry a full line of general 
merchandise, and have an extensive trade. 
The farm at present comprises 280 acres of 
well-improved and well-stocked land. In his 
political views Mr. Quick is a Democrat. 
While in Council Bluffs he was Alderman 
three years. He was initiated as a Free- 
mason in 1848, at Bellefontaine, Ohio. 

When twenty-four years of age Mr. Quick 
married Miss Angeliiie Effinger, who was 
born at Newmarket, Virginia, and they have 
two children: Elias Jefferson, now in part- 
ership with his father; and Cornelius S., an 
banker at ludianola. Red Willow County, 
Nebraska. Mrs. Quick died in October, 
1885, and April 28, 1889, Mr. Quick mar- 
ried for his present wife Miss Amelia Hamp- 



678 



BIOORAPniCAL HISTORY 



ton, and by this marriage there are two chil- 
dren — Gertrude and Howard. 

Elias J. Quick, jnst mentioned, was born 
in Licking County, Ohio, and was eleven 
years of age when his parents came to this 
State, and fourteen years old when he went 
to Denver. He attended school in Ohio, in 
Iowa, at Denver and at Council Bluffs, and 
by actual practice obtained his business train- 
ing. He was married in February, 1873, at 
Council Bluffs, to Miss Elizabeth Thomas, 
who was born in Wales, a daughter of John 
and Elizabeth Thomas. They have eight 
children, namely: Anna Caravena, George, 
Cornelius, Tilly, William T., Jay, Elizabeth 
and Mabel. Mr. Quick is a Democrat in 
his political sympathies. He was appointed 
Pt)straaster of Quick postoffice in 1884, 
under Ir'resident Arthur. 




^^ILLIAM F. PLUNKET, of section 
19, Hardin Township, is one of the 
prominent and well-known settlers 
of the township, where he has resided since 
September 19, 1870. He was born in Men- 
ard County, Illinois, November 29, 1833, the 
son of Zeno A. and Sarah (Foster) Plunket, 
both natives of Kentucky. They were also 
married in this State. The father was among 
the early settlers of Sangamon County, where 
he settled in 1831 and remained until 1835, 
when they moved to Henry County, Iowa, 
which was then a Territory, inhabited by the 
Fox and Winnebago Indians; he was also 
one of the first settlers of this county. The 
father died in September, 1842, leaving a 
widow, three sons and one daughter, viz.: 
William F., Elizabeth, who died in Henry 
County, near Wayland; J. H., of Garner 
Township; and Samuel, who was killed at 
Vicksburg in 1863. He wa* a member of 



the Twenty-fifth Iowa Infantry. The mother 
now resides with her son, William F., at the 
age of seventy eight years. 

William F., our subject, passed his youth 
in Henry County, assisting at farm work. 
April 6, 1854, he started for California with 
an ox team, crossing tlie Missouri River at 
Council Bluffs, when there was only one log 
cabin where the boat landed at Omaha. At 
the end of four months he reached Shasta 
County, California, where he remained until 
December 5, 1856, when he returned home 
via the Isthmus of Panama, to New York, 
and thence to Henry County, Iowa. In the 
fall of 1870 he came to Pottawattamie 
County, and purchased 200 acres of jiartially 
improved land, which he has since converted 
into one of the best improved farms in the 
township. He has since added to this tract 
until he now has 280 acres. He has a grove 
and orchard of four acres, and everything 
about the farm shows the thrift and prosper- 
ity of the proprietor. 

Politically Mr. Plunket is a Democrat, and 
has served as Township Trustee and as a 
member of the school board, serving with 
credit to himself and the best interests of the 
people. He is a man fifty-seven years of 
age, but bears his years lightly; he is frank 
and cordial in his manner. He has lived 
fifty years in Iowa, and has witnessed tiie 
growth and prosperity of this part of the 
county, and has shared in its development. 
He is numbered, socially, financially and 
politically, among the solid men of the town- 
ship. He was married in Henry County, 
October 7, 1858, to Miss Nancy .Vnn 
Caughey, a native of Pennsylvania, and the 
daughter of Josiah and Elmira (Malone) 
Caughey, both natives of Pennsylvania. Mr. 
and Mrs. Plunket have seven children living, 
viz.: John F., who lives adjoining his father; 
Charles C, a physician at Anita. Cass County, 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



679 



Iowa; Edward, a machinist at Des Moines; 
William O., Albert F., at home; Ira Z. and 
Casper A. They lost their second child, 
Samuel, by death, at the age of two years. 



ISAIAH ROSSA, who resides in Garner 
Townsliip, section 12, is one of the prom- 
inent citizens of the township. He came 
here in July, 1877, from Mills County, Iowa, 
where he had resided for three years. He 
was born in Ulster County, New York, Octo- 
ber 6, 1857, the son of John Z. Kossa, who 
was born in the same county, and the son of 
Zachariah Rossa, of Holland- Dutch ancestry. 
Our subject's mother was Catharine (Oakley) 
Rossa, who was born in Ulster County, New 
York, the daughter of John Oakley, a cap- 
tain in the war of 1812, and of an old Amer- 
ican family. John Z. Rossa and wife had 
two children — Isaiah and Phosbe Monroe — 
who died in New York State at the age of 
twenty- nine years. She left live children. 
The father died in Ulster County, New York, 
in November, 1882, and the mother resides 
with lier son Isaiah. 

The subject of this sketch passed his youth 
upon a farm, and linislied his education at 
Ashland, in Green County, New York. He 
taught school several terms. Arriving at the 
age of manhood he was married May 29, 
1856, in Ulster County, New York, to Mary 
L. Turner, who was born in Ulster County, 
the daughter of Josiah and Jane Ann (De la 
Montonge) Turner, natives of New York. 
At the time of Lincoln's call for 300,000 
more men, our subject enlisted in the civil 
war in August, 1862, in the One Hundred 
and Twentieth Infantry Volunteers, Company 
C, of New York. Ilis regiment was stationed 
in Virginia mostly. He served one year and 
eleven months, and was honorably discharged 

48 



in July, 1864, at West Philadelphia, where 
he had been confined some time by a chronic 
disease in a hospital. 

After the war Mr. Rossa returned to Ulster 
County, New York, and in 1869 removed to 
Clark County, Iowa, where lie resided for one 
year. He then came to Montgomery County, 
Iowa, where he resided until 1874, and then 
removed to Mills County, same State, re- 
maining until 1877, and then settled on his 
present farm, which was then wild land. He 
now owns forty acres of land in Crescent 
Township and eighty acres in Garner Town- 
ship, all under a good state of cultivation. 
In his political principles Mr. Rossa is a Re- 
publican. He is a man of intelligence, well 
informed on general topics, and has taken an 
active interest in educational and religious 
work of the community where he resides. 
Mr. and Mrs. Rossa have six children, viz.: 
Catiierine Wood, Sarah Olive Osborn, resid- 
ing in Weston, Iowa; Lavinia, wife of Harry 
Osburn, of Council Bluffs; Frank, who mar- 
ried Lillian Osborn, and resides in Crescent 
Township; Josiah, who resides at liome and 
owns a fartn in Crescent Township; and 
Emma, at home. They gave their children a 
good education, and two of their daughters 
have been successful teachers. They lost one 
child by death, John, at the age of twelve 
years. He was the second child. 



►>,^ 




ILLIAM D. BALL, of section 30, 
Hardin Township, came to this county 
in 1879, where he has since resided. 
He was born in Parke County, Indiana, Janu- 
ary 15, 1847, the son of Zopher and Deborah 
(Mothorn) Ball, the former a native of Sulli- 
van County, Ohio, and the latter of Tennes- 
see. The parents were married in Parke 
County, Indiana. William D. was eight years 



C80 



mOORAPUWAL HISTORY 



of age when his parents canie, in 1855, and 
settled in Marion Couiitj, Iowa, where they 
were among the early pioneers. The father 
lived there until his death in 1860, and the 
mother came to Fottawattamie County about 
1879, and lived until her death, near Oak- 
land, at the age of seventy-four years. They 
had three sons and four daughters, of whom 
two sons and two daughters are in Pottawat- 
tamie County. 

William C, the fourth child, lived in 
Marion County until 1867, when he went to 
Denver, Salt Lake, Idaho and Wyoming. 
He worked for the Northern Pacific Kail- 
road, engaged in freighting and railroad 
work. After three years he returned to 
Marion County, Iowa, and in 1875 he came 
to Pottawattamie County, where he lived 
two years. He then moved to Shelby County, 
remaining two years, and then returned and 
bought eighty acres of wild land in Potta- 
wattamie County, where he now lives, and 
where he has made many improvements. At 
the age of twenty- seven years he was married 
to Delia Orr, who was born in Illinois, but 
reared in Missouri. She is the daughter of 
Anthony and Jane (Blake) Orr, of Scotch- 
Irish extraction. Mr. and Mrs. Ball have 
reared four children: Maggie Jane, Marion, 
Posa May and Bertie Lee. Their eldest 
child, Clarence, died at five years of age. 
Politically Mr. Ball is a Democrat. 



f'OHN HARDING.— Among the old set- 
tlers of Grove Township none are better 
known than the gentleman whose name 
heads this article. He came here in 1866, 
and has since made this place his home. 

Mr. Harding was born in Wiltshire, Eng- 
land, December 28, 1820, the son of John 
and Elizabeth (Heuer) Harding, both natives 



of England. He was reared on a farm and 
educated in his native land. The lessons of 
industry, economy and honesty, which in 
early life were instilled into him by his par- 
ents, have been of great value to him. In 
1852 he married Miss Louisa Trotman, a 
native of Wiltshire, born in June, 1825, the 
daughter of Cornelius and Ann (Reeves) 
Trotman. 

In 1866, with his wife and children, Mr. 
Harding liade farewell to friends and native 
land and sailed for America to make a home 
for himself and family. They started from 
Liverpool and landed at New York city, 
thence to Chicago by rail. In the latter 
place he purchased a team and wagon, and in 
it continued his Western journey to Potta- 
wattamie County, and settled in Grove 
Township. Here he bought seventy acres 
of partly improved land. Mr. Harding has 
prospered since he took up his residence 
here, and is now the owner of 270 acres of 
land; 230 acres are in one body, section 32, 
and forty acres are on section 21, being a 
mile and three-quarters apart. This laud 
consists of rich prairie soil and good timber 
land, well watered and well adapied for stock, 
and is considered one of the best farms in 
Grove Township. Mr. Harding has a comfort- 
able house, and suitable outbuildings for 
stock, grain, etc., and is engaged in general 
farming and stock raising. He has some of 
the finest hogs in Pottawattamie County. 

Ten children have been born to Mr. and 
Mrs. Harding, viz.: Ellen Lydia Wagner, of 
Colorado; Elizabeth, wife of John Osier, of 
Grove Township; Augusta Maud, wife of J. 
W. Brownell, of Colorado; Finetta Almina, 
wife of A. A. Sanders, of Missouri; Robert 
J., who married Addie Magee, and resides in 
Colorado; Thomas W., at home; Hester 
Drusillie Maria and Bertha Charlotte were 
both drowned in England, the former at the 



OP POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



681 



age of two years and ten months and the lat- 
ter at the age of nineteen months; Mary 
Catherine died at the age of fourteen; and 
Fanny Sarah Jane died when she was nine- 
teen years old. All their children were born 
in England except Tlioinas W., who is a 
native of this county. 

Mr. Harding and his wife were reared in 
the Chnrch of England. They both nnited 
witli the Protestatit Methodist Church of this 
place, but Mr. Harding says they were 
tur:ied out of the church because he was a 
loyal Democrat; however, they are earnest 
and consistent Christians. He is a leader in 
the Democratic party, not only in his town- 
ship but throughout the eastern part of Pot- 
tawattamie County. Colonel Bowman once 
stated that Pottawattamie County had no 
more zealous and loyal Democrat than John 
Harding. For a number of years he has 
served as a member of the Board of Township 
Trustees. He has been a delegate to both 
State and Congressional conventions at Des 
Moines and Atlantic, and to all the conven- 
tions of note on the Bluffs, at times going 
from his place thirty miles and back in the 
same day to attend said conventions. He is 
a man well posted on all general topics, is 
hrm in iiis convictions of right and wrong, 
and is honored arid esteemed most by those 
who know him best. 



piLLIAM LEWIS, a well-known stock- 
dealer of Grove Township, has been 
a resident there since 1870. He was 
born in La Salle County, Illinois, September 
21, 1848, a son of Charles Lewis, who was 
born in Norway, and was but a youth when 
he came in 1826 to America. He married 
Elizabeth Hou,gas a very intelligent lady, 
who was born at Rochester, New York. He 




was a pioneer of La Salle County, and re- 
sided there, a successful business man, until 
his death, in 1861. He left two sons (Will- 
iam, the subject of this sketch, and Ed, a 
resident of Dakota), and his widow, who lived 
until August 5, 1890. William was brought 
up to farm work, and completed his school 
education in the city of La Salle. In 1870 
he came to Pottawattamie County, first buy- 
ing a tract of wild land on section 36, Mace- 
donia Township, which he occupied and 
improve \ for ten years, when he settled upon 
his present farm. He now owns 1,080 acres of 
well improved land. His home farm com- 
prises 160 acres, and there is on the premises 
a good frame residence built in modern style, 
beside.^ a good barn and other outbuildings, 
competent for the care of a large number of 
domestic animals. In the winter of 1889-'90 
he fed 40,000 bushels of corn. Besides, he 
owns an interest in 700 or 800 head of live- 
stock in Sarpy County, Nebraska. Mr. Lewis 
is a thorough stockman, and a jolly, warm- 
hearted Westerner. He is a Democrat, but 
too busy with his own affairs to take any 
part in a political canvass. 

He was married in Mills County, Iowa, 
May 30, 1873, to Mrs Elizabeth Richards, 
a native of Parke County, Indiana, and 
daughter of James and Alzina (Fisher) Shank. 
Her father was born in Warren County, Ohio, 
and her mother in Brown County, same State. 
The four children of Mr. and Mrs. Lewis 
are Anna W., Arthur C, Laura I. and 
Charles M. 



lOBERT CURRIE, a farmer of Nor walk 
Township, Pottawattamie County, was 
**$i born in Fifeshire, Scotland, October 7, 
1837. He spent his schooldays at his native 
place, where he learned the blacksmith's 
trade. When a young man became with his 



6S2 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISlORr 



parents to the United States, in 1849, and to 
Utah in 1852, working at his trade. In 1859 
he went to Nevada and California, where he 
remained until 1864, and then returned to 
Utah. In 1872 he again crossed the plains 
to Carson City, Nevada, working in the shops 
of the V. & T. Railroad until 1876, when he 
again came to this county and located in 
Crescent Township, being engaged with 
Robert Adams in mercantile pursuits, and 
then in Underwood for a time. In 1881 he 
caine to Norwalk Township, and located on 
the farm where he now lives, and of recent 
years he has turned his attention exclusively 
to farming acd stock-raising. 

In 1861, March 24, he married Miss Eliza- 
beth Jones, a daughter of David E. Jones. 
She was born in South Wales September 7, 
1839, and came with her parents to the 
United States when fifteen years of age. 
They immediately went to Utah, and after- 
ward to Nevada and California, and in the 
latter State was married to Robert Currie. 
David Jones, her father, died in Nevada. 
Be was a farmer by occupation. Mr. and 
Mrs. Currie have eight children, viz.: John 
L., a farmer of Crescent Township; William 
C, residing in Salt Lake, and in the employ 
of the Salt Lake & Rio Grande Railroad; 
James R., a farmer of this county; Thomas 
H., George W., Mary Elizabeth and Orse, 
all at home. Raymond died in 1889, when 
nine years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Currie are 
members of the Latter-Lay Saints' Church. 
Politically Mr. Currie is a Democrat, and is a 
member of the Mutual Protective Society. 



fOSEPH EVANS, residing on section 6, 
Garner Townslii|i, is a well-known set- 
tler of Pottawattamie County. He came 
to this country in 1856, where he has since 



made his home. He was born in Wales, July 
4, 1848, the son of Evan and Mary (James) 
Evans, both natives of Wales. The parents 
reared a family of three children: David 
Evans, residing in Vail, Crawford County; 
John, residing in Garner Township; and 
Joseph, our subject. The father lived in this 
country until his death, which occurred in 

1865, and the mother now lives in a house 
adjoining her sou, Joseph, at the age of sev- 
enty-five years. She was again married in 

1866, to F. D. Piddington, who was born in 
England, and died in October, 1888. She is 
a member of the Reorganized Cliurch of the 
Latter-day Saints. Her first husband was an 
elder in the Mormon Church, but later be- 
longed to the Latter-Day Saints. 

Joseph Evans, our subject, was a lad of 
nine years when his parents sailed from 
Liverpool to New York, then came to Iowa 
City, and from there, by hand-carts, to Coun- 
cil Bluffs. He received his education in 
Pottawattamie County, and was reared to 
farm life. Arriving at the age of manhood 
he was married, in Council Bluffs, October 
26, 1866. to Miss Jane Rees, who was born 
in Wales, the daughter of John and Mary 
(Davis) Rees. She came to Ohio when a 
girl of twelve years. The parents came to 
Pottawattamie County about 1856. The 
father lived in Council Bluffs until his death, 
in 1875, and the mother died in Garner 
Township in 1886. Mrs. Evans has one lis- 
ter in Garner Township, Sarah, the wife of 
John Evans; and one in Salt Lake, Anna, 
the wife of James Obint. Mr. Evans settled 
on his present farm in 1878, when it was 
wild laud, but which he has since improved. 
He now owns sixty-six acres of land, and is 
engaged in general farming and stock-raising. 

Mr. Evans is a Democrat poliiically, and 
is one of the enterprising and respected citi- 
zens of this county. Mr. and Mrs. Evans 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



083 



have live cliildren, viz. : William, David, Rosa, 
Candace and Minnie J. They have lost 
seven l)y death in childhood. 






fOIlN CLTRRIE, Jr., is an influential 
resident of Nor walk Township; was born 
near Edinburg, Fifeshire, Scotland; 
February 14, 1837, is thought to be the date 
of liis birth, lint on account of the records of 
the Currie family becoming lost when they 
came to the United States the date is rather 
uncertain. He was the son of John and 
Tomema (Blythe) Currie, both of whom were 
born in Fifeshire, Scotland, where they were 
married and resided until coming to the 
United States in 1849. They landed in the 
port of New Orleans, after a perilous jour- 
ney. They soon after came to Council Bluffs, 
then Kanesville, and commenced farming on 
the land where Streetsville now is, having 
entered the land from the Government. In 
1852 the family continued their trip to 
Utah, where they arrived after a long trip, in 
company with a large number of others. 
After a short stay in the Capitol of Utah the 
family moved to Utah Valley, on the Amer- 
ican fork. In 1863 they returned to Cres- 
cent City, which became their home, and 
where the father died, in 1880, when seventy- 
six years of age. His wife, our subject's 
mother, died at Kanesville the year after her 
arrival from Scotland. She was born in 
1805s John Currie, our subject's father, 
learned horse-shoeing and blacksmithing 
when yet a young man in Edinburg, at which 
he worked until coming to America. He 
was a farmer in Utah, a merchant at Crescent 
City, and was presiding Elder in the Latter- 
Day Saints Church in Utah; he was Justice 
of the Peace a number of years, and Post- 
master of Crescent City from the beginning 



of his residence in that place to IiIh death. 
After the death of his first wife he married 
Amanda Chipman, who died in Utah. By 
his first marriage he had ten children, six of 
whom are now living: Agnes Toprith, of 
Crescent City; James, a blacksmith by trade, 
but at present is a commercial traveler; Ellen, 
for a tiuie in business at Salt Lake City; 
John, our subject; Robert, a farTner of Nor- 
walk Township; "William, Deputy Sheriff of 
this county, and residing at Crescent City; 
Euphemia, the wife of Robert Adams, a 
grain-dealer at Underwood. Thomas, Katli- 
erine and Margaret are deceased, the latter 
when thirteen years of age, while preparing 
to start to Utah; she is buried in Fair View 
Cemetery. 

Mr. Currie, our subject, spent his scliool 
days in Edinburg, Scotland, and when quite 
a young boy commenced to learn the black- 
smith's trade. After his arrival in Salt Lake, 
he and a brother worked in the Pacific shops, 
on Temple block. Salt Lake City. Soon after 
his arrival he worked for Brigham Young on 
the Bee and Lyon house, and afterward turned 
his attention to farming and stock-raising on 
the American fork. In 1866 he returned to 
Iowa, and with his father engaged in farm- 
ing, first in Crescent Township, and afterward 
where he now lives. He owns a splendid 
farm of 200 acres. Mr. Currie, although not 
aspiring to public position, has held almost 
all the offices of Nor walk Township, and 
while in Utah was Constable two years. 

In 1860 he married Miss Elizabeth A. 
Filchber who was born in England, in 1839, 
and died at Crescent City, April 13, 1881. 
She was the mother of eleven children, nine 
of whom are now living: Margaret Pratt, 
the wife of Sylvester Pratt, a farmer of Cres- 
cent Township; John B., a rancher in Califor- 
nia; Eliza, wife of Thomas Walton, deceased, 
who was killed in a railroad accident, and she 



684 



BIOGRAPniCAL HISTORY 



resides in Underwood; Ann, the wife of 
Harry E. Fislier, a merchant of Underwood; 
Aggie, at home; Fj-ank K. and Lorena May. 
The deceased are: Joseph A., at nine years 
and four montlis; Cora Jane, an infant. 
August 20, 1887, Mr. Currie married Miss 
Jennie Thompson, who was born at Cler- 
mont, Ohio, near Williamsburg, January 29, 
1843, the daughter of Alexander and Nancy 
(Wood) Thompson, natives of Virginia and 
Ohio. The father died in Ohio, when sixty- 
two years of age in 1875, and his wife two 
years later, when sixty-five years of age. 
Mr. Thompson was a prominent citizen in his 
commnnity, holding responsible positions of 
trust. Politically he was a Democrat.. Mrs. 
Currie was highly educated in Oiiio at the 
State Normal School and at Terre Haute, In- 
diana, and taught school for a number of 
years. Mr. Currie is a Democrat in his 
political principles. 



►4HH 



lEORGE H. OSBORN, who owns and 
cultivates 160 acres of land in section 
3, Garner Tow^nship, first came to this 
county in April, 1865. He was horn in 
Frederick County, Virginia, near Winchester, 
in the Shenandoah Valley, noted during the 
last war, the date of his birth being February 
24, 1818. His father was George Osborn, a 
miller by trade and of English ancestry; and 
his mother, whose maiden name was Amelia 
Gordon, was a Virginian by birth and of old 
Virginian ancestry. Mr. Osborn was brought 
up a farmer in his native county. March 
26, 1846, he married Miss Eliza Grant, a 
daughter of John and Kebecca (Fulton) 
Grant. The Grant family were from Penn- 
sylvania before the war of 1812. After his 
marriage Mr. Osborn removed to Frederick 
County, and in the spring of 1860, he 



came West and located near St. Joseph, 
Missouri, and lived there live years, engaged 
in farming. During the war tiie community 
was a disagreeable one; and in the spring of 
1865 Mr. Osborn bought his present farm, 
on which at the time there were an old log 
cabin and a few other improvements. Now 
the place is a i^plendid home, up with the 
times. Mr. Osborn is a Democrat in his 
political principles, a highly honored and 
worthy citizen. His children are: Ella, wife 
of William King, living in Hazel Dell Town- 
ship; John L., who also resides in Hazel Dell 
Township; Alcinda, now Mrs. William Trip- 
plet, residing in Buffalo County, Nebraska; 
and George C, a resident of Hazel Dell 
Township. 



- g - S " i .g.... 



fRANCIS MARION OWENS, of section 
1, Garner Township, is another promi- 
nent citizen who deserves mention in 
this work, as he has been a resident of this 
county ever since 1850. He was born in 
Monroe County, Missouri, October 18, 1832, 
the son of Elijali Owens, a Virginian, now 
deceased. His mother's name before mar- 
riage was Mary Holman, and she was a na- 
tive of Kentucky, and died when the subject 
of this sketch was seven years of age. He 
was a small boy when his father removed to 
Shelbyville, Shelby County, Missouri, where 
they resided until he was thirteen years of 
age. Tliey then removed to Putnam County, 
where they lived until he was eighteen years 
of age. He was brought up on a farm, and 
reared principally by strangers. It wa,s in 
October, 1850, when he came to this county 
and engaged chiefly in herding- cattle until 
about 1854. He then married and settled 
in Monona County, Iowa, near Ashton Grove, 
north of where Onawa now is. Remaining 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



685 



there until about 1860, he returned to this 
county and enu^aged in jobbitig and trading 
in live-stock at Oouiicil Bluffs. In 1874 he 
located upon his present farm of 160 acres, 
being then a Mormon claim and one of the 
first settlers. Mr. Owens has built a fine 
cottage and embellished the premises, making 
a fine home. Living streams from pure 
springs run through the farm. Tlius, dairy- 
ing is a continued specialty. Mr. Owens is 
a zealous and intelligent Republican Prohibi- 
tionist, a man of easy manners and address 
and honorable in all his dealings, spending 
much time and money in the cause of tem- 
perance. 

Mr. Owens was married June 25, 1854, to 
Miss Samantha Jane Douglass, a woman of 
intelligence and education, who was born in 
Scotland County, Missouri, and came to Pot- 
tawattamie County in 1851 with her parents, 
John McFarland Douglass and Hannah, nee 
Barnes, a native of Missouri. Mr. Doncrlass 
was born in St. Louis, Missouri, and had 
lived in Pottawattamie County, but two or 
three weeks when he was drowned in a cut- 
off near Manawa Lake, May 24, 1851, leav- 
ing a widow and one child. Mr. and Mrs. 
Owens have two children, viz.: Len Douslass, 
who was born in Monona County Iowa, and 
is engaged in extensive manufacturing in 
San Francisco, California; and Frank M., 
who is a resident of the homestead. 



ilLLIAM H. KUHN", of Garner 

Township, has been a resident here 
since April 18, 1857, and is well and 
favorably known. He was born at the foot 
of the Blue Ridge Mountains, in Frederick 
(bounty, Maryland, October 20, 1832, the son 
of Joseph and Sarah (Oveliuan) Kuhn, the 
former a native of Maryland, whose fatiier 




came from Germany, and the latter also a 
native of Maryland. In th'^ir fa'niiy were 
six sons and one daughter. Tlie father died 
in 1854 at the age of fifty-four years, and the 
mother died in 1873 at the advanced age of 
seventy-one years, and was buried at Me- 
chanicstown, Maryland. 

William H. was reared in his native county 
and learned the trade of wheelwright. In 
1853 Re came to Leavenworth, Kansas, where 
he learned the carpenter's trade. Coming 
East in 1854 he continued at his trade until 
1857, when he returned West, this time 
coming by way of steamboat from Wheeling 
down the Ohio River, and then up the Mis- 
sissippi and Missouri to Council Bluffs, being 
a month and three days on the way. Here 
he followed his trade, in company with J. P. 
Williams, an old citizen, during the summer 
and winter. He then enscacred in building a 
large mill for William Garner on Mosquito 
Creek. When this was completed, Septem- 
ber 20, 1858, he started for Pike's Peak and 
was one of the first to cross the plains to that 
point, arriving after a forty days' journey. 
There he engaged in mining, in company 
with Mr. Gregory, who first discovered valu- 
able minerals at Black Hawk and Central 
City, Colorado. He remained in the Terri- 
tories, raining, etc., until the spring of 1859, 
when he returned to Council Bluffs, working 
at his old trade of millwright until the spring 
of 1864. He then again crossed the plains 
with an o.x team to Virginia City, in Mon- 
tana, starling on the 20th of May and arriving 
there October 1, by way of Yellowstone and 
Big Horn. The next year he returned to 
Council Bluffs, and built a large woolen mill 
for William Garner on Mosquito Creek. In 
1866, when this work wa^ finished, he took 
charge of the mill for thres years, operating 
it and maaiita'3t'iring wojlen cr )o Is. In the 
tall of 1868 he built his present residence on 



686 



BWOMArinCAL n I STORY 



liis farm, which consists of 440 acres, one of 
the best iin proved farms in tlie township. 
Tiie residence, a two story frame, cost $2,000. 
There is also on the premises an orchard of 
twenty acres, with a great variety of fruit. 
This farm is seven miles nortlieast of Council 
Bluffs and Mr. Kuhn has eighty acres be 
sides in Hazel Dell Township. 

In his political sympathies he is a Demo- 
crat. He has been Township Assessor for 
five years, Township Trustee and a member 
of the School Board. He was married No- 
vember 13, 1860, to Julia H. Garner, daugh- 
ter of William Garner, a prominent citizen 
of the township. She was born in Adams 
County, niinois, but received her education 
in this county. In their family are the fol- 
lowing children: Cyrus Frank; Sarah G., a 
successful teacher; Brick Fomeroy, attending 
school at the Michigan State University at 
Ann Arbor; and William H., Jr., at home. 
Margaret E., a daughter, died in her four- 
teenth year year. 



fOIIN GKEEN, M. D., of Council Bluffs, 
engaged in the practice of his profession 
in this city in February, 1877, and has 
been constantly in practice since that time. 
Dr. Green was born in Morrow County, Ohio, 
October 10, 1832. His father was Isaac 
Green, who was born in New Jersey but went 
to Washington County, Pennsylvania, in 
early manhood. He married Lettie Miller 
and removed to Morrow County, Ohio, where 
they were pioneers and where they continued 
to live until death, the mother passing away 
in 1880 at the age of eighty-three years and 
the father sevei-al years later, at the age of 
eighty-six years. The family of Isaac Green 
and wife consisted of four sons and four 
daughters. Two of each are now deceased. 



Tlie oldest of the family is William, who is 
still a resident of Morrow County, Ohio. The 
deceased brothers were Joseph M. and the 
Rev. Daniel Green. The latter was a Pres- 
byterian clergyman, who died in 1875. At 
the time of his death he was a resident of 
Kansas. He was for eighteen years a mis- 
sionary in China. He left, at his decease, a 
wife and three children. The subject of this 
notice was educated in the common schools 
of Ohio and was also for some time a student 
of the Presbyterian Academy at Martins- 
burg, Knox County, Ohio. He began the 
study of medicine in 1857, at Chesterville, 
in his native State, and took a course of lec- 
tures at the medical department of Michigan 
State University at Ann Arbor in 1858-'59. 
In April, 1861, in response to the first call 
of President Lincoln for troops to aid in sup- 
pressing the Rebellion, Dr. Green entered 
the army as a private in Company B, Fourth 
Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and on the 
reorganization of the company for three years' 
service, he was made First Lieutenant of his 
company, and subsequently Adjutant of the 
regiment, in which position he served until 
promoted to a captaincy. Soon after, with 
the rank of Captain and Assistant Adjutant- 
General of Volunteers, he served under Gen- 
eral John S. Mason, and as aid of General 
Lander, and subsequently was on duty in the 
same capacity with General McDowell. He 
was mustered out of the service in August, 
1866, at Tucson, Arizona Territory, as Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel by brevet. Dr. Green was a 
gallant and efficient soldier and served in 
many important campaigns of the war. He 
served with McCIellan in West Virginia, 
early in the war, taking part in the battle of 
Roney. He was also at the first battle of 
Winchester, where General Shields defeated 
Stonewall Jackson, and also took part in the 
battle of Port Republic. His command was 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



687 



tlieii ordered to join the army of tlie Poto- 
mac, where they arrived soon after McClei- 
lan's peninsular campaign closed. He took 
part in the second battle of Bull Run, where 
he had the lionor of withdrawing the last 
picket line. Soon after this battle he was 
severely injured by being tlirown from his 
horse at Georgetown, and was confined to 
the hospital for aboirt six months. When 
able to rejoin liis command, he was ordered 
to the Department of the Ohio, then in com- 
mand of General Rosecrans, but was assigned 
to duty at Camp Chase, Ohio, where he re- 
mained six months. He was then ordered 
to San Francisco, where he reported to Gen- 
eral McDowell, thence to Arizona, accom- 
panying General McDowell as Adjutant- 
General of the District of Arizona. He was 
discharged at Chesterville, Ohio, at the date 
already given. Dr. Green resumed liis med- 
ical studies with Dr. John W. Russell, of 
Vernon, Ohio, and a prominent surgeon of 
that part of the State. He graduated at 
Charity Hospital Medical College, in 1866- 
'67. He practiced in Ohio until he came 
here. 

Dr. Green was married to Miss Mary A. 
Greenlee in JMovember, 1861. She was born 
in Fredericktown, Knox County, Ohio, a 
daughter of Archibald Greenlee. Doctor 
Green and wife have three children: John 
A., Margaret L. and William M. Dr. Green 
stands high in the medical profession, and is 
a worthy and esteemed citizen. He was a 
gallant soldier in the war of the Rebellion. 



fUEDERICK W. HOUGHTON, M. D., 
physician and druggist at Council Bluffs, 
is a native of Wisconsin, and was born 
at Sparta, in that State, September 9, 1861, 
and is a son of Albert R. Houghton. When 



Dr. Houghton was but two years of age, his 
parents removed to St. Albans, Vermont, and 
when eight years old the family removed to 
Sacramento, California, and after a residence 
of one year on the Pacific Coast returned 
and located at Council Bluffs. Dr. Hough- 
ton was educated in the public schools of 
this city, graduating from the high school in 
the class of 1879. Deciding to pursue the 
medical profession, he entered the office of 
Dr. McCrae, of Council Bluffs, where he 
continued for a time, but in 1880 he entered 
the College of Physicians and Surgeons, in 
New York city, taking a three years' course, 
graduating in May, 1883. He still further 
qualified himself for the medical profession 
by a year's course at St. Joseph's Hospital, 
at Paterson, New Jersey, where he remained 
one year. 

In 1887 Dr. Houghton' located at Council 
Bluffs and engaged in the practice of his 
profession and also opened a drug store, 
which he still conducts in connection with 
his medical practice. He was married in 
September, 1885, to Miss Geneva Van Beebe, 
of this city. They have one son — Albert B. 

Dr. Houghton received a thorough medi- 
cal education; he is energetic and public 
spirited, and though still a young man, occu- 
pies a prominent place among the medical 
fraternity of Pottawattamie County. 



ILLIAM A. MYNSTER, of Council 
Bluffs, one of the leading members 
of the bar of Pottawattamie County, 
is the only son of Christopher O. and Maria 
Mynster, pioneers of this county, a sketch ot 
whom is found elsewhere in this work. He 
was born in Copenhagen, Denmark, October 
13, 1843, having been but a child when the 
family emigrated to America. He was edu- 




688 



BIOORAPnrCAL HI8T0RT 



cated at Sinsinawa Mound College, Wiscon- 
sin, and at St. Louis University, Missouri, 
graduating from the latter institution in 1861, 
and from the Albany Law School, at Albany, 
New York, in 1865, and has been actively 
engaged in the practice of law in the city of 
Council Bluffs since that time. One year 
after beginning the practice of his profession 
he became associated with Mr. Hight, in the 
firm name of Mynster it Hight. This co- 
partnership continued for several years, when 
the tirm of James, Aylesworth & Mynster 
was formed, and later that of Mynster, Mickle 
& Davis, and still later that of Mynster & 
Adams. His next association was in the firm 
name of Mynster, Lindt &, Seabrook. He is 
still associated with Mr. Lindt, the firm being 
Mynster & Lindt. 

Mr. Mynster was married to Miss E. A. 
Plater, daughter of Ira Plater, an early set- 
tler of Council Bluffs. Mr. Mynster was 
bereft of his wife by death in November, 
1886. He has five children: William Rufus 
Choate, Marie, L-a C, Lester A. and Henry 
F. Mr. Mynster is one of the representative 
citizens of Council Bluffs and an enterpris- 
ing and progressive citizen. He has served 
as attorney of Pottawattamie County, and 
President of the City Council of this city. 
Politically Mr. Mynster affiliates with the 
Democratic party. 



fUDGE EGBERT E. AYLESWORTH 
is one of the earlier and well-known 
members of the bar of Council Bluffs. 
Judge Aylesworth is a native of the Empire 
State, having been born in the town of Mil- 
ford, Otsego County, New York, in 1838. 
His father, now deceased, was also born in the 
State of New York,' as was his mother, Savina 
Adams. They were the parents of six chil- 



dren, three sons and three daughters. The 
former in the order of their birth, are the 
subjects of this notice; Loretme, of Council 
Bluffs, and Freting, who is still a resident of 
the State of New York, as are the sisters of 
the family. 

Judge Aylesworth was reared in his native 
town and was educated at Hartwick Academy 
and at the Delaware Literary Institute, at 
Franklin, in Delaware County, New York, 
and began the study of law in 1861, at 
Portlandville in his native county, with R. 
M. Townseud, Esq., a prominent lawyer of 
that place. He was admitted at Bingham- 
ton. New York, May 12, 1863, but continued 
in the office of his preceptor till he came 
West three years later. Politically Judge' 
Aylesworth is a Democrat. In 1884 Judge 
Aylesworth was the Democratic candidate for 
Judge in the Fifteenth Judicial District, his 
opponent being C. F. Loofbourrow. The can- 
vass of the votes gave Judge Aylesworth a 
majority of two votes, but the election was 
contested and Loofbourrow was declared 
elected by fourteen votes. Four years before 
that election he ran against the same gentle- 
man for the same office, when the latter was 
elected by but sixty-four votes, though the 
Republican general ticket received a majority 
of about 3,000. In 1873 Judge Aylesworth 
was appointed by the City Council to the office 
of City Attorney of Council Bluffs, to succeed 
Judge J. R. Reed, and was elected to that 
place in 1874 and re-elected in 1876, serving 
in that position for four years. In March, 
1882, he was elected Judge of the Superior 
Court, a position that he filled in an able and 
satisfactory manner for the period of eight 
years. He has alsc been a member of the 
Council and of the School Board of the city. 
Judge Aylesworth is a lawyer of fine legal 
attainments, and is a progressive and popular 
citizen. He was married in the State of 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE OOUNTT. 



689 



New York, to Miss Marcella Winsor, also a 
native of Otsego County. Their cliildren are 
Paul Clark, Ellen Winsor, Egbert DeWitt 
and Setli Winsor. 

... ..i g . ^ ti ; . ! !.-^ 



iiAUL ACKELS is one of our substantial 
German-American citizens, and one of 
the early settlers and promoters of this 
town, who by industry and energy has made 
a place of honor for themselves, as well as 
assisted to promote the business enterprises 
of Avoca. He was born in the beautiful 
Province of Khine, Germany, the son of 
Malt Ackels, who was a farmer of that prov- 
ince, and the lather of four sons: Joseph, 
John, Paul and Malt. The father is in com- 
fortable circumstances, and has reached the 
age of ninety years. He served three years 
in the regular Prussian army, and was also 
in the rebellion of 1848 as a soldier for the 
Government. He is a man of remarkable 
constitution, and of great strength of charac- 
ter, and this robust constitution his son, our 
subject, has inherited to a great degree. The 
strong and sturdy sires of the old country 
have given to their sons, the voyagers to a 
new world, that vitality and character which 
are making them leaders in the West. 

Paul Ackels, our subject, was born Api-il 
20, 1844, and, as all Prussians are obliged by 
law to learn a trade, he chose that of tailor, 
which he completed in a very thorough man- 
ner in France, that country which for so 
many years was the emporium of fashion for 
the world. Mr. Ackels remained in the old 
country until the age of twenty-nine years, 
when, in 1873, he came to America, landing 
in New York city in the early part of May. 
His brother Malt was a farmer in this county, 
and he naturally came direct to Avoca, and 
after spending a few months working at his 



trade in Council Bluffs he came to this city 
and established himself in business as a mer- 
chant tailor. In 1876 he went into the 
clothing business, and has ever since been 
the leading clothier in the city. 

He married Miss Augusta Fincks in 1876. 
In his political opinion he is a stanch Re- 
publican, and socially a member of the 
Knights of Pythias, and of the Catholic 
Church. He is a man of liberal ideas, and 
has by industry and economy accumulated 
handsome property, owning real estate in 
this town and also in Nebraska. He is well 
known for his integrity of character, and his 
honor as a merchant is established. Coming 
from a foreign country and unable to speak 
our language, he deserves great credit for the 
manly way in which he has overcome every 
difficulty and won success by his own un- 
aided and laborious efforts. 



tBRAM HARRIS, a prominent farmer of 
Knox Township, descended from a prom- 
inent American family. His grand- 
father, Barnett Harris, was born on a farm 
in Connecticut, and was of English descent. 
He was the father of six sons: Barnett, Far- 
rington, Gilbert, Daniel, William and Joseph. 
The father lived to the age of sixty years, 
dying on his farm in Dutchess County, New 
York, where he was one of the early settlers. 
His son, Barnett, the father of our subject, 
was born in Dutchess County, and was mar- 
ried at the age of nineteen to Miss Sarah 
Vanolinda, of Holland-Dutch parentage, but 
who had lived in New York State a number 
of years. They were the parents of eight 
children: Sabin, Abram, Hiram, deceased at 
the age of twelve years; Aaron, who died 
when forty-five years of age; Jane, deceased 
at live years; Anna E., died at the age of 



«90 



BIOOE.'iPHICAL HISTORT 



twenty-five; Fannie and Mary J., de- 
ceased when eight years old. At the age 
of twenty-one Mr. Harris enlisted in the 
war of 1812, and served three months. He 
died at the age of seventy years in Saratoga 
Comity. He took great pride in his family, 
and bronght them up under the old New 
England regime — to be honest and upright 
men and women. He was well-known for 
his integrity of character, and was industrious 
and frugal in his habits. 

His son, Abram, the subject of this sketch, 
was born in Saratoga County, New Y^ork, 
April 15, 1823. His first experience at 
working out was when but nine years of age, 
for a six-months job, for which he received 
$12 and his board. He learned farming in 
the old-fashioned way, nsing the old-time 
sickle, scj'the and hoe. He then became a 
dealer in cattle and meat, driving the cattle 
to the Albany markets. In 1855 he moved to 
Ottawa, Illinois, and engaged in the butcher 
business, remaining there about thirteen 
years. Next, in 1868, he went into the 
dairy business in Colorado, remaining but 
one year, when he went to Omaha, where he 
stopped three months, and while there he 
purchased 240 acres of land in Pottawatamie 
County. He soon sold this and bought a 
one-half section, which he improved and also 
built a home. He sold this land in 1888, 
and bought his present farm of 274 acres, 
which is now under a good state of culti- 
vation. Besides this fine farm Mr. Harris 
also owns business property in Avoca. 
He is a large stock-raiser, having at present 
over 200 head of cattle and twenty-eight 
horses. In his political opinions, he is a 
"Green backer," and belongs to the Union- 
Labor party. He was one of the old-time 
Repnblicans, and took an active interest in 
forming that party. He has always been an 
original thinker and independent in his 



opinions, and believes strongly in the orig- 
inal purpose of our Government, — •" a govern- 
ment of the people, by the people, and for 
the people," — and never hesitates to express 
his views. He served the city of Avoca as 
Mayor two years, and also tilled the office of 
Justice of the Peace two years. He was 
nominated as candidate for State Senator on 
the Greenback ticket, and received the 
heaviest vote on the State ticket. He is a 
self-made man, having begun the struggle of 
life for himself at ten years of age, and by 
honest industry he has made his property. 
He is a well preserved man of sixty-seven 
years. 

Mr. Harris was married in Dutchess 
County, New York, to Johanna Ferris, of 
Irish parentage, and to them have been born 
five children: George W., who died at the 
age of eighteen; Eliza, Mary, Belle and 
Julia, deceased at nineteen years of age. The 
mother died, and the father was married to 
Mary Harder, daughter of Jacob and Mary 
(Heppner) Harder, and to them have been 
born seven children: Maud, Charles, Lin- 
coln, Thomas (deceased in infancy), Robert, 
Bennie and Jackson. Mrs. Harris has five 
brothers and sisters living, namely: Christian, 
Sophia, Mary, Charles and William. Their 
father was born in Germany. 

— '^ • ' 1 ' S t ' ; • !■" •• — 



M. HUFF. — This is an old and promi- 
nent American family of German and 
' French descent, the remote ancestors 
being natives of Germany, and early settlers 
of Stokes County, North Carolina. John 
Huff, the grandfather of our subject, was 
born in that State, and was a prominent 
farmer, owning 200 acres of land. He was 
the father of twenty-two children, by two 
wives: Daniel, John, Wells, Charity, Mel- 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



691 



vina, David, Jordan and William are all that 
our subject remembers. Lewis Huff, the 
father of our subject, was born on the old 
homestead, and when a boy went to Indiana 
with one of his neighbors, where he remained 
and was married to Susan Palmer. They 
had twelve children, viz.: Martha, Mary, 
Margaret, Edith, William, Alexis, Phoebe, 
Alice, Hermanda, Arthur, Luella and Charity. 
After his marriage, in 18-iO, Mr. Huft" settled 
in Henderson County, Illinois, where he re- 
mained until 1853. In that year he came to 
Council Bluffs, and setcled on a farm on the 
bottoms, now covered by the court-house and 
park. At that time there were but five 
houses and five stores there, which were cov- 
ered with earth. At Omaha there was not a 
building, and Mr. Huff had a claim of 160 
acres now in the heart of the city. He .was a 
soldier in the Black Hawk war, and both he 
and his wife were members of the Baptist 
Church, in which Mr. Huff was a deacon 
for many years. In 1855 he came to Center 
Township, where he was one of the pioneer 
settlers, there being but three others, — Joshua 
and Joseph Layton and Mr. Belknap. Mr. 
Huff was born in 1809, and died on his 
farm in 1885, at tiie age of seventy-six years. 
Alexander M. Hiiff, the subject of this 
sketch, was born in Henderson County, Illi- 
nois, May 17, 1845, and was reared to farm 
life. When but eight years of age he came 
with his father to Council Bluffs, and he well- 
remembers the trip to this State. He came 
witli his father to Center Township, and was 
married in Omaiia, in 1866, to Ella Doran, 
daughter of John Doran, a native of Nova 
Scotia. To Mr. and Mrs. Huff were i)orn 
six children: Mary, Lewis, Ford, Eva, Katie 
and Daisy. The next year, in August, 1869, 
Mr. Huff moved to his present farm of 160 
acres, on which he has made many improve- 
ments. He has taken an active interest in 



the cause of education, has been School Di- 
rector for many years. In his political prin- 
ciples he is a Republican, and takes an active 
interest in all matters pertaining to his town- 
ship. 

In 1863 Mr. Huff enlisted in Company C, 
Twenty-ninth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, as a 
private, and served two years, or until tiie 
close of the war. He was in the siege and 
capture of Mobile, at the battle of Jenkins' 
Ferry, and was sixty days on one march, on 
Red River, which was a continual skirmish. 
He was in the hospital five weeks with small- 
pox, and was honorably discharged at New 
Orleans. As a soldier of the great civil war, 
his descendants will honor his memory. 



fOHN H. DAVIS, residing on section 27, 
Garner Township, is one of the well- 
known and early settlers of the county, 
having settled here July 4, 1853. He is a 
native of Wales, born May 2, 1825, the son 
of James and Martha (Harris) Davis, also 
natives of Wales. John H. was reared in 
his native land, engaged in mining must of 
the time. December 28, 1852, he was mar- 
ried to Miss Mary Griffeys, who was born 
in Wales. In February, a short time after 
their marriage, they went to Liverpool, 
where they sailed for New Orleans on the 
sailing vessel the Old Jersey. They made 
the voyage in six weeks, and after landing in 
New Orleans they went to St. Louis, then to 
Keokuk, Iowa, where they camped for six 
weeks on the banks of the Mississippi River. 
They traveled over the plains of Iowa with 
an ox team, and on the Fourth of July ar- 
rived at Council Bluffs. Mr. Davis removed 
from here to Salt Lake City, Utah, where he 
arrived in October, 1853, after riJing over 
the plains and prairies. He resided in Salt 



693 



BIOGRAPUICAL HISTORY 



Lake until 1861, when he moved his family 
back to Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie Coun- 
ty, on his present farm, in 1865. It consists 
of 187 acres, situated four and a half miles 
from the city limits. He is engaged in gen- 
eral farming, fruit-raising and gardening. 

In his political views Mr. Davis is a 
Democrat, and although ho is growing old he 
yet bears his years very lightly. He has 
traveled extensively and is well informed. 
He has three sons and two daughters: Ben- 
jamin, living at home; William, residing on 
Keg Creek; Mary, wife of C. Herrick, and 
living on Keg Creek; James, at home; Sally, 
the wife of Fred Baup, and residing in Shelby 
County. A great loss to Mr. Davis was in 
the death of his wife, in 1867, who had shared 
his trials and hardships with him. 

■^ "I ' S"? ' ^" ' " 



fSAAC G. CARTER, of Ha-ncock, Valley 
Township, is one of our old soldiers who 
•=^ served his country in her time of need, 
and after her victory was secured returned to 
liis home and resumed the peaceful pursuit 
of agriculture in Valley Township. Mr. 
Carter is from an old American family, who 
were among the early settlers of Virginia. 
His grandfather was born in Virginia, and 
moved to Ohio, settling in Muskingum Coun- 
ty, as a pioneer, and became a successful 
farmer, owning 200 acres of land. He lived 
tu the great age of eighty-two years, and 
died on his old homestead in Ohio. He was 
tiie father of eight children: Ezekiel, Mar- 
cus, John, Joseph, Matilda, Hulda, Jane and 
Alvin. The youngest son, Alvin, was the 
father of Isaac C, our subject. He was born 
in Muskingum County, Ohio, and married 
Nancy Clark, of the same county. To them 
were born six children: Isaac G., Henry B., 
WashincTton, William, Hugh and Mary A. 



Mr. Carter died very suddenly at the early 
age of thirty years from exposure. His wife 
died within two weeks from exposure in taking 
cai-e of the stock on the farm. 

Isaac, their oldest son, and the subject of 
this sketch, was born February 20, 1830, and 
was but twelve years of age when he was left 
an orphan, and the little family of six orphan 
children were scattered. Isaac was brought 
up by William Evans, a wealtliy Irishman, 
who treated him kindly. He received a com- 
mon-school education, and at eighteen years 
of age he began to learn the carpenter's trade, 
serving a four-years apprenticeship, the old- 
fashioned plan of thoroughly learning a trade, 
and followed his trade until after the close of 
the war. 

He married Lucinda Dowell, daughter of 
George and Grace (Helms) Dowell. Mr. 
Dowell, an American of German descent, was 
a farmer of Muskingum County, Ohio, and 
the father of thirteen children : Mary, Harri- 
son, Isabel, Amanda, George, Malinda, Lu- 
cinda, LaFayette, George W., Thomas, 
Henrietta, Mahala, and an infant who died 
unnamed. Mr. Dowell was born in Vir- 
ginia. His father, George Dowell, moved 
to Muskingum County, Ohio. John Dowell, 
an uncle of Mrs. Carter, was a soldier in the 
war of the Revolution. All her uncles were 
large men, weighing over 200 pounds. 

After marriage Mr. Carter settled in Dres- 
den, Ohio, for one year, and in 1853 went to 
Chicago with his family, where he followed 
his trade and became a contractor and builder. 
In 1859 he moved to McDonough County, 
Illinois, where he continued his business of 
contracting and building. Here he enlisted 
August 12, 1862, when Abraham Lincoln 
made his first call for 300,000 men to defend 
the Union. Joining Company C, Seventy- 
eighth Illinois Volunteer Infantry he went 
immediately to tlie front with iiis regiment, 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



693 



and was soon promoted Commissary Sergeant 
of" his company. After three months he was 
transferred to the Engineers' Corps, Company 
A, Second Regiment, and worked at bridge- 
bnilding. His principal service was in 
Tennessee, Alabama, Kentucky and Georgia. 
While with the Seventy-eighth Illinois, he 
was in the battle of Munfordville, Kentucky, 
and the whole regiment was captured except 
Mr. Carter and one boy. The Ninety-first 
Illinois and Seventy-sixth Indiana were cap- 
tured at the same time, by the famous Con- 
federate raider, John Morgan. Mr. Carter 
and the boy returned to the Union line. His 
regiment was paroled and exchanged. 
While connected with the Engineer Corps 
he was in the battles of Murfreesboro, Frank- 
lin, Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain and 
Nashville, all in Tennessee. In the fall of 
1863 he was injured by a tailing bridge tim- 
ber, and was in the hospital for nine months, 
part of which time he was Commissary Ser- 
geant of the hospital at Louisville, Kentucky; 
and then was assigned to act as Commissary 
Sergeant by the Provost- Marshal at Lebanon, 
Kentucky, and remained there until the close 
of the war. He was sent to Clinton, Iowa, 
with supplies, and was mustered out and 
honorably discharged July 7, 1865, at Clin- 
ton, Iowa, having served his country during 
three years of the great civil war. The fol- 
lowing is endorsed on Mr. Carter's discharge 
paper: 

Headquaetees Co. B, 23d V. R. C. 
The bearer, Isaac G. Carter, was formerly 
a private of the Seventy-eighth Illinois In- 
fantry, and afterward transferred to the 
Veteran Reserve Corps, IT. S. A., on account 
of disability incurred in the discharge of 
his duties. Since his connection with this 
company he has acted as Commissary Ser- 
geant, and has proved himself in every way 
a good and faithiul soldier, and a sober, 
reliable and intelligent inan. Should he ever 



have occasion to use this endorsement I hope 
his application may be favorably considered. 

J. W. Beebee, 
1st Lieut. Commanding Co. B, 23d V. R. C. 

After the war, like most of the surviving 
soldiers, Mr. Carter came to the West and 
settled in Iowa, which was then a new State. 
He lived on a farm in Jasper County for four 
years, and then went to Platte County, Ne- 
braska, where he lived a year, and in 1872 
came to Pottawattamie County, Iowa, and 
settled in Valley Township, where he still 
resides, an honored citizen. Mr. Carter owns 
a fine farm of 120 acres, which he has nicely 
improved. Both himself and Mrs. Carter are 
life-long devout members of the Methodist 
Church, and Mr. Carter has always taken an 
active interest in his church, has filled all its 
local offices, and has held them most of the 
time since the war. He is now class-leader, 
trustee, steward and Sunday-school superin- 
tendent. He enjoys the respect of his fellow- 
citizens in a marked degree. Has held the 
offices of Justice of the Peace and Constable, 
filling one or the other for the past seventeen 
years. He is Chaplain of William Layton 
Post, No. 358, Oakland, Iowa; also Chaplain 
of the Anti- Horse-Thief Society at Hancock, 
Iowa. Mr. Carter has taken an active inter- 
est in the cause of education and the schools 
in his community, having been School Direc- 
tor. Two of his daughters have been teach- 
ers — Jennie and Florence. Mr. Carter is a 
man of honorable and upright character, 
whose word is taken for its full meaning. 
As a soldier and a citizen he has served his 
country, in war and in peace, by faithfully 
doing his duty to his country and his com- 
munity. He is a man of strictly temperate 
habits and correct moral principles, and iias 
striven to instill right principles in his family. 
His record as a soldier will descend to his 
children for generations, and as ouj who 



694 



BIOGRAPHICAL OISTORT 



fouglit for the preservation of his country. 
The family descended on both sides from 
good, old American pioneer stock, than which 
there is no better. 

Mr. and Mrs. Carter are the parents of ten 
children, seven of whom lived. Harry A., 
Charles, deceased; George W., Henrietta, 
Eva, Ida, deceased; Jennie, Howard, de- 
ceased; Flora and Hugh. Harry A., now an 
engineer at Hancock, married Miss Hale, 
and his children are Arthur, Charles, Blanche, 
Amy and Ruby M.; Henrietta married 
George Payne, now deceased, and has one 
child, Rolio; George, now on a cattle ranch 
at North Canyonville, Oregon, married "Win- 
nie Pickett, and has four children: Ida, Irmie, 
Hugh and Pattis; and Eva married William 
Tibbetts, a farmer of Hardin County, Iowa, 
and has one child, Minnie. 



►>^^^ 




ILLIAM C. ACKER, a prominent 
I farmer of Pottawattamie County, is 
the son of John Acker, who was born 
in Sandy Hill, New York, near the head of 
LakeChamplain. He studied surveying, and 
also received a good education, and later be- 
came a school-teacher. In 1830 he went to 
Illinois, where he ran a steam saw-mill at 
Beardstown, and where lie was married to 
Eliza Elmore, a widow lady, formerly a Miss 
Early, and they had seven children: David, 
John, William, Mary, Nathaniel, Sarah and 
Samuel. In 1837 Mr. Acker settled in Ore- 
gon, Ogle County, Illinois, where he ran a 
ferry for some years, and was also a trunk- 
maker. About 1852 he bought a farm, 
where he remained some time, and then en- 
gained in the mercantile business at Ashtown, 
remaining five years. In 1876 he came to 
Pottawattamie County, Iowa, where he was 
in business at Avoca for some time; next lie 



lived in Marys ville two years, and then re- 
tired from active life. He is now living with 
his son, William O., and has always enjoyed 
the respect of the community in which he 
lived. He was an industrious man, and was 
entrusted with many public offices in Illinois, 
having been County Commissioner, Trustee 
and Clerk of the county. He had three sons 
in the civil war: John, Nathaniel and Samuel. 
The two former were in the army of the Po- 
tomac, were on General McClellan's body- 
guard, and were in many battles. Samuel 
was in the Army of the West. Mr. Acker is 
still living, at the age of ninety, and bids fair 
to live to the age of 100. His eyes are still 
bright and his health firm. 

William C, the subject of this sketch, was 
born Marcli 5, 1835, in Beardstown, Illinois, 
and learned the carriage and wagon- maker's 
trade in Chicago, where he worked for twen- 
ty-tive years. After his marriage he settled 
in Ashton, Ogle County, Illinois, and estab- 
lished a wagon and carriage shop, where he 
remained five years. He then went to Am- 
boy, same State, remaining until 1869, when 
he settled in Boone, Boone County, Iowa, 
where he had the first carriage shop, and also 
was one of the founders of the town. He 
lived there about six years, and then came to 
Pottawattamie County, settling on his pres- 
ent farm of 160 acres in Valley Township, 
which is well improved. Mr. Acker takes an 
active interest in the schools. He built the 
fir=t school-house in his district; has been 
School Director and Township Supervisor, 
and has always commanded the respect of the 
community. He has ornamented his place 
by setting out fine trees, and now has a beau- 
tiful home, in which he has been assisted by 
his sons. His father is a stanch Republican, 
and has always been an active temperance 
man; and William C. is also very earnest and 
active in the cause of temperance, assisting to 



OF pen TAWATTAMIB COUNTY. 



695 



enforce the law in his county and advocates 
the cause. 

Mr. Acker was married in Ogle County, 
Illinois, to Sophia Van Loon, daughter of 
Isaiah and Isabel (Reeder) Van Loon. The 
father was born in New York, and went to 
Ohio when a boy, and then moved to Illinois, 
where he is now a well-to-do fanwer of Ogle 
County. Tiiey were the parents of seven 
children, viz.: Harriet, Elsworth, Jane, 
Phffibe, Clarissa, Sophronia and Kachel. Mr. 
and Mrs. Van Loon are members of the 
Methodist Church, and the father is now sev- 
enty-six years of age. The children of Will- 
iam C. Acker married as follows: William C. 
married Emma Bilger, and is now a farmer 
in Valley Township. Tliey have three chil- 
dren: Frank, Hay and Cottie. Estella mar- 
ried B. B. Brown, a farmer of Valley 
Township, and they have three children also: 
Mabel, Bert and Clarence. 

jARION PALMER, a substantial 
farmer of Valley Township, is de- 
"^i^^ scended from an old American family 
of English origin. Plis grandfather, Will- 
iam Palmer, was a farmer of Indiana. His 
son, M. T. Palmer, the father of our subject, 
was born in that State, and was reared to 
farm life, but in the latter part of his life he 
became a physician. He was married in In 
diana, to Caroline Tuel, and to them were 
born seven children who grew to maturity: 
Marion, Sumner, Abraham L., Mary M., 
Alexander R. (who died in 1889, at the age 
of twenty-five years), Hiram T. and Delia. 
After marriage the father moved to Mercer 
County, Illinois, where he lived on a farm 
about three years. In 1852 he came to 
Council Bluffs, remaining one year, and then 
came to what is now Big Grove, Belknap 

49 




Township, where he remained until his death 
in August, 1882, at the age of sixty-one 
years. Both himself and wife were members 
of the Baptist Church, and politically he was 
a Republican. His widow is still living on 
the old homestead. 

Marion Palmer, tlu! subject of this sketch, 
was born in Mercer County, Illinois, April 
5, 1851, and was early inured to farm life. 
He was but two years of age when he came 
to Council Bluffs with his parents. After 
his marriage he settled on his present farm, 
which then consisted of forty acres of wild 
land, but which he has since converted into 
a fine fertile farm of 200 acres. He is en- 
gaged largely in the stock business. He has 
taken an active interest in the cause of edu- 
cation, and has been School Director and also 
Road Supervisor. Politically he is a Repub- 
lican, and stands deservedly high among his 
fellow-citizens for his sterling worth. 

November 24, 1883, Mr. Palmer was mar- 
ried to Lizzie J. Scott, daughter of William 
and Jane (Jefiries) Scott. The father is an 
old settler of this connty, and is still living 
on his farm near Oakland. He came from 
Ohio in 1869, and is the father of six chil- 
dren: Lizzie J., Lydia, Charles, Lillie, Theo- 
dore and Mary. The father was a soldier in 
our great civil war, and is respected in the 
community in which he lives. Mr. and Mrs. 
Palmer are the parents of four children: 
Myrtle, Gertrude, Ernest, and an infant 
unnamed. 



►^.«^ 



^ENRY P. GERTZ, of Shelby, Iowa, is 
one of the sturdy German citizens who 
has shed his blood for his adopted 
country in the great civil war. His father, 
Henry, was a weaver in the village of Aben- 
vale, Holstein, Germany, and served during 



696 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY 



a period of peace in the army. He married 
Lena Beck, and had five children: Christina, 
Catharine, Christian, Henry and Lena. He 
came to America with his family in 1846, 
from Hamburg, Germany, to New Orleans, 
by a sailing vessel. The first three years in 
this country he resided at Quincy, Hlinois, 
working at his trade. He tlien went to 
Davenport and became a farmer, owning 298 
acres of good land, bnt he lost his property 
during the financial troubles of 1859. He 
died on a farm six miles north of Davenport. 
His first wife died on tlie voyage to America 
and was buried at sea; and about ten years 
afterward, in America, Mr. Gertz married 
Mrs. Hannah Schroeder, and Mr. Gertz, our 
subject, was brought up by Henry Beck, his 
grandfather, who came to America at the 
same time. Mr. Gertz died at the age uf 
fifty-six years, a member of the Lutheran 
Church. He was an industrious and honor- 
able man, taking extraordinary care of his 
children. 

Mr. Gertz, the subject of this sketch, was 
born in the village of Abenvaie, Holstein, 
JSovember 5, 1840, and was about six years 
of age when he came to this country, and 
obtained here a limited education. When 
Lincoln made his first call for 300,000 men, 
Mr. Gertz, then of age, enlisted August 7, 
1861, in Company E, Twentieth Iowa Vol- 
unteer Infantry, and served through the war, 
being honorably discharged July 8, 1865, at 
Mobile, Alabama. He was in the battle at 
Prairie Grove, Arkansas, and was shot 
through the left thigh, December 7, 1862. 
After being iu the hospital three months at 
Fayetteville, Arkansas, he returned to active 
service, engaging afterward in the battle at 
Vicksburg, siege of Fort Morgan, Alabama, 
siege and assault at Fort Blakely, and in a 
great many skirmishes. lie served under 
Captains Chester Barney and Edward E. 



Davis, and his Colonel was Mac. E. Dey, and 
his Lieutenant-Colonel J. P. Lock. His reo-j- 

o 

ment charged three times across a field at 
Prairie Grove, under a heavy fire, each time 
repulsed with heavy loss. The regiments in 
the charge consisted of the Twentieth Iowa 
Infantry, Twentieth Wisconsin Infantry, 
Thirty-seventh Illinois Infantry, and the 
Twenty-sixth Indiana Infantry, the line of 
battle being three miles in extent. The last 
time the repulse was very severe, and the 
field was covered with the dead and wounded. 
On the last retreat the Twentieth Iowa was 
ordered to lie down behind a staked and 
ridered rail fence, and here they remained 
about half an hour, keeping up a round of 
fire. When the order was given to retreat, 
Gertz, Richards and Pickards were lying on 
their breasts in a fence corner, and firing on 
the enemy. They were so absorbed in their 
work, and the noise of the artillery was so 
great, that they did not hear the command 
to retreat; and when they discovered the 
rebels were upon them their regiment was 
half a mile away. The ground gently sloped 
from the woods where the rebels were in 
force, and the charge was made across an 
open field, in the face of a severe fire of artil- 
lery and musketry. At thirty paces a ball 
struck young Gertz, passing through his 
thigh, and he exclaimed, " I am shot." 
Kichards stopped and Gertz placed his arm 
around his shoulder, and they ran as one man 
under a heavy fire, the balls falling around 
then) as thick as hail, one striking the bayo- 
net scabbard of young Gertz. One ball 
passed through his cap and one through his 
blouse at his waist, and Richards had a ball 
through his haversack, canteen and clothing. 
They ran rapidly toward the Tenth Illinois 
Cavalry, who opened ranks to receive them 
on the order of the ofticer commanding, who 
asked what regiment they belonged to, and 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



69T 



being answered, exclaimed, '-You are brave 
men." Mr. Gertz was one of those soldiers 
who did not siiritii< from battle, and his 
record shows that he was indeed a brave 
man. He will carry to iiis death the honor- 
able scar which he received in battle for his 
country. His record as a soldier will be pre- 
served and handed down for generations to 
his descendants, and tliey may well take an 
honest pride in tlieir soldier ancestor, who 
gave the best years of liis life to his coun- 
try's cause, and shed his blood on the Held of 
battle to preserve the Union. 

He returned from tlie liorrors of war to 
tiie delights of a fanner's life of peace. In 
1876 he married Lena, daughter of Hans 
and Lena (Bowden) Snickloth. Her father 
died in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, and 
when but thirteen years of age she came 
with her motlier and family to America, in 
1864. Mr. and Mrs. Gertz are the parents 
of twelve children, namely: Henry (an in- 
fant, deceased), Annie, Edward, Henry, Will- 
iam, Gustave (an infant, deceased), Minnie, 
Vinnle, Albert, Grover, Louis (died an in- 
fant), and Benjamin H. (also died in infancy). 
Annie married Gustave Haas, a farmer of 
Pleasant Township. 

After marriage Mr. Gertz settled in Scott 
County, Iowa, where he lived for thirty 
years, and in the spring of 1874 he came to 
Pottawattamie County, and settled upon his 
present farm, which was then a wild prairie, 
covering 160 acres of land, and assisted by 
his faithful wife has converted it into a fine 
and fertile farm, to which he has since added 
until he now owns 240 acres of well-culti- 
vated land. On the place are excellent im- 
provements, including the comfortable, taste- 
ful and well-furnished residence. Our old 
soldier has been prospered in the land for 
which he fought, while he has done a vast 
amount of hard labor. He ran a threshing- 



machine for seventeen years. lie has accu- 
mulated all his property by his own indus- 
try, and may well be called a self-made man. 
He is regarded by his neighbors as upright 
and honorable. In politics he is a Democrat. 
Is a member of Dick Yates Post, No. 364, 
G. A. R., at Shelby, Iowa. He is also a 
member of Canopy Lodge, No. 401, I. O. O. 
F., at Shelby. 

Mr. Gertz is yet a strong and rugged man. 
Was one of the best shots with a rifle in his 
regiment, and has a diploma from the Shelby 
County Agricultural Society for the best 
score at the l^igeon Shoot at the Annual Pair 
in 1882. He is a credit to the sturdy Ger- 
man race from which he springs, one of those 
pioneers who have greatly aided in the 
material progress of this country. As a 
class, no better settlers are to be found. 
Their sons and daughters are the race of 
American people who will do well to emulate 
the virtues of the sturdy pioneers who 
founded their race in this line of liberty. 

The name by which Mr. Gertz was enlisted 
in the army, and in which his papers are 
made out, is Henry Gates, the enrolling offi- 
cer, being an American, not knowing how to 
spell the German name. 



►>t^. 



fOHN N. YOUNG, one of the old soldier 
citizens of Pottawattamie County, was 
born in Fleming County, Kentucky, 
February 5, 1844, the son of John Young, 
formerly a farmer of that county, who moved 
to Iowa in 1846 when our subject was but 
two years old, and engaged in the mercantile 
business in Washington. After one year he 
bought a farm in that county, where he spent 
the remainder of his life. He was married 
in Kentucky, to Mary Adams, and they had 
eight children: James A., Robert S., John 



698 



BlOGRAPnWAL HISTORY 



N., Nancy, Sarah A., Mary, Charles and 
Addie. Mr. Young was a Scotch-Irish man 
of German descent, and lived to the age of 
seventy-two years. He was an industrious 
man, and was respected by all who knew 
him. 

John N. Young, the subject of this sketch, 
received a good education, attending a college 
at Washington, Iowa, a Presbyterian institu- 
tion. At the age ot eighteen, in 1862, when 
Lincoln made his first call for 300,000 men, 
young John bravely enlisted as a private in 
Company C, Nineteenth Regiment Iowa 
Volunteer Infantry, and served three years. 
He was in the battle of Prairie Grove, Ar- 
kansas, was on the Arkansas and Missouri 
frontier ten months, and was then at the siege 
and capture of Vicksburg. He was at the 
siirrender of Port Hudoon, battle of Sterling 
Farm, September 29, 1863, where he was 
taken prisoner, and confined at Tyler, Texas, 
and Shreveport, Louisiana, for nine months 
and thirteen days. He was then exchanged, 
July 22, 1864, and went to New Orleans, 
thence to Barancas, Florida, where he was at 
the siege of Spanish Fort and capture of 
Mobile; and here the war closed. He was 
honorably discharged July 10, 1865, and 
mustered out at Davenport, Iowa, August 1, 
1865. He had two brothers in the war, 
James A. and Hobert S., the former in the 
Seventh Iowa Infantry, and was present at 
the battle of Belmont, where he was taken 
prisoner and confined eleven months and ten 
days in Memphis, Tennessee; Corinth, Mis- 
sissippi; Mason, Georgia; Tuscaloosa, Ala- 
bama, and Belle Island. 

After the war Mr. Young returned to 
Washington County, Iowa, and, like many of 
the men who had risked life and health for 
their country, followed the peaceful pursuits 
of agriculture. In the fall of 1867 he went 
to Cass County, Missouri, where he bougiit 



land and lived seven and a half years. He 
then returned to Washington County, re- 
maining two years, and in 1878 settled on 
his present farm of eighty acres in Pottawat- 
tamie County, which he has since converted 
into a well-tilled farm. He has held the 
otHce of Assessor two years. Township Trus- 
tee three years, and a member of the School 
Board two years. He is a member of the 
G. A. R., William Layton Post, No. 358, 
and in his political views is a stanch Repui)- 
lican. In the days when his country needed 
his services, he bravely went to the front and 
did trallant service in tiie cause of his conn- 
try, believing that a country worth living fur 
was worth fighting for, and to such men we 
owe the preservation of the Union and our 
free institutions. As a citizen Mr. Young 
has been above reproach, and his name and 
record should be handed down to the most 
remote generations. 

March 29, 1866, he was married to Sarah 
A. Farley, daughter of Sylvester and Candace 
(Barnett) Farley. The father was a pioneer 
settler in AVashington County, Iowa, having 
come from Ohio in 1839, and is of Scotch- 
Irish descent. He was born in Oliio in 
1811, and is still living, at the age of seventy- 
nine years. He was the father of thirteen 
children, seven of whom are now living, name- 
ly: Nancy, John, Harvey, Noah, Sarah M., 
William and Andrew. Mr. and Mrs. Young 
are the parents of four children: Jeanette, 
Minnie A., Edward B. and Orriii II. 



fOHN B. JOHANNSEN, of Walnut, is 
one of the leading business men of that 
thriving town. He was born in the 
Province of Schlesvvig on a farm. His 
father, Paul Joliannsen, owned his farm, was 
in comfortable circumstances, married Catli- 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



G99 



erina Brodersen. an(J liad fonr cliildren, 
namely: Hans C, Jens C, August and John 
B. Mr. Jobanusen died at the comparatively 
early age of sixty years. He belonged to the 
Lutheran Church, and was a man who lived 
an upright life and brought up his son in the 
same way. John B. Johannsen, our subject, 
was born December 28, 1847, received a good 
common-school education, and learned the 
mercantile businesss in Germany. He was a 
soldier in the regular German array at tlie 
age of twenty-one, and was in the war be- 
tween France and Germany, being at the 
battle of Sedan and siege of Paris. He was 
at this great siege for four months, and was 
exposed all this time to active service. He 
served three years and ten months, thirteen 
nxjnths of this time being spent in France. 
In 1871, at the age of twenty-five years, he 
came to America, landing at New York, 
September 5. Coming to Lyons, Iowa, he 
became clerk in a store, and then in a simi- 
lar capacity at Lowden, Cedar County, until 
1873. During the fall of this year he came 
to Walnut and engaged in the mercantile 
business, being the fourth merchant in this 
town. In 1882 he went into the loan and 
insurance business, and has been uniformly 
prosperous. 

In 1872 he married Miss Anna C. Carst- 
ensen, daughter of Carsten Carstensen, who 
came from Germany. He was the father of 
four children: P. C, I. A., Carl (who died 
at the age of twenty-one), and Anna C. Mr. 
Carstensen died in Walnut, at the ao-e of sixty- 
six years. Mr. and Mrs. Johannsen are the 
parents of seven, cliildren, viz.: Palmrick, 
Carrie, Clara, John B., Charlie and Arthur. 
Both Mr. and Mrs. Johannsen are Lutherans 
in religious belief. Socially Mr. Johannsen 
is an Odd Fellow, has held the office of Noble 
Grand, and has been for many years Past 
Grand. He is also a United Workman. 



Politically he is a stanch Democrat. Mr. 

Johannsen is respected by his fellow citizens, 

and has held the office of Councilman since 

the town was incorporated, and the office of 

Justice of the Peace for many years. He is 

a man of stanch business integrity and ranks 

among the first men of the county. He is a 

self-made man, and is the architect of his 

own future. His reputation for sterlino- 

o 

integrity is above reproach. 



DOLPH LEBECK is a member of the 
firm of Lebeck Brothers, dealers in dry 
goods, groceries, boots and shoes, etc., 
at Walnut. They are among the leading 
merchants of this thriving town. 

Adolph Lebeck's father, S. L. J. Lebeck, a 
school-teacher by profession, was educated at 
Tondern Schleswig, and was a teacher in 
Albersdorf, Germany, from 1842 to 1884, or 
a period of over forty years in one place, and 
previously in different places from early man- 
hood. He married Hanna Ketelsen, and they 
had ten children: James, Alfred, Carl L., 
Line. Christina, Hanne, Adolph, Male, Wil- 
helm, Berthold. Mr. Lebeck has now retired 
from active life. He is a member of the 
Lutheran Church, and has reached the great 
age of eighty-one years, and is still living in 
Albersdorf, enjoying the respect of the people, 
many of whom he taught as children in the 
schools. 

Adolph, his son and the subject of this 
sketch, was born in Albersdorf, Holstein, 
Germany, September 27, 1855, received an 
excellent education and learned the mercan- 
tile business in early life. In 1872, at the 
age of seventeen, he came to America, and 
directly to Lyons, Iowa, where his brother, 
Carl L., was a clerk in a store. He then 
went to Monmouth, Illinois, entering the 



700 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY 



cigar husiiiess, hut, the work not agreeing 
with his health, lie returned to Lyons, Iowa, 
and engaged as clerk in a jjeneral merchan- 
dii^e store, remained there for a little over 
two years, and then went to Omaha and en- 
gaged in the grocery business. In 1874 his 
brother Carl started in business in Walnut, 
and in 1878 Adolph returned to Germany on 
a visit and remained one year, then returned 
to America and went into company with his 
brother, under the firm name of Lebeck 
Brothers, buying out Lodge Brothers. Since 
this time the firm has been attending to busi- 
ness, driving a prosperous trade, and stand 
to-day among the leading business men of 
this part of the connty. 

In 1880 Mr. Lebeck married Miss Bertha 
Siebke, who was born at Davenport, Iowa, 
her parents coming from Germany in 1859. 
Mr. and Mrs. Lebeck have three children: 
Hanne, Theodor and Malitta. Mr. Lebeck in 
national affairs is a Democrat, but has no time 
to devote to politics. The firm has been 
prosperous in business, and Mr. Lebeck is a 
man who is self-made, and, coming to Amer- 
ica without knowledge of the English lan- 
guge, he has by his own merits succeeded in 
life and deserves great credit for his manly 
and honorable course. For business integ- 
rity the firm stands high among the citizens 
and the merchants of the county, and their 
credit has never been impeached. 



tSAAC POWELL, of Hancock, is one of 
the substantial farmers of Valley Town- 
^ ship, from an old American family of 
English descent. His great grandfather was 
Morgan Powell, who came from England at 
a period long antedating the war of the 
lievolution, and was one of the old settlers 
of Saratoga County, New York. Jonathan 



Powell, son of the above and grandfather of 
our subject, was a soldier in the Revolution- 
ary war. The calf of his leg was shot off and 
he was lame the remainder of his life. He 
married Sarah Burvee, of New York State, 
and they were the parents of six children: 
Jonathan, Richard, William, Sarah, Jane 
and Eveline. Mr. Powell was a farmer in 
Oswego County, and lived to the great age 
of eighty-four years, dying in that county. 
He was a man of integrity and industry, and 
one of the patriots who were the founders of 
liberty in their country. Peter Powell, son 
of the above and father of our subject, was 
born in Saratoga County, New York, learned 
the shoemaker's trade and bouglit a farm in 
Oswego County, New York. He Tnarried 
in Saratoga County, Miss Sally Weldon. To 
Mr. and Mrs. Powell were born nine chil- 
dren: Jonathan, Richard. Peter, Weldon, 
Isaac H., Mortimer, Betsy, Eveline and 
Esther. Mi'. Powell was a Lieutenant in the 
war of 1812, was in the battle of Sackett's 
Harbor, and his widow drew a pension after 
his death. Mr. Powell was a prosperous 
farmer, a member of the Universalist Church, 
respected in his comity, was County Com- 
missioner in Oswego County, New York, for 
some years, and held the usiial township 
oflBees. In 1844 he moved to Boone County, 
Illinois, and was one of the pioneers of that 
county. He settled on a farm, where he died 
at the age of seventy-eight years. He was a 
prosperous farmerandlaw-abidingcitizen, and 
reared his family to habits of industry and 
good moral habits. Ho liad two sons in the 
great civil war, Mortimer and Jonathan. 
Mortimer was in Company B, Ninety-fifth 
Illinois Volunteer Infantry, all through the 
war and in many battles and two charges at 
Vicksburg. He was captured at Guntown, 
seventy-five miles north of Memphis, and 
confined in Cahaba prison, Alabama, for ten 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



701 



months, when lie was exchanged, after suffer- 
fering great hardships. When captured he 
weighed 180 pounds; when returned, only 
ninety-six pounds. Jonathan was doing busi- 
ness in New Orleans when the war broke out 
and was forced into the Rebel armj. There 
are two families who have had members in 
all the wars from the Revolution down. 

Isaac H. Powell, our subject, was born 
December 23, 1832, in Oswego County, New 
York, and learned farraitig in early life. He 
was a boy of twelve years when he came with 
his father to Illinois, and married, in Boone 
County, Illinois, Sarah Walker, daughter of 
Thomas and Sarah (Smith) Walker* Mr. 
Walker was an old settler in Boone County, 
from Chenango County, New York, and of 
an old American family. He came to Boone 
County in 1840, being one of the active pio- 
neers there. He is yet living on his farm, at 
the age of eighty-two years. He had seven 
children: Hannah, Cornelia Sarah, Phoebe, 
Ransome, Edgar, Nimrod and Frank. Mr. 
and Mrs. Powell have six children: Lindon, 
Livingston, Frank, Emma, Betsy and Or- 
selia. After marriage Mr. Powell settled 
down upon a farm in Boone County, Illi- 
nois, and all his children were born there, 
except the youngest son. In 1871 he came 
to Pottawattamie County, Iowa, and settled 
upon his present place, then consisting of 
forty acres of wild land, and which, by thrift 
and energy, he has converted into a fine and 
fruitful farm. To this he has added until he 
now owns 321 acres of line land. 

Mr. Powell has been respected by his fel- 
low-citizens, and taken an active interest in 
the cause of education, and has been School 
Director, Constable and Road Supervisor. 
He is one of our substantial pioneer citizens, 
who has helped to make his town and county 
what is now one of the best in the State. He 
stands deservedly high for his integrity of 



character and as a self-made man, and by hard 
labor made his property. His word may well 
be said to be as sood as his bond. He has 
four children married, and ten grandchildren. 
The entire family merit the respect of all who 
kno V them for their starling worth. Tlie 
daughter, Einma, married J. C. Sears, a 
farmer iu Valley Towiishij), anl they have 
six children: Horace, Harry, Arthur, Flora, 
Orselia and Beryl. Bettie married B. T. 
Stephenson, a farmer in Valley Township, 
and they have three children: William, Kit- 
tie, and Cornelia; Livingston, who is a 
farmer in Valley Township, married Addie 
Frazier, and they have one child, Frances. 
Orselia married Henry Seward, also a farmer 
of Valley Township. 



HRISTIAN STRAUB, a contractor, 
builder and brick manufacturer of 
Council Bluffs, was born in Heiden- 
heim, Wiirtemberg, Germany, February 3, 
1847, the son of Carl and Emma (Koch) 
Straub, both natives of Wiirtemberg. The 
father was a wagon manufacturer by trade, 
and both he and his wife died in their native 
country. They were members of the Lutheran 
Church, and were the parents of six children: 
George, who resides in Germany; Jacob, also 
of Germany; Mary, wife of Fred Rig, and 
resides in Council Bluffs; Anna M., a resident 
of Germany; Dora, who lives in Illinois; and 
Christian, our subject. 

The latter attended school and also worked 
at his father's trade until seventeen years of 
ao-e, when he came to America, landing in 
New York. He then went direct to Aurora, 
Illinois, remained four or five months, and 
then came to Council Bluffs, Iowa, in the 
spring of 1867. He worked for the North- 
western Railroad Company a short time, and 



702 



BIOGRAPHICAL U I STORY 



then learned tlie brick anrl stone mason's 
trade, whicli lie lias since followed. In 1872 
he became a contractor and builder, and in 
1875 purchased the brick-yard of George 
Baiim, and has been ensaged in inanufactiir- 
ing brick since that time. Mr. Straub was 
one of the first stockholders of the Citizens' 
State Bank, and also of the Iowa Insurance 
Company. 

He was united in marriage, in Council 
Bluffs, April 12, 1873, to Arnetta Feifer, a 
native of Bavaria, Germany. Mr. Straub was 
elected Councilman from the Third ward in 
1885-'86, and is also a member of Humboldt 
Lodge, No. 75, I. O. O. F. He ranks among 
our most reliable citizens, and by honesty, 
frugality and diligence has accumulated a 
comfortable fortune. 

(XCHANGE BANK, Walnut, Iowa, the 
only bank in this thriving town, was 
established in 1875, by E. K. and C. R. 
Hinkley as a private banking establishment, 
and it was purchased by the present owner, 
J. H. Henry, November 1, 1880, it then 
having a capital of $35,000 and doing a gen- 
eral banking business. The bank now has a 
capital and surplus of over $200,000, which 
is the largest in this county, and one of the 
largest in Western Iowa. 

The Exchange Bank has always been a 
very conservative institution, and since it has 
been owned by Mr. Henry, the charge to the 
loss account has been so small as not to be 
worth mentioning. The business men of 
Walnut and surrounding farmers may well 
feel confidence in this stable institution. 
This bank is equipped with the best modern 
appliances against fire and burglars, having 
one of Hall's safes and time-locks on a bur- 
glar-proof chest, and further secured by a fire- 



proof vault. This makes it one of tiie safest 
institutions in the county. 

James H. Henrj', president of this insti- 
tution, was born at Sturgis, Miciiigjm, in 
1845. He received a good education, and 
was one of those men who, when the great 
civil war broke out, did not shrink from the 
call of duty, but enlisted and served through 
all that great struggle, which will make his 
name remembered by his descendants for 
generations to come. After the war Mr. 
Henry engaged in the lumber trade at Blairs 
town, Iowa, and did a successful business. 

He married, in 1871, Miss Emma Edson, 
and they are the parents of four children: 
William, Angelina (deceased February 13, 
1887, at the age of nine years and eleven 
months), Bessie and Joe E. 

In 1875 Mr. Henry came to Walnut and 
engaged in the grain and lumber trade and 
did a good business until 1875, when he 
went to Chicago and built a large elevator 
and carried on extensive grain operations, in 
connection with his brother William C, un- 
der the firm name of Henry Brothers. In 
November, 1880, he sold out this business 
and came to Walnut, and bought the Ex- 
change Bank of Walnut, the history of which 
is given above. 

January 1, 1888, Mr. Henry, with the view 
of educating his ciiildren and for the benefit 
of the climate, went to California and settled 
at San Jose, where he rested from his labors 
for two years. Turning there his attention 
to public improvements, he purchased the old 
horse-car line and franchise on the famous 
Alameda, and established an electric railway 
system, the first in the State of California, 
which is a complete success. During the 
past winter he bought the principal street 
railway in the city of Sacramento, and 
changed the system from mule propulsion to 
electric, being the second successful electric 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTT. 



703 



road in the Golden State. Mr. Henry is an 
ahle financier, a man of wide business ex- 
periences, perfect integrity and broad views. 
He is a man wlio commands the respect of 
all who know him and is an American citi- 
zen whose word is valued as highly as his 
bond. His reputation as an honorable busi- 
ness man is unsullied and extends as far as 
mercantile records are used. 

Socially he is a Mason, being a member of 
San Jose Lodge, No. 10. His liberality of 
sentiment is shown by the fact that he has 
always been in favor of public liberty, and a 
stanch supporter of that great party whose 
watchword is the greatest liberty to the 
greatest number, namely, a Democrat. He 
is a member of the tr. A. K. He is a man 
of wealth, his property being estimated at 
about $500,000. He is an extensive owner 
of real estate, owning over 5,000 acres of 
fine farming land near Walnut, which is 
valued at $200,000, while his bank is worth 
$200,000, and his electric railroads more than 
$100,000 more, besides which he owns other 
property and a line residence in San Jose, 
California. 

John P. Burke, whose connection with 
this bank dates from November 1, 1880, the 
time that Mr. Henry purchased it, was born 
at Dnrant, Cedar County, Iowa, March 17, 
1862. His father, P. E. Burke, was born in 
Tipperary County, Ireland. In 1846, at an 
early age, he sailed for America and settled 
at Statcn Island, New York, where he mar- 
ried Miss Mary Murphy, and soon after they 
removed to Potts ville, Pennsylvania. They 
were the parents of eight children, namely: 
William F., James T., Mary, John P., Charles 
M., Edward D., Lizzie M. and Katie. (James 
T., Mary and Katie are now deceased.) In 
1856 P. E. Burke, with his family, moved to 
Iowa, and settled at Durant, where he lived 
until 1876, when he moved to Shelby County, 



Iowa, bought a large farm, and remained 
there imtil 1884. He then sold his personal 
property, rented his farm, came to Walnut, 
purchased a fine residence, and is now re- 
tired from active pursuits, taking the world 
easy. 

When Mr. Henry purchased the bank in 
November, 1880, he was very fortunate in 
securing the services of John P. Burke as 
bookkeeper. Mr. Burke was then teaching 
school in Pottawattamie County, and though 
but eighteen years of age his ability was 
such that in one year he was made cashier of 
this bank. He became so well informed in 
business generally that in January, 1888, 
when Mr. Henry saw fit to remove witli his 
family to California, he lett Mr. Burke in 
charge of all his affairs, giving liim sole 
charge and management of over 5,000 acres 
of improved land adjoining Walnut. Mr. 
Burke has conducted all this business in a 
manner highly satisfactory to all persons in- 
terested, and has shown his ability to handle 
financial matters to such a degree that Mr. 
Henry's confidence in him is well deserved. 
For over ten years Mr. Burke has been in 
active business here, and has most assuredly 
won the high opinion of the patrons of the 
bank for his unassuming integrity, accommo- 
dating disposition, genial and pleasant man- 
ners and liberal methods of dealing. He 
has been Treasurer of the city for over four 
years, and treasurer of the independent 
school district over eight years. Mr. Burke 
is now but twenty-eight years of age, has 
made an early success in life, and has had a 
practical experience which should make his 
future one of continued prosperity. 

February 8, 1887, he was united in mar- 
riage with Miss Lulu G. Kepford, daughter 
of David Kepford and Anna (Colwell) Kep- 
ford, of Havana, Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. 
Burke are the parents of one child, a daugh- 



?04 



BIOORAPHIGAL HI STORY 



ter, named Grace L., who was born August 
9, 1888. 

Ed D. Burke, assistant cashier and book- 
keeper of the above bank, was born at Durant, 
Iowa, November 25, 1864. He has been 
with the bank for over three years, is a 
young man of energy and integrity. 

— »-^»i ? . ; ii ; » "^M --^ 



fHOMAS KEAST, of section 30, Mace- 
donia Townsljfip, was born in Cornwall, 
England, August 9, 1844, the son of 
Samuel and Elizal)eth (Tailing) Keast, natives 
of the some place. They reared three chil- 
dren, of whom Thomas was the second 8on_ 
The father received an injury by draining 
while ditching in England. He was an in- 
valid about one year and then died, when 
Thomas was but four or five years of age 
The mother now lives in Cornwall, England. 
Thomas was reared in England, and his first 
work was at farming, and later he engaged 
in mining. He was about twenty-one years 
of age when he was married to Eliza Grace 
Oliver, March 3, 1865, who was born in 
Cornwall, England; she was the daughter of 
William and Elizabeth (Mathews) Oliver. 
Some four years later he came to America, 
sailing from Liverpool, England, to New 
Y^ork, and from there he went to Rockford, 
Winnebago County, Illinois. He lived there 
one year, and then went on a farm at New 
Wiliford, where he lived four years. He 
then removed to Ogle County, Illinois, near 
Linnville, on a farm, eleven and a half miles 
from Rosehill. He lived there until 1877, 
when he came to Pottawattamie County, and 
in 1876 purchased eighty acres of land from 
J. D. Edmundson, of Council Bluffs. Here 
he has since resided, and he now has an im- 
proved farm of 310 acres, which is one of 
the best in Pottawattamie County. He has 



a mill building, 16x40, with an addition of 
12 X 20, a feed-mill and two wind-mills, 
which supply the motive power for grinding 
the feed. He has a grove of catalpas, forest 
and other trees. His farm is well watered 
by tiling and pipes, and he is engaged in 
general farming and stock-raising. His land 
lies in three different sections; his residence 
and eighty acres are in section 30, 150 acres 
are in section 31, and eighty acres are in 
section 36, Silver Creek Township. 

Mr. and Mrs. Keast have seven children, 
viz.: Emma, wife of D. D. Clark, of Clay, 
Nebraska; Samuel, of the same place; Will- 
iam, John, Elizabeth, Frank and Charley. 
Politically Mr. Keast is a Republican. 



EORGE W. HICKS, of Hancock, is 
one of our soldier farmers who served 
his country in the great civil war, and 
helped to preserve the stars and stripes un- 
sullied. After the war he engaged in farm- 
ing. William Hicks, the grandfather of 
George, was born in England, and emigrated 
to North Carolina at an early day. He is 
supposed to have married in that State. He 
was the father of three sons and two daugh- 
ters: Jesse, Saul, John, Dorothy and Made- 
line. He lived to a great age. He was a 
substantial farmer and a large landowner, 
and left a large estate in Fleming County, 
Kentucky, whither he had moved from North 
Carolina. His son Saul, the father of George 
W., was born in North Carolina, and was but 
a small boy when his father moved to Ken- 
tucky. He early learned to work on the 
farm, and followed that business all his life. 
He married, in Fleming County, Elizabeth 
McDougal, of Scotch parentage. Her father 
came to Fleming County, Kentucky, when 
she was a child, and followed farming there 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



705 



He was the father of four children: Solomon, 
William, Hannah and Elizabeth. Mr. Hicks, 
in 1844, moved with his family to Menard 
County, Illinois, and settled on a farm as a 
pioneer there. Mr. and Mrs. Hicks were 
members of the Cumberland Presbyterian 
Church, and Mr. Hicks was an elder for 
some years, taking an active interest in his 
church. He died at the age of sixty years, 
in Menard County, Illinois. 

His son, George W. Plicks, the subject of 
this sketch, was born in Fleming County, 
Kentucky, in 1832, learned farming when 
young, and when thirteen years of age moved 
with his father to Illinois. He married 
Mary E. Trumbo, of Menard County, in 
Springfield, Illinois, in 1857, and settled on 
a farm in that county. In 1859 he moved 
to Grundy County, Missouri, and when the 
war broke out he returned to Illinois and 
enlisted, August 21, 1862, in Company K, 
One Hundred and Fourteenth Illinois Volun- 
teer Infantry, as a private, and was promoted 
to First Sergeant. He was at the battles at 
Jackson, Champion Hills, Black River, and 
the siege of Vicksburg, at the second battle 
at Jackson, and at Guntown, all in Missis- 
sippi. At the last named point he was 
wounded in the left shoulder, and was in the 
liospital at Memphis, Tennessee, a short 
time, and sent from there to Camp Butler, 
Illinois, and was honorably discharged Octo- 
ber 29, 1864, on account of disability from 
wounds received in battle. He had served 
two years and three months. He returned 
to Menard County, Illinois, and resumed 
farming, and lived there until 1874, and then 
settled in Madison County, Iowa, where he 
lived twelve years. In 1886 he moved to 
Pottawattamie County, and settled in Valley 
Township on a farm. Mr. and Mrs. Hicks 
have five children: Mary E, George II., 
William T., Samuel M. and Charles E., all 



born in Menard County, Illinois; but Mary 
E., who was born in Grundy County, Mis- 
souri; and all are living. In politics he is a 
stanch Democrat. He has always com- 
manded the respect of his fellow-citizens, 
and was elected to the office of Coroner in 
Illinois by a large majority of the voters. 
Mr. Hicks has always taken an active in- 
terest in the cause of education, and lias 
served as School Director and held township 
offices. He is a member of William Layton 
Post, No. 358, G. A. R., at Oakland. He 
owns a good farm of 120 acres in Valley 
Township, and is esteemed by his neighbors 
and fellow-townsmen as a good citizen and 
as an upright and moral man. As a soldier 
he was loyal and faithful in his country's 
service, in war and in peace. He is a law- 
abiding citizen, and interested in the pros- 
perity of his county. His memory will be 
cherished by his descendants as an honorable 
and patriotic man, who offered his life and 
shed his blood to save his country in her 
time of peril. May his descendants emulate 
his example. 



jjjRESTON TILTON, of Walnut, was 
W born in Washington County, Pennsyl- 
vania, in 1820, of an old American 
family, and received but a limited education, 
as his father died when he was but nine 
years of age. He went to Illinois when 
quite young, remaining a few years, and then 
went to McKeesport, Pennsylvania, where 
he learned the trade of ship-carpenter. He 
was there married to Jane Gillcrist, and to 
them were born four children: John, who 
died in infancy; Oscar B., Eliza J. and 
George H. Mr. and Mrs. Tilton came to 
Ruck Island County, Illinois, in 1855, and 
bought a farm, where he remained six years. 



706 



BIOGRAPHICAL BISTORT 



In 1860 they removed to Washington County, 
Iowa, where they lived on a farm four years; 
next tliey returned to Rock Island County, 
remaining until 1876, and then they returned 
to Iowa, settling on a farm in Pottawattamie 
County, which is now occupied by tlieir son, 
Oscar. He has now retired from active 
business, and is living in Walnut. Mr. Til- 
ton has been a member of the Odd Fellows 
fraternity since young manhood, and has 
filled all the offices in Moriah Lodge, No. 
327, at Walnut. He has always been a hard- 
working man, and now enjoys the respect of 
all who know him. 

Oscar B., his son, was bom in McKeesport, 
Pennsylvania, September 19, 1853, and was 
but two years of age when his parents moved 
to Illinois. In 1875 he came to Iowa, set- 
tling in Harlan Township, Shelby County, 
where he remained two years. He then sold 
that place and came to his father's farm, 
where he still resides. The property is 
pleasantly situated near Walnut, and is in a 
good state of cultivation. In political opin- 
ions, Mr. Tilton, like his father, is a stanch 
Democrat. Socially he is a member of the 
United Workmen. He has the confidence 
and respect of his fellow-townsmen, and has 
held the office of Assessor of Layton Town- 
ship for the past six years, and has also been 
Secretary of the Board of School Directors. 
He is a man of general information, and 
ranks high as an honorable man and a good 
citizen. 

He was married in Rock Island County, 
Illinois, November 2, 1874, to Miss Emma 
Everett, daughter of George W. and Susan 
(Ream) Everett. The family were natives 
of Pennsylvania and of German descent. 
Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Tilton are the parents of 
three children: Hattie M., Marshall L. and 
Nora D. Mr. Tilton's sister, Eliza J., mar- 
ried Joseph P. Seymour, a farmer in Adair 



County, Missouri, and they have five chil- 
dren: Nellie V., William, Myrtle, Hattie 
and Delia. His brother, George H., married 
Carrie Hillman, and they have one child — 
Yiva. He is now a farmer on his father's 
farm. 



~^ "& ' S " S ' ^ ^-- — 

HARLES H. SHERRADEN, the lead- 
ing photographer, has been a resident of 
Council Bluffs since 1859. He is a son 
of Hon. Oliver P. Sherraden, who settled 
here with his family in that year. He was a 
well-known fruit-raiser, and remained here 
until his death, which occurred November 13, 
1881. He was a man of fine education and 
more than ordinary ability. He was a native 
of Ohio, and his wife, whose maiden name 
was Lydia M. Johnson, still resides in this 
city. She was a native of Buffalo, New York, 
and went to Canton, Illinois, with her 
father, Ira Johnson, a well-known citizen of 
that place, where he lived until death, which 
occurred when he was eighty-six years of 
age. He was a great reader, a successful 
business man and held various local offices of 
trust. His wife died at the age of eighty-five 
years. Oliver P. Sherraden went to Canton, 
Illinois, when a boy, where he met and mar- 
ried his wife. He was a merchant at that 
place for a number of years. He came to 
Iowa at at early day and settled in the town 
of Richland, Keokuk County, where he en- 
gaged in general merchandising also, and 
represented that county in the Legislature at 
Des Moines. He and his wife had four 
children — two sons and two daughters. 

The subject of this sketch, the eldest 
child, was born at Canton, August 26, 1845. 
He was about fourteen years of age when the 
family came to Council Bluffs. Received his 
education in the public schools of Council 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE VOUNTT. 



707 



Bluffs, and was a clerk for William H. Rob- 
inson, a merchant, for four years. He was 
subsequently engaged in the fruit and con- 
fectionery business before entering into his 
present occupation. Mr. Sherraden enjoys 
the distinction of being the leading photog- 
rapher, and also of being the oldest in this 
business at Council Bluffs. Mr. Sherraden 
has the confidence of all. His patrons are 
not confined to Council Bluffs alone, as many 
people of Omaha and surrounding towns 
come to him for photographs, crayons, etc. 
He has the very best cameras and photo- 
graphic apparatus in Western Iowa, and does 
strictly first-class work. We know this to 
be correct, as Mr. Sherraden has made most 
of the photographs from which the portraits 
in this volume were produced. Mr. Sherra- 
den is a member of the Modern Woodmen 
Lodge, Hazel Camp, No. 71, and Knights of 
Pythias, Lodge No. 40. 

Mr. Sherraden has been twice inarried. 
His first wife was Lnvenia Young, who died 
in 1872. She left a son, who survived the 
mother but one month. The present wife of 
Mr. Sherraden was formerly Mary J. Jones. 
Mr. and Mrs. Sherraden have three daucrh- 
ters: Lulu, Vinie and Edith. 



L. HENDRICKS, Justice of the Peace, 
Council Bluffs, has been identified 
'** with the interests of Pottawattamie 
County since 1872. He is a native of West 
Virginia, born on a farm in Russell Coun- 
ty, July 22, 1822, the youngest son of Aaron 
Hendricks, who also was born on the same 
farm. Aaron's father was Thomas Hendricks, 
who settled with an English colony in what 
was called the Elk Garden, and received a 
crown right, or patent, from King George, 
for 400 acres. He here improved his land 



and reared a family of nine children. The 
father was the youngest, and Thomas A. 
Hendricks, the father of the late Vice Presi- 
dent, was one of the older sons. Later the 
father of our subject purchased the interests 
of the other children in the home farm, which 
eventually passed into the hands of our sub- 
ject, and was retained in the family until 1872. 
The mother of our subject was 7iee Rachel 
FuUen, a daughter of Colonel Whitley, who 
figured conspicuously in the war of 1812, 
said to have killed Tecumseh, and assisted 
Daniel Boone in the settling of Kentucky, 
and the descendants now reside in the vicinity 
of Crab Orchard, Kentucky. The father of 
our subject was an Adjutant during the 
Revolutionary war, and died in his seventy- 
first year; his mother in her fifty-first year. 

Mr. Hendricks' youth was spent on a farm, 
receiving his education in a select school, and 
completing it at the University at Cliarlottes- 
ville, Virginia. After this he engaged in the 
mercantile business in Lebanon, Viro-jnia, 
which he followed until after the death of his 
father, when, in connection with which, he 
took charge of the estate his father left, and 
he purchased his brother's interest. That 
estate he managed until 1869, when he, with 
his family, removed West, and in 1872 located 
in Council Bluffs,and has since been engaged 
in collection and insurance. 

He was elected Justice of the Peace in 
1884, and has served ever since in that ca- 
pacity. 

He was married first in September, 1845, 
to Miss Mary E. Boyd, a native of Vir- 
ginia, and they had four children, three of 
whom still survive: Robert, now living iu 
Council Bluffs; Thomas, in Virginia, and 
Henry, in Council Bluffs. 

He was again married May 2, 1855, lo 
Martha M. Fuller, a native of Russell County, 
Virginia, and a daughter of Abraham Fuller, 



708 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY 



who was one of tlie six colonists who first 
settled that section. By this marriage there 
are four children, viz.: Matilda F., Ira F., 
Frank C. and Mannel L. Mrs. Hendricks is 
a member of the M. E. Church, and politically 
Mr. Hendricks affiliates with the Democratic 
party. 



— -».<->« x « S ' i ; ' 



fRANCIS T. C. JOHNSON, noted for 
thrift and enterprise as a farmer in Nor- 
walk Township, was born in Augusta 
County, Virginia, in the Shenandoah Valley, 
June 16, 1834, a son of Francis and Mary 
Jane (Hall) Johnson, who were also natives 
of Augusta County, Virginia. Francis John- 
son, Sr., died in Virginia, about 1846. when 
probably sixty-eight years of age. In his 
youth he attended the college at Lexington, 
Virginia, and in after years was said to be 
the best educated man in the Shenandoah 
Valley, and acted with efficiency as Surveyor 
General of that part of Virginia in which 
he lived. When a young man he taught 
school, and in later years was a dealer in 
trrain, etc. Politically he was a Whig, and 
during the war witb England, in 1812, served 
in the ranks as a soldier. . His father, also 
named Francis Johnson, was the iiri-t wiiite 
child born in Augusta County, Virginia. He 
was a soldier in the American army during 
the war for freedom, and was a farmer- 
Mary Jane Hall, who became the wife of 
Francis Johnson and the mother of the sub- 
ject of this sketch, is still living, now in her 
eio-htieth year, making her iiome with her 
grandchildren in Virginia. She has been a 
member of the Methodist Church nearly 
seventy years. She had seven children, five 
of whom are now living, viz.: Mildred Ellen, 
now of Salt Lake City, Utah; May J., wife 
of Henry K. Eakle, who resides at the old 



home in Virginia; Elisheba, who married 
John A. Rudisel, deceased, and resides in 
Lucas County, Iowa; Francis T. C. is next; 
Julian A. is a ranchman of Colorado; and 
Abbie, the youngest, was born in 1839 and 
died in 1862; and Asenath, the wife of 
Thornton G. Stout, a merchant and capitalist 
of New Hope, Augusta County, Virginia. 

Francis T. C. spent his school days in Au- 
gusta County, Virginia. Early in life he 
served an apprenticeship as a carpenter, and 
when yet a young man came West and located 
at Council Blufl's, where he was engaged 
working as a carpenter until 1870; then he 
moved to his present location, on sections 12 
and 13, where he purchased 360 acres of land, 
which he has improved in various ways, etc. 
On coming to where he now lives his nearest 
neighbor north was at Neola; west. Under- 
wood; east, two and one-half miles, and 
south, one mile; and there were two houses 
on the road from there to Council Bluti's. 
Since coming to this place he has held nu- 
merous official positions, with the utmost 
satisfaction to all interested parties. In 1872 
he was elected Assessor of York Township, 
whicii th'iu included the eastern iialf of Nor- 
waik and all of York Township. Among 
the positions of trust which he has held are: 
Secretary of School Board, Trustee and Town- 
ship Clerk. 

September 17, 1857, he married Miss 
Caroline Babbidd, a daughter of Colonel Ly- 
sander Babbidd. She was born near Cleve- 
land, Ohio, in 1836, and to their marriage 
six children have been born, five of whom 
are now living, viz.: Lysander W., who oper- 
ates an elevator at Neola, this county; Alex- 
ander W. was four years of age at death; 
Mary Ellen is the wife of John Phillips, a 
farmer of Norwalk Township; Francis Lee 
recently graduated at a commercial college at 
Rochester, New York, and is now a resident 



OP POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



70ff 



of Denver, Colorado; Julian A. is some- 
where in Mexico, and Daisy is at home. Mr. 
Johnson was one of the first members of 
Council Bluffs Lodge of I. O. O. F., No. 49, 
and is politically a Democrat. 



^^^RS. MARY A. WALDO, of Crescent 
'^fymv ^'''7' ^^® born in Windham County, 
^^m^ Vermont, December 24, 1829, the 
daughter of George W. and Mary (Randall) 
Allen, natives also of the Green Mountain 
State, and of Scotch and Englisli ancestry. 
Mr. Allen was a nephew of the noted Ethan 
Allen of Revolutionary fame, and his wife 
was a first cousin of Hon. Samuel Kandall, 
one of the most eminent statesmen of this 
nation. Mr. Allen was the eldest of eight 
children. He grew up and educated himself 
thoroughly by both book and observation, 
notwithstanding the literary privations of 
his youth. On the frontier he was made 
familiar with Indians and life among danger- 
ous beasts. He was a farmer during his life, 
dying in March, 1866. In his family were 
the following ten children: Mary A., whose 
name heads this sketch; Fannie M., deceased; 
Edwin G., residing in Hopkinton, Massachu- 
setts; Charles A., living in Marlboro, New 
Hampshire; Belinda, deceased; Thankful H., 
now the wife of Fred Johnston, and residing 
in Yernon, Yermont; Lucy Augusta, now 
Mrs. Calvin Cook, and residing also in Yer- 
non; Lydia, who married Henry Crandall, 
and lives in Worcester. Massachusetts; and 
James F., who resides in Erving, Massachu- 
setts. 

Mrs. Waldo was but fifteen years of age 
when she received a certificate and she taught 
school for one year, altiiough her father was 
well-to-do and able to support her without 
her lal)or; but, being ambitious, she learned 



the art of cutting and fitting dresses. At 
the age of twenty years she married Asa 
Berry Waldo, November 8, 1849, who was 
born in Ackworth, New Hampshire, in April, 
1823. He was a blacksmith for two years, 
and then came West and joined the Mor- 
mons at Nanvoo as they were about to emi- 
grate to Council Bluffs. Here he left them, 
returned to Yermont, resumed his trade, and 
soon after his marriage settled in Keene, 
N. H. Two years afterward, in the spring 
of 1852, he came West again, at the time of 
the emigration of the Mormons across the 
plains. He visited the principal cities of the 
West, and at length in 1852 he settled at 
what was then called Carterville; but sick- 
ness soon compelled him, after a year and a 
half of successful business there, to emigrate 
again; and after numerous changes he located 
in Baraboo, Wisconsin, and resided there 
eight years; and then, in 1871 he came to 
Crescent City, bought property and opened 
out in business, which he continued until his 
death, February 5, 1853. He was a good 
mechanic, an industrions and energetic man, 
and had it not been for his roving disposition 
he would evidently have been wealthy. He 
lived well, furnishing himself with the best 
fare. He was independent but active in 
political matters, aided local institutions, and 
made a mark in society that will be visible 
for generations to come. 

Mrs. Waldo wrote the first notice of the 
meeting of the district school directors, and 
taught the first school in the Crescent City 
district. Being of high literary culture, she 
has written articles for Eastern journals; has 
been active in church work and leader of the 
choir. She has a neat residence in Crescent 
City. Her children have been: Flora A. 
and Orpiia E., both deceased; Aden M., born 
October 19, 1854, and re-iding in Omaha; 
Orpha E. (2) resides in Mills County, this 



710 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



State: she was born February 17, 1859; Ed- 
win P. an(i Carrie C. are botii deceased. 



►>4f- 



jMOS SCOTT CARTER, proprietor of 
the Snnny-Side Farm, was born in 
Guernsey County, Ohio, October 7, 
1837, a son of Samuel Carter, who was born 
in Harford County, Maryland, in 1806, and 
died in Guernsey County, Ohio. He was a 
farmer all his life, and his political views 
were Republican. Religiously he was a 
Friend or Quaker, and his children were also 
reared to that faith. Our snbject's mother 
was Susan (Benson) Carter, a native of Har- 
ford County, and daughter of Amos Benson. 
Mr. and Mrs. Benson were the parents of 
three children: John, Mary Jane and Doud- 
ney, one of whom died when seventeen years 
of age. The mother dif'd when Mr. Carter 
was but four years old. 

The subject of this sketch was reared on a 
farm in Guernsey County, Ohio, where he 
was taught to chop wood and grub and clear 
land, which was the foundation of his subse- 
quent prosperous life. In 1867 he bid fare- 
well to his father and birth-place, and went 
to Nodaway County, Missouri, near Mary- 
ville, where he remained two years and nine 
months. Deceuiber 24, 1870, he came to 
Pottawattamie County, where he was among 
the early settlers, and where he has since re- 
mained. He became interested in the settle- 
ment and improvement of the county, and for 
several years acted as land agent, and it was 
through his influence that many of Wash- 
intrton Township's best citizens were induced 
to locate here. Mr. Carter now owns a line 
farm of 240 acres, on which he has erected 
a beautiful home, a house 24x40^ feet, 
which is surrounded by shade and ornamental 
trees and a grove of eight acres. The house 



is situated near the public road which divides 
the farm east and west. Opposite the house 
is a bearing orchard of tine fruit, of about 
two acres, which yields good crops. Near 
by is a five-ton wagon and stock scales; a 
barn 32 x 48 feet, twelve feet high to square, 
which is convenient for twenty head of 
horses, with corn and oats bin and good hay 
loft. There are also a cattle feed lot, a shed 
16 X 112 feet, a wind-mill and tank, a hog 
house adjoining, 18x48 feet; a hog pasture 
enclosed of thirty acres, which takes in the 
creek for the use of watering the stock. No 
better stock farm exists in the township. His 
farm is watered by the Middle Silver Creek, 
which flows through it. He is also engaged 
in stock-raising, of which he has some very 
high grades, and the next year he intends to 
devote his whole time to this business. 

Mr. Carter was married in Guernsey 
County, Ohio, September 29, 1860, to Miss 
Melinda Hartley, daughter of Noah Hartley, 
a pioneer of Guernsey County, and a native 
af Bucks County, Pennsylvania. He was a 
son of Malone Hartley, of English ancestry. 
The mother of Mrs. Carter was Millicent 
(Hall) Hartley, daughter of Isaac Hall. Mr. 
and Mrs. Noah Hartley reared thirteen chil- 
dren, eight of whom are now living, namely: 
William H., Phoebe, Arnold, Melinda, Sarah 
E. Smith, Uriah, Caleb, Samuel and Noah P. 
The mother died August 5, 1866. Mr. and 
Mrs. Carter are the parents of ten children) 
viz.: Millie Jane, born October 25, 1861, 
now the wife of James Boileau, an architect 
of South Omaha, Nebraska; Noah Elmer, 
foreman of planing-mill at South Omaha, 
born March 13, 1863; James Thomas Albert, 
born March 8, 1865, a wagon-maker and 
blacksmith by trade; John William, born 
November 8, 1866, is now living on the old 
homestead; Phebe Adaletta, born July 9, 
1869, is the wife of Henry H. Crawmer, a 



OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY. 



711 



railroad man of Kansas; Amos Edwin, born 
February 25, 1871, a mechanic, is at home; 
Arthur Elwood, l)orn May 31, 1873, also at 
home; Charles Tilmon, born July 7, 1875; 
Ruth Minnie, November 18, 1878; and 
George Alfred, July 17, 1881. Politically 
Mr. Carter is a Republican, and also a mem- 
ber of the Christiaii Science Church. 



(.ORNELIUS VOORIIIS, iirst Mayor of 
Council Bluffs, Iowa, was born in 
Lebanon, Ohio, in 1813. Early in 
life he moved to Springfield, Ohio, and en- 
gaged in mercantile business. While there 
he was married to Miss Minerva J. McCoy. 
Thence he removed to St. Louis, Missouri, 
and became connected with the enterprising 
and well known dry-goods firm of Eddy, 
Jameson & Co., of that city. In 1848 the 
spirit of adventure induced Mr. Voorhis and 
family to go farther west. Ascending the 
Missouri, they landed in what was then 
known as Kanesville, Pottawattamie County, 
Iowa, a settlement more particularly of Mor- 
mons and Indians. Mr. Voorhis was the 
second white man to reach this settlement to 
make it his home. Again he successfully 
engaged in trading and mercantile pursuits. 
He was elected the tirst Mayor of Council 
Rlufl's, and served one year — 1853-'54-. He 
continued in the mercantile business until 
1857. In 1859-'60 he was City Recorder, 
and in 1860-'i)l was Sheriff of Pottawattamie 
County. In this city he engaged more or 
less in active business pursuits until 1873, 
when he and family moved to Harlan, Shelby 
County, Iowa, remaining there until his de- 
cease, July 12, 1873, at the age of tifty-iiine 
years, nine months and sixteen days. His 
remains were brought to this city and buried 
in Fairview Cemetery, this community testi- 

50 



fying to his worth, and giving profound ex- 
pressions of grief at his departure. His 
wife, Minerva J. Voorhis, died September 
25, 1881, aged sixty-one years, nine months 
and tive days. His daughter. Alia Bell, 
died January 18, 1862, aged six years, four 
months and twenty-nine days. Another 
daughter, Fanny May, died November 19, 
1863, aged live months and one day. His 
son. Cornelius 1). Voorhis, died February 2, 
1889, aged thirty-eight years, four months 
and live days. He has two children living: 
James "W. Voorhis and Mrs. Mary E. Kel- 
ler, wife of V. L. Keller, Esq., of Council 
Bluffs. 

Cornelius Voorhis, the subject of this 
sketch, was a man of sterling integrity, tine 
business capacity, quiet in his demeanor, 
possessed of wonderful energy, sagacity and 
determination, and as a pioneer, merchant, 
counselor, friend and citizen, was always 
abreast of the needs of the hour. 



fRANK T. SEVBERT, physician and 
surgeon, Council Bluffs, has been iden- 
tilled with the interests of Pottawatta- 
mie County since 1882. He is a native of 
Pennsylvania, born in Columbia County,. 
April 13, 1859, a son of S. E. and S. M. 
(Knorr) Seybert, natives of Pennsylvania,, 
and of German extraction and of Quaker 
families. The youth of our subject was 
spent in attending the public school and the 
Normal School at Bloonisburg, Pennsylvania,, 
and completed his education at Kingston 
Seminary. He began the study of medicine 
in the spring of 1877, under the preceptor- 
ship of Dr. B. F. Gardner, of Bloomsburg, 
Pennsylvania; entered the Jefferson Medical 
College of Philadelphia in the fall of 1877, 
and graduated in the spring of 1881. After 



712 



BIOGRAPfflCAL HIS TOST. 



practicing in the liospital for a time, lie came 
to Conncil Bluffs, in the spring of 1882, 
where he located and has since followed his 
profession, having built up a successful and 
lucrative practice. 

He was married June 20. 1888, to Miss 
Ida B. Wies, a daughter of F. Wies. Tiiey 
have one child — Frank "Wies. Dr. Seybert 
is a member of the K. of P., St. Albans 
Lodge, No. 17; the Uniform Rank, Bluff 
Division, No. 27, holdintr the honorable 
position of Surgeon; also of the Red Men, 



Pottawattamie Tribe, No. 20. also holdino- 
the ofHce of Great Medicine Man. lie and 
his mother are members of the Episcopalian 
Church. He has held the oftice of City 
Physician and Health Ofiicer for three years; 
is president of the stafl' at St. Bernard's Hos- 
pital; is a member of the Council Bluffs 
Medical Society, serving as Treasurer; of the 
Iowa State Medical Society, of the Missouri 
Yalley Medical Society and of the American 
Medical Association. Politically he is inde- 
pendent. 










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